Somerset Council has made care experience a protected characteristic.
Care Leaver Local Offer
Somerset 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
At Somerset Council care leavers co-produce the local offer.
Details:
N/A
The best person to contact regarding the Local Offer is:
Name:
Somerset Direct
Email Address:
[email protected]
Telephone:
0300 123 2224
The Director responsible for Children's Services is:
Name:
Claire Winter
Email Address:
[email protected]
Council Tax
Somerset Council has exempted care leavers from Council Tax
We are unable to confirm to what age care leavers are exempted from Council Tax
Somerset Council does not include care leavers from other areas in their council tax exemption policy
To apply care leavers need to:
Via Leaving care Worker
Housing
Care leavers receive priority for social housing
Priority is offered up to the age of: 25
Banding priority is: Gold
Additional information / how to qualify:
Complete an independent course/ be by LCW
Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats
Somerset Council will not in principle assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property
Somerset Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property
Setting up a home
Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance
Allowance amount: ££3000
Somerset Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers
Somerset Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers
Somerset Council will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat
Somerset Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers
Somerset Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers
Somerset Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers
Employment and Apprenticeships
Somerset Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers
Number of places per year: Flexible by need
Somerset Council will pay for work/interview clothes
Somerset Council will pay towards travel to work or training
There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Somerset Council
We are unable to confirm how many are ringfenced a year
Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Somerset Council
Number per year: 4
Additional information about work and training:
Gauranteed interviews for care experienced young people if they have the minimum required experience. participation in society and proof of address / id
Participation in Society
Somerset Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care
Passport: Yes
Provisional Driving Licence: Yes
Birth Certificate: Yes
Somerset Council in principle will assist with driving lessons
Somerset Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests
Somerset Council in principle will assist with driving tests
Somerset Council in principle will assist with CBT tests
Partners local to Somerset 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 do not have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team
Children in care and care leavers council
Somerset Council has a children in care and care leavers council
Details of council:
approx 8
Fiona Phur [email protected]
Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own bank account
We are unable to confirm whether the children in care and care leavers council has its own constitution
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: Yes
Free leisure up to the age of: all care leavers
They cannot take a friend for free
Details to apply:
Everyone active, Taunton
Special Occasions
Somerset Council pays towards Christmas and other religious celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£60 at Christmas or on religion
Somerset Council pays towards birthday celebrations for care leavers
Details:
£60 19th, 20th Birthdays
£75 on 18th and 21st
Relationships
Somerset Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)
Somerset 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:
They are by their LCW/ PA's
Facts and Figures
Number of looked after children since 2014
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 516 | 532 | 529 | 517 | 551 | 564 |
|---|
We are unable to confirm the number of care leavers aged 16-24 in Somerset Council
We are unable to confirm the percentage of care leavers in Somerset Council who were not in education, training or employment over the last 10 years
Political Control
We are unable to confirm the political control of Somerset Council
If you think this information needs updating then please get in touch