North Ayrshire Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 21 (However, Throughcare will provide Aftercare support until their 26th birthday).

Banding priority is: Group 2 Strategic needs, 100 points.

Additional information / how to qualify:
When a young person has been assessed and ready for a tenancy in the social rented sector, the Throughcare Protocol is implemented.
The Homeless Advice Team (HAT) and Throughcare team leader will meet with the Area Housing Manager to discuss the young persons application, to ensure sufficient areas, landlords, property types and sizes for a suitable property to be offered within a reasonable timescale and an appropriate support package is in place for the sustainment of the tenancy. The young persons application is then placed in Group 2 Strategic Needs with 100 points, for an offer of housing.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
TEMPORARY ACCOMODATION IS USED AS A STEPPING STONE

North Ayrshire Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

North Ayrshire Council will not in principle assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £NO SET AMOUNT

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

North Ayrshire Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers

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

North Ayrshire Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

North Ayrshire Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

North Ayrshire Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

North Ayrshire Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: 5

North Ayrshire Council will pay for work/interview clothes

North Ayrshire Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at North Ayrshire Council

10 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within North Ayrshire Council

Number per year: Up to 10

Additional information about work and training:
Employ a dedicated Employability Adviser

North Ayrshire Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

North Ayrshire Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

North Ayrshire Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

North Ayrshire Council in principle will assist with driving tests

North Ayrshire Council in principle will assist with CBT tests

Partners local to North Ayrshire Council offer support with free travel for care leavers

Bus: Yes

Train / Tram: Yes

Additional details:
Travel Warrants are given to young people for transport by bus

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:
Not currently, but this has occurred in the past.

North Ayrshire Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
We have a Care Leavers Council which is called the 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:
A Constitution is set up via the Champions board, which is run by the young people themselves, who have set up the Constitution and meet monthly with a chairperson, and other Office Bearers.

North Ayrshire Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

North Ayrshire Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
MCR Pathways (motivation, commitment and resilience)

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 process is fully discussed with the young person, prior to having access to the case file and emotional support provided. Staff also make themselves available to go through the case file with the young person, again providing advice and emotional support. After the file has been gone through, the staff member will discuss any issues with the young person, their next steps, if any or arrange a further meeting and again emotional support is provided.