Dundee City Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: Care Leavers open to the TCAC team are eligible to be considered for a Housing Protocol for their first tenancy.

Banding priority is: Care leavers are afforded the maximum points that can be given. There are currently protocol arrangements in place with Dundee City Council and 3 separate Registered Social Landlords.

Additional information / how to qualify:
When applying for a tenancy, the worker will submit the relevant paperwork in accordance with that particular protocol and will act as the representative for the young person.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
This is not a blanket provision but there are options around supported accommodation, satellite or network flats prior to living independently.

Dundee City Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Yes if the Care Leaver is currently supported by the TCAC Team.

This is not the preferred option given the greater security offered by our Housing Protocol with Council and Social Housing. This option would be considered on an individual basis both within and outwith Dundee.

Dundee City Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Yes, if the Care Leaver is currently supported by the TCAC Team.

This is not the preferred option given the greater security offered by our Housing Protocol with Council and Social Housing. This option would be considered on an individual basis both within and outwith Dundee.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £Up to £2500 and the purchases are made by TCAC workers, through discussion and planning with the Care Leaver.

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

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

Dundee City Council will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Dundee City Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Dundee City Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Dundee City Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Dundee City Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

We are unable to confirm how many places per year

Dundee City Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Dundee City Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Dundee City Council

We are unable to confirm if there are care leavers working as apprenticeships within Dundee City Council

Additional information about work and training:
Dundee City Council offers work experience in a variety of ways.
We offer all secondary school children one week of work experience.
For some Schools this will be late in 3rd year and for others early in 4th
Year. We also offer places to senior phase pupils in 5th and 6th year to supplement
their timetable and to improve their CV’s for University, College or Employment.
Underpinning that, we are always pleased to offer any care leavers opportunities
whatever their age up until 24 years old

There is a close partnership between Dundee & Angus College and relevant teams within Dundee City Council.

Care Leavers may be offered support and incentives to participate in education or training.

While at college, care experienced young people can receive a bursary of £202.50 weekly.

The TCAC Team may provide support around accommodation costs if the Care Leaver has been in continuous education and remains engaged with the support from the team.

In respect of the Youth Employability Service, training expenses are usually covered through the young person’s ITA account, however, they also have the opportunity to partake in In-House training which is paid for by the local authority, for example, CSCS training
• Care leavers are offered weekly 1:1 support meetings to work on employability skills
• Outreach work is also offered to individuals who do not have the confidence to attend appointments at the office
• CEYP are supported to set up ITA's and apply for funding to access training opportunities
• Early employability skills groupwork has been offered to build confidence and teamwork skills
• Aftercare and in-work support is provided for those who have gained employment

Support for work clothes, travel costs, etc. are given if assessed as an immediate need.

Dundee City Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: No

Provisional Driving Licence: No

Birth Certificate: Yes

Dundee City Council will not in principle assist with driving lessons

Dundee City Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Dundee City Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Dundee City Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Dundee City Council do not offer support with free travel for care leavers

Care leavers have the opportunity to meet with their corporate parents (councillors)

Care leavers have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team

Additional details:
There is a weekly Young Persons Participation Group made up care experienced young people who take forward the views of young people. Dundee City Council operates a Champions Board which is attended by a number of Corporate Senior members and provides a platform for the voices of the young people to be heard and issues raised.

Dundee City Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Young Persons Participation Group as mentioned above.

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

Details:
There is budget for the YPPG

Dundee City Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Dundee City Council does not have other mentoring schemes

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:
They can submit a subject access request to the local authority.

A Care Leaver will generally be encouraged to access the support of a worker to read through their file and help them to identify, understand and process key information.