Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council has not made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council has published a Local Offer for Care Leavers in accordance with Section 2 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017
At Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
No details given
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
SPA
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
01628 683150
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Mr Kevin McDaniel
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: 21
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
PA informs benefit team of their care leaver status when a care leaver has a council tax liability. For care leavers out of area exemption varies, PA supports young person to enquire.
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: When Ready to Leave Care
Banding priority is: B
Additional information / how to qualify:
https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/home/housing/help-housing/apply-housing - RBWM Housing Allocations Policy is available on line here
Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats
Additional information:
Care leavers can make use of a taster flat for up to 4 weeks or alternatively via AFC commissioning short term taster flats for longer periods than 4 weeks.
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
As part of the leaving care financial entitlement ,care leavers can be supported with a deposit and one month’s rent on suitable independent accommodation.
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: ££2250
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers
We are unable to confirm how many places per year
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council
There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council
Participation in Society
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council do not offer support with free travel for care leavers
Access to corporate parents
Care leavers have the opportunity to meet with their corporate parents (councillors)
Care leavers do not have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team
Additional details:
Care Leavers are invited to attend the care leaver forum
Children in care and care leavers council
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
Our Children in Care Council, Kickback, meets monthly as well as actively days during school holiday. On average 10young people attend the sessions. Predominantly for12to 18 year olds with younger age groups welcome if discussion/activity is appropriate. Our Care Leavers Hub also meets monthly, numbers vary but expect arise in numbers when we return to face to face. Both groups run by Elaine Keating, Youth Engagement [email protected])
Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own bank account
Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own constitution
Health and Wellbeing
Care leavers get free access to leisure facilities as part of the Local Offer
Free gym membership: Yes
Free swimming: Yes
Free classes: Yes
Free leisure up to the age of: 21
They cannot take a friend for free
Details to apply:
We operate a “time out” membership for people in care, if their administrator regards them as still “in care” and completes the necessary access form our Leisure Provider will give them a “Time out” membership card which gives them free access as above
Special Occasions
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£50 EID or Xmas
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£75.00 18th and 21st, £50 other birthdays to age 25 if receiving a service
Relationships
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council has other mentoring schemes
Details:
Referral to Become charity
Peer mentoring - early stages of being set up
Access to care files
Young people do not have to go through the complaints dept to access their care files
Young people who access their care files get emotional support before, during and after disclosure
Details:
PA will offer to discuss in person throughout process
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 106 | 99 | 89 | 109 | 107 | 124 | 116 | 130 | 128 | 151 |
|---|
Number of care leavers by age, year ending 31st March 2021
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | 24 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 13 | 17 | 164 |
|---|
Percentage of care leavers going onto NEET since 2014
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 26% | 35% | n/a | 38% | 31% | 32% | 45% | 42% |
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Political Control
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council is a Conservative controlled council
Ofsted Ratings
Publication date: 24 February 2020
Overall effectiveness: Good
Experiences and progress of children in care: N/A
Experiences and progress of care leavers: Requires Improvement
Impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Good
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch