City of Edinburgh Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

We are unable to confirm the banding priority

Additional information / how to qualify:
Local protocol in place, Exceptional Housing Need Award for Edinburgh’s Care Leavers. Can be discussed with Housing Officers or Throughcare workers who will arrange.

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
We work with a number of 3rd sector housing providers who will include an opportunity with starter flats for Young People to learn the skills required before moving on to their own tenancies

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

Details:
Decisions are made on a case by case basis, on occasions we have stood guarantor to support young people to access private lets. This would be on an individual basis and a full assessment would be required to support this.

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

Details:
We can provide a deposit based on individual needs following assessment

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £Approx. £2000 although this is under review

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

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

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

City of Edinburgh Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

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

City of Edinburgh Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

City of Edinburgh Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: negotiable

City of Edinburgh Council will pay for work/interview clothes

City of Edinburgh Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within City of Edinburgh Council

Additional information about work and training:
We work with Young Peoples Guarantee to identify care leavers who can be offered six month supported placements which is aimed at building skills and experience to move onto employment. We are also beginning to identify young people to be matched to mentoring work experiences within the council as part of the Corporate parenting employability pledge.

We have an established weekly group work provision focused on supporting young people to access information, advice and support with job searches and further education applications. The job club provides a broad range of interventions to develop confidence, stability and aspirations and is delivered in partnership with Skills Development Scotland.
Our Study group provides an online space for young people to access support from staff and discuss how they are managing their studies, we ensure they have access to appropriate information and guidance whilst providing the opportunity for young people to encourage and support each other to discuss issues and share experiences.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

City of Edinburgh Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

City of Edinburgh Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

City of Edinburgh Council in principle will assist with driving tests

City of Edinburgh Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to City of Edinburgh 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:
Edinburgh Council have a Champions Board made up from Young Care Leavers, Officers and Elected Members. This Board will at times guide Policy and Planning around work with Corporate Parents across the city.

City of Edinburgh Council has a children in care and care leavers council

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

Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own constitution

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

City of Edinburgh 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:
f requested although this is an area we are looking at developing as part of a plan for young people.