Scottish Borders Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 16

Banding priority is: Platinum

Additional information / how to qualify:
Care leavers are supported to make an application to Housing Options Panel. This meeting is held on a monthly basis and provides priority.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
Scottish Borders Council have a practice flat for young people to use.

Scottish Borders Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
This is usually agreed with the service manager but SBC has acted as a guarantor several times.

Scottish Borders Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
(this may come from leaving care grant)

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££2600 (discretionary payment)

Scottish Borders Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

Scottish Borders Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers

Scottish Borders Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Scottish Borders Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Scottish Borders Council will not in principle assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Scottish Borders Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Scottish Borders Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: No limit on placements

Scottish Borders Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Scottish Borders Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Scottish Borders Council

We offer priority interview to care Leavers who meet vacancy essential criteria including Modern Apprenticeship opportunities as not all Care leavers are looking for MA opportunities. Our Borders Family Firm group supports the promotion of these opportun apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

We are unable to confirm if there are care leavers working as apprenticeships within Scottish Borders Council

Scottish Borders Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Scottish Borders Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons

Scottish Borders Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Scottish Borders Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Scottish Borders Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Scottish Borders Council offer support with free travel for care leavers

Bus: Yes

Train / Tram: No

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 can contact their corporate parents via Champions Board

Scottish Borders Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
SBC are in the process of embedding a Champions Board

Children in care and care leavers council has its own bank account

Children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution

Details:
Put together as part of initiating the Looked After and Care Experienced Scottish Borders Champions’ Board

Scottish Borders Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Scottish Borders Council does not have other mentoring schemes

Young people 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:
The Data Protection Team has 30 calendar days to provide the information after the Subject Access Request is submitted. Emotional support provided by relevant professional (Throughcare Aftercare staff member or Family Placement Team)