Denbighshire County Council has not made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Denbighshire County Council has published a Local Offer for Care Leavers in accordance with Section 2 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017
The Local Offer is available:
on the web: Yes - view Local Offer here
as a document: Not available
as an app: No
We are unable to confirm whether at Denbighshire County Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Julie Lavin (Manager LAC 14+ )
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
01824712278
Council Tax
Denbighshire County Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
Council tax is exempted up to the age of: Currently to aged 22 years and 25 if in Education.
Denbighshire County Council does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
Applied through Universal Credit Route and entitlement to Exemption agreed with Housing benefit service. Personal advisor will support Young Person / Young adult to apply . Manager of 14+ Service verifies entitlement with Civica (Housing Benefit service).
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 18
Banding priority is: Band A
Additional information / how to qualify:
On telephone application with SARTH (Housing Waiting List) answer yes to Care Leavers question. Personal Advisor will support Young Person / Young adult through the SARTH process. Manager of 14+ verifies status with SARTH.
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats
Denbighshire County Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
This is agreed on an individual basis and via the Pathway plan .
Denbighshire County Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Details:
Young Person / young adult is provided with ONE deposit and four weeks rent in advance for private rental accommodation. The deposit and rent in advance is sent to the landlord from our central payment system Via BACS deposit. It is expected that Deposit is held in a suitable Bond by the Landlord.
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: £1,250.00 – 1,550.00 (Rental deposits NOT included in this sum).
Denbighshire County Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Denbighshire County Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Denbighshire County Council will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Denbighshire County Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Denbighshire County Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Denbighshire County Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Denbighshire County Council does not offer work experience within the council for care leavers
Denbighshire County Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Denbighshire County Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are no ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Denbighshire County Council
We are unable to confirm if there are care leavers working as apprenticeships within Denbighshire County Council
Additional information about work and training:
The local Authority is in discussions with departments on how we facilitate Care Leavers into apprentices within the wider services. We have a strong Corporate Parenting commitment to our care leavers and have had apprentices and part time contracts within our School kitchens.
Participation in Society
Denbighshire County Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Denbighshire County Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Denbighshire County Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Denbighshire County Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Denbighshire County Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Denbighshire County 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 have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team
Additional details:
engagement events are held with our members via the Corporate Parenting Forum
Children in care and care leavers council
Denbighshire County Council does not have a children in care and care leavers council
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: No
We are unable to confirm up to what age free leisure is provided
They cannot take a friend for free
Details to apply:
Apply via Pathway plan and Personal Advisor ( Barnardos).
Special Occasions
Denbighshire County Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£50.00 plus presents for Christmas. We ensure that no young Adult is alone (unless they request it) or are without a Christmas dinner.
Denbighshire County Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£50.00 plus a special gift for 18th and 21st birthdays. Depending on support network.
Relationships
Denbighshire County Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Denbighshire County Council does not have other mentoring schemes
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:
Access to file requests are completed by filling in a simple form by e mail or paper post. Denbighshire has a Freedom of Information policy that can be accessed via the Denbighshire Website. The contact details for the Business Information Team where you can obtain your form are on the website.
Care leavers will be offered emotional support by the Therapeutic service in conjunction with the Manager of the 14+ looked after service.
Facts and Figures
We are unable to confirm the number of looked after children in Denbighshire County Council over the last 10 years
We are unable to confirm the number of care leavers aged 16-24 in Denbighshire County Council
We are unable to confirm the percentage of care leavers in Denbighshire County Council who were not in education, training or employment over the last 10 years
Political Control
Denbighshire County Council is controlled by a Conservative and Independent coalition
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch