4.12.1 Leaving Care |
Contents
- Introduction
- Policy Statement
- Key Principles
- Key Objectives
- The Legal Context
- Note of Special Circumstances
- The Process: Transition from Child Care Unit to Leaving Care Team (LCT 16+)
- Disabled Children
- Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers
- Assessment and Planning
- The Pathways Plan
- Pathways Plan Review
- The Role of the Personal Advisor
- Financial Arrangements
- Procedures for Looked After Children remaining in Placement post 18
- 16-18 Year Olds who have Left Care (Relevant Children)
- Care leavers Aged Between 18-21 (Former Relevant Children)
- Health
- Education, Training and Employment
- Accommodation
- Supported Lodgings
- The Dispersed Foyer
- Private Agency Placements
- Social Needs Tenancies
- Private Rented Accommodation
- Bed and Breakfast
- Group Work Activities
- Monday Drop In Service
- Preparation and After Care Support Group
Appendix 1: Age assessments for Asylum Seekers
Appendix 2: Money for care Leavers
1. Introduction
- Research undertaken since the implementation of the Children Act 1989 and summarised in the Department of Health documentation 'Me, Survive, Out There' illustrated that young people who have been looked after by local authorities are one of the most disadvantaged groups in society. They experience disrupted family lives, low achievement and have a poor quality of life after leaving public care.
- At a national level the 'Quality Protects' initiative aimed to improve the standard of service and resources offered to young people who are looked after and those who are leaving care. National Objective 5 required us to 'ensure that young people leaving care, as they enter adulthood, are not isolated and participate socially and economically as citizens'.
- The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 was implemented in October 2001 and amended the Children Act 1989 to implement the proposals outlined in 'Me, Survive, Out There?' It significantly amended the powers and duties that local authorities had towards care leavers.
- Whilst the research evidence highlights poor experience and outcomes for care leavers, it is important to recognise that many, though not enough, do go on to become successful in work, training and parenthood. Bexley Children's and Young People's Services Directorate has responded to both the Quality Protects initiative and to the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 with a range of service developments and financial resources aimed at enhancing the life opportunities of young people leaving care.
2. Policy Statement
Bexley Children's and Young People's Services recognise its responsibilities, in partnership with other agencies, to provide support and assistance to enable young people to prepare for leaving care, and to make a successful transition to independence and adult hood. We seek to maximise the opportunities available to looked after children and care leavers, and support them to develop their own personal skills to enable them to become citizens that are able to fully integrate into the community and achieve positive outcomes within the Every Child Matters agenda.
The necessary services will be provided in accordance with the agencies legal obligations and with the best use of resources available.
3. Key Principles
All care leavers should have access to services which are appropriate to their needs, including those which arise from their gender, racial origin, religious, cultural and linguistic background, sexual orientation and disability.
All young people can be vulnerable during this transitional stage in life. Young people leaving care are likely to be particularly vulnerable due to their life experiences.
The Children's and Young People's Services, in partnership with others, will seek to act as a "good parent". This implies accepting that the transition to adulthood can include more than one change of direction or breakdown in arrangements, when the young person will need support and encouragement to learn from what has happened, and start afresh.
It is the local authority as a corporate body that has responsibility for local leaving care services, with Children's and Young People's Services taking an overall lead. Other local authority departments, for example Housing, and Health, will also have a key role to play in the delivery of services to care leavers to ensure that they are able to make successful transitions to adulthood.
4. Key Objectives
Outcomes of research and local experience highlight how service delivery can have the greatest impact on positive outcomes for young people as they prepare for leaving care and make the transition to independence. Bexley Children's and Young People's Services, through the Leaving Care Team 16+, have sought to learn from and embed these indicators into to local service delivery in the following manner.
- Young people are encouraged to remain in foster care for as long as possible, and moves to semi-independence or full independence are delayed until the young person is practically and emotionally equipped to make this transition.
- To promote and maintain relationships with carers, families and social networks, where possible, after young people leave care.
- To gradually prepare young people to be ready to leave care, paying attention to practical self-care needs, health needs, budgeting, domestic skills and personal and relationship dimensions.
- To maximize the education, training and employment outcomes for young people leaving care.
- To ensure that young people leaving care have access to a range of accommodation appropriate to individual need, and the support and skills to maintain themselves in their accommodation.
- To ensure that there is a contingency provision to support care leavers in the event of a crisis.
- To provide and enable ongoing personal support. This will include the support of a specialist leaving care social worker or personal advisor, support from the Connexions service, support from the education social workers, health social workers, housing support workers, mentors or volunteers.
- Where young people leaving care are entitled to claim welfare benefits, to ensure that they receive their full entitlements.
- To involve young people in all assessment, planning, review and decision making arrangements for leaving care, whilst balancing the rights of the young person and the professional responsibilities of all agencies to keep young people safe.
- To inform young people leaving care of their rights and available services - including the provision of accessible leaving care guides
- To monitor and evaluate the outcomes of the above.
5. The Legal Context
The duties and responsibilities that the local authority in its widest sense has toward care leavers are outlined in both the Children Act 1989 and the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000.
The intention of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 is to improve the life chance of young people as they leave public care. The Act seeks to do this by:
- Delaying discharge until a young person is prepared and ready to leave care.
- Improve the assessment and planning and preparation for leaving care.
- Provide good personal support to young people leaving care.
- Improve the financial arrangements for young people leaving care.
The Act also makes it clear that the responsibility for the young people leaving care lay with the local authority, which last looked after the young person.
The Act only applies to young people who meet certain criteria. It defines 4 categories of young people who are entitled to leaving care services.
The young person's entitlement to services depends on their category.| Category | Qualifying criteria | Entitlement |
| Eligible children | Aged 16-17, who have been looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14, and who are still looked after on or after their 16th birthday | All the provisions of the |
| Relevant children | Children aged 16 or 17, who were Eligible children, who are no longer looked after | Personal Advisor |
| Former relevant children | Young people aged 18-21, who have been Eligible and/or Relevant. If at the age of 21 the young person is still being helped by the local authority with full-time education or training, he or she remains a former relevant child to the end of the agreed programme or the age of 24 which ever is the soonest | Keep in touch |
| Qualifying children and young people over 16 | Any young person aged under 21 (under 24 if in full-time education or training) who ceased to be looked after or accommodated in a variety of other settings, or ceases to be privately fostered, after the age of 16, or who for a consecutive period of 3 months was at any time cared or by the NHS or LEA and left after the age of 16 | Keep in touch |
6. Note of Special Circumstances
When Relevant young people have been living for six months with someone who has either parental responsibility or a Residence Order for them, they cease to be Relevant. They will no longer require a Pathway Plan or be eligible for assistance under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000. However they will still be entitled to general assistance under Sect 24 of the Children Act 1989. Should such a placement subsequently break down, the young person is once again to be treated as Relevant. The case should normally be reopened to the previous Personal Adviser.
Whilst Relevant young people are living with someone who has parental responsibility or a Residence Order for them, they may not need financial assistance for their accommodation or maintenance. A Pathway Plan review should be held to determine what, if any, financial assistance is required.
Relevant Children also includes those young people who on their 16th birthday are detained in a Remand Centre, a Young Offenders Institution, Secure Training Centre or other court ordered institution, or are in hospital, if before being detained or admitted to hospital, they had been accommodated for at least 13 weeks after the age of 14. Young people who are detained or admitted to hospital after their 16th birthday are Relevant Children, provided the other criteria are met. This does not apply to young people who are subject to a Care Order. The 13 week period does not have to be continuous, it can be a cumulative total, but it does not include periods in an agreed series of short term breaks (see below for the definition of an agreed short term break).
Young people who are subject of a Care Order and who are living with a parent or other person with parental responsibility or living independently are not Relevant Children. They continue to be Eligible young people. They may become Relevant following the discharge of the Care Order, if the other criteria have been met.
The Act does not apply to young people who have been accommodated under an agreed series of short-term breaks. These are usually children with a disability who have been accommodated for respite. To qualify as a short-term break the child must have been accommodated in a series of pre-planned episodes in the same placement, for less than a total of 120 days per annum, no individual episode to be longer than 28 days and the child must return to the care of a parent or other person with parental responsibility. Young people whose placement does not meet these criteria are considered to be looked after and the Act does apply if the other criteria are met.
Young people who have been privately fostered or accommodated by a voluntary organisation can become Qualifying if they leave after reaching 16, and if it appears that the Private Foster Carer or voluntary organisation does not have the capacity to offer the young person on-going support. Social Workers who supervise Private Fostering placements should be aware that the young people may be entitled to a service under the Act. The Social Worker should reach a view whether or not the Private Foster Carer has the capacity to continue to advise and befriend the young person and this view should be recorded. In the event that the carer has the capacity, no further action needs to be taken, other than arrangements will have to be made for keeping in touch with the young person. In the event of the carer not being considered to have the capacity, the young person should be referred, via the Leaving Care Co-ordinator, to the After Care Service.Young people can also become Qualifying if they were cared for in a health authority establishment, or residential school provided by the LEA, for a consecutive period of three months. Arguably any overnight stay away from the establishment with a person with parental responsibility will "stop the clock" and the three months period will start again on their return. In order to be Qualifying the young person has to be discharged from the establishment or school after reaching 16, although the three consecutive months can have been at any time during their stay.
The local authority does not need to provide assistance to Qualifying Children who were not looked after, provided the authority is satisfied that the people who did care for them have the necessary facilities to advise and befriend them. Such young people do not need to be provided with vacation accommodation under the Act, although they may be entitled to general assistance under Section 24 of the Children Act 1989. However if the previous carers are not able to assist and the young person would otherwise qualify for vacation accommodation, then there is a duty on the local authority to provide it. Therefore a Qualifying young person who was educated in residential school as a result of a Statement of Special Educational Needs, (or who had been a long stay patient), who is undertaking a course of higher education, or residential further education, might have to be provided with vacation accommodation. It is unlikely that the NHS will be able to provide vacation accommodation.
7. The Process: Transition from Child Care Unit to Leaving Care Team (LCT 16+)
Irrespective of whether or not a looked after young person will become eligible for after care support, good practice requires that young people should be introduced to the skills necessary for independent living at an appropriate age. This should be undertaken as a matter of course in both residential and foster care as part of the day-to-day routine. Clearly young people who have become looked after in their mid teens may not have had such support previously and it may be necessary to make good this deficit in the placement. Such training should not be confined to practical household management and self care skills but should also include activities which will increase the young person's resilience and feelings of self worth and enable them to sustain and develop friendships and relationships.
It is crucial that preparation for leaving care and adult hood is incorporated as part of a process within the young person's care experience, and is not seen as a discrete activity which only commences at the point of their case management transferring to the LCT (16+). Experience has shown us that this will only increase a young person's anxiety, which in turn, will obstruct the opportunity to develop their skills at a time when they are under less pressure, both academically and socially.
The LCT (16+) will be invited to every looked after child's pre 16 review, and a worker from this service will attend. The purpose of the presence of a worker from the LCT (16+) is to explain to the young person what happens on transfer of the case work management to the LCT following their 16th birthday, and to introduce to them the range of services, procedures and resources that will be available to them.
Where it is not possible for a LCT 16+ worker to attend this review, arrangements should be made for a worker from this service to meet with the young person, their social worker and their carer to talk to them individually.
Any case file being transferred to the Young people's Resource Service (16+) should hold on it:
- A transfer summary
- Chronology
- Copy of their most recent Case Review minutes.
- An up to date Care Plan
- A copy of the young person's birth certificate.
- Details of their National Insurance Number (or record of an application having been made)
- A record of their passport number (or record of an application having been made).
- Information about their bank account/savings account.
- A recent photo
- An up to date risk assessment if applicable.
- A copy of their PEP.
Files should be transferred to the LCT (16+) as soon as possible following the young person's 16th birthday.
On receipt of the file, the administrators will update the file's receipt on Care First, and pass to the Practice Manager for file audit, and allocation.
The Practice Manager, having read the file, will allocate the young person to a qualified social worker, who will undertake the role of personal advisor under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, up until the young person attains the age of 18. A care leaver under the age of 18 will only become unallocated if they are discharged from care under the age of 18, and is successfully rehabilitated home for a period in excess of 6 months, or if they are discharged from care, without meeting the qualifying period for Leaving Care Services.
Where ever possible the Practice Manager will attempt to allocate the file to a social worker with particular skills, and experience, which match the needs of the individual young person for example when it is highlighted that a worker of a particular gender or ethnicity would be most appropriate.
Good practice determines that where possible, a hand over meeting between the young person, their previous child care social worker, the allocated LCT (16+) social worker, and their current carer, should take place.
8. Disabled Children
The casework management responsibility for disabled looked after children and young people aged under 16 is held by the Disabled Children's Service. Transfer of case work management responsibility for disabled young people following their 16th birthday to the LCT (16+) will be dependent on their level of disability. It is acknowledged that for some young people there level of disability will mean that they will never be able to live independently, and will always have a level of care need. For those young people it is acknowledged that they would continue to benefit from the expertise of specialist social workers in the Disabled Children's Service, and case work management responsibility will remain within that team. For those young people who have the capacity to live independently post 18 with housing support via Supporting People funding, their case work management responsibility will be transferred to the LCT 16+
9. Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers
The LCT (16+) is the team that will assume responsibility for all Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) from the age of 16. For those that arrived in Bexley and were accommodated prior to their 16th birthday, they will be transferred to this service at the age of 16, as any other Looked After Child. For those UASC's arriving in the United Kingdom after their 16th Birthday, and who are referred to Bexley via the Unaccompanied Minors team in Croydon Council, who are responsible for the dispersal of UASC's across the 32 London Boroughs, the duty Housing social worker at the Bexley Youth Advice service BYA located at 23 The Broadway, Bexley heath, Kent DA6 7EJ will be their first contact with the local authority.
The LCT (16+) has many years experience of working with UASC's and has set up systems, and developed knowledge and expertise to try and meet the specialist needs of this group of service users.
Following a new referral from Croydon UASC's team, the young person will be invited to attend a duty appointment to undertake an initial assessment. This meeting will always be supported by an interpreter. Recent experience is that all new arrivals are subject to age dispute by the Home Office. It is the role of the duty social worker to undertake an age assessment as part of the initial assessment, using the assessment framework. In line with recommendations from the Merton Judgement 2005, assessment will be undertaken by 2 social workers, and particularly where a young person's age is actually disputed. The age assessment will follow national guidelines. See Appendix 1: Age assessments for Asylum Seekers
In situations when the UASC's age is not disputed the young person will immediately become a Looked After Child, under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989. Background Information, Placement information records, Chronology record and care Plan need to be completed on CF21 and the social worker will complete a referral for an initial health assessment. And a date will be made for an initial statutory review. A placement will be identified for the young person either with a supported lodgings provider or with a supported housing provider, depending on the initial assessment of their needs. The case will then transfer to the LCT 16+ at the Howbury Centre for allocation.
In cases where the initial age assessment is inconclusive, the young person will be offered accommodation and services under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 whilst the assessment is completed. A decision must be made within 35 days, in line with the assessment framework, and the young person must be informed of the process the issues and concerns. There will be some young people where the ultimate decision of the age assessment will be that their age is disputed, i.e. that there is evidence to suggest that they are over 18 years old. These young people will have their assessment explained to them in the presence of an interpreter and will be given a copy. A copy will be sent to the Home Office and their solicitor and they will be referred back to the Immigration Department (of the UK Border Agency) to be offered services as an Asylum Seeking adult.
Where the outcome of the age assessment is that there is insufficient evidence to dispute a young person's age, they will then become a Looked After Child and appropriate documentation will be completed.
The specialist needs of this group of service users is acknowledged by the team, and every effort will be made to meet these. This includes such considerations as supporting arrangements for them to attend classes in English as a foreign language, identifying any specialist requirements arising from their specific cultural, and religious beliefs, including diet, and location of places of worship, assessing their emotional and health needs and making referrals to specialist agencies where appropriate.
UASC's will also be given support and advice around the immigration process, support with progressing their asylum applications, and accessing a solicitor. In addition the team will endeavour to ensure that the young person has the ability to access support from individuals or community groups from their own culture and country of origin, where possible.
In developing long term plans, the team is mindful of the constantly changing Home Office process and regulations, and will always try to adopt a parallel planning process, to take into account the varying possible outcomes of their immigration application.
10. Assessment and Planning
The necessary detailed planning while the young person is looked after continues to be achieved through the use of the Department of Health 'Looked After Children Planning and Review System'. Independent reviewing officers will continue to chair the statutory review process throughout the period that they remain looked after.
In addition under the Children (Leaving Care ) Act 2000, it is a statutory duty that eligible young people must have an assessment of their needs completed within 3 months of their 16th birthday. This detailed assessment serves to highlight their existing skills, and identifies skills that they need to acquire in order to make a successful transition to independence, and is incorporated into their initial Pathways Plan. The purpose of the plan is to identify how the local authority intends to meet the needs identified in the needs assessment.
The needs assessment should be undertaken in partnership with the young person. It is crucial that they are fully involved in this process. Regulations state that it should also be completed in partnership with their present carer, and family. Good practice determines that it is important that they are involved, since they will play a significant role in supporting the young person in developing their skills and ensuring the implementation of planning for their future. It should also incorporate the views and roles of partner agencies, e.g. health workers, Connexions.
It is assumed that the Social Worker or Personal Advisor is able to communicate appropriately with the young person. If the young person has particular communication needs, perhaps arising from sensory or cognitive impairment, it is important that at least one of the people consulted has a clear understanding of how the young person expresses his or her wishes and feelings. If English is not the young person's first language, the needs assessments meeting should be undertaken involving an interpreter. The assessment should be translated into the young persons first language.
The line manager must a authorise a copy of the needs assessment and the Care Plan that arises from the assessment which forms the initial Pathways Plan
Young People should be given a copy of their needs assessment. For eligible young people a copy should also be sent to the Safeguarding and Reviewing Service, for the attention of the independent reviewing officers.
There is no requirement in the regulations to provide a copy of the needs assessment to any other person. If it is felt necessary to do share the assessment, the permission of the young person must be sought first.
11. The Pathways Plan
The Pathway Plan is pivotal to enabling young people to map out their future and achieve their ambitions. The young person is central to drawing up the plan and to determining how the local authority will help them. The social worker, or Personal Adviser, should try to give "ownership" of the plan to the young person. The plan should be farsighted enough to look ahead to at least until the young person's 21st birthday, or the completion of his or her education and training, yet it should be sufficiently flexible to respond to the young person's changing needs and ambitions. The Pathway Plan should acknowledge that the young person may not make a successful first attempt at living independently and have a workable contingency plan in case of failure.
The contingency plan may need to consider whether or not the young person should be re-accommodated in the event of a breakdown or what other tangible support or placements may need to be offered. The plan should not underestimate the amount of support the young person will require. Appropriate levels of support in the early stages of independence may prevent breakdowns later.
The LCT (16+) cannot meet all young people's independence needs from within its own resources and the Pathways Plan should acknowledge the need for multi-agency working, and identify other professionals who need to be involved in supporting the young person.
The initial Pathway Plan must be inputted on CF21, using the assessment pro forma and the young person must be given a copy. As with the needs assessment, if the young person has difficulty in communication, the plan must be given in an accessible format and it should be carefully explained. Interpreters should be used in undertaking the plan for young people for whom English is not their first language. The social worker should also consider who else should be given a copy of the plan. If the plan identifies other agencies or people as having a role in its delivery, they should be given a copy of at least that part of the plan, which relates to their contribution. It may be necessary to produce such parts of the Pathway Plan in an accessible format. The social worker should discuss with the young person who else should be given a copy and due account should be taken of the young person's views.
The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 identifies what areas must be considered within the Pathway Plan:- The nature and level of support to be provided to the young person and who is to provide it
- Details of the accommodation the young person is to occupy .
- A detailed plan for the education or training of the young person
- How the authority will assist the young person in relation to employment, occupation or other purposeful activity
- The support to be provided to enable the young person to develop and sustain appropriate family and social relationships
- The financial support to be provided, in particular where this is to meet accommodation and maintenance needs.
- The health needs, including any mental and emotional health needs of the young person and how these needs are to be met.
- A contingency plan should the pathway plan cease to be effective.
The Pathway Plan should identify the level of financial assistance that the young person is entitled to receive and the way in which the young person should receive their financial assistance.
For full details of the financial entitlements for young people who qualify for Leaving Care Services in Bexley, please refer to 'Money for care Leavers'. See Appendix 2: Money for care Leavers.
Pathway planning should pay particular attention to the young person's capacity to manage a budget. Some young people may have the capability to budget for themselves and they should be given the freedom to do so. Such young people should be given their maintenance allowance in full, along with the responsibility to meet their own bills. Other young people may not yet have developed such capacity and the Young People's Resource Service (16+), may have to pay some bills on their behalf. However it should be the aim of the Pathway Plan to develop the young person's financial capability so that when the young person becomes Former Relevant at the age of 18, he or she has the ability to manage.
A copy of the completed Pathway Plan must be submitted to the line manager for monitoring and management information purposes.
12. Pathways Plan Review
The Pathway Plan should be reviewed at intervals of no less than six months. For Eligible young people, the plan will be reviewed as part of the statutory Case Review chaired by the Independent Reviewing Officer, in line with recommendations from the Caerphilly Judgement 2004.
The review should consider all the matters set out above and as far as is appropriate, should take account of the views of the people involved in the Needs Assessment. As a matter of good practice the areas covered in the Pathway Plan should have been discussed with the young person prior to the review and, if possible, any amendments to the plan should be agreed beforehand.
The young person or Personal Adviser can ask for a review of the plan at any time and it is clearly good practice to review the plan if there has been a change in circumstances. The review for Eligible young people should be chaired by a the Reviewing Officer or the Senior Social worker , if the Reviewing Officer is not available. The Pathway Plan should be reviewed again at the next LAC Review to maintain the review within LAC review the cycle. A copy of the Pathway Plan review should be forwarded to the Leaving care Team (16+) Practice Manager.
Pathway Plans of Relevant and Former Relevant Children should also be reviewed at intervals of no more than 6 months and should be chaired by the Personal Adviser, or in cases where the young person's needs are complex, the Line Manager. The Pathway Plan should also be reviewed if there is an unexpected significant change in circumstances and before a planned change in circumstances. The review of the Pathway Plan of Relevant and Former Relevant Children should be carried out in an informal way to best fit the circumstances. The young person should be consulted about the review's venue and participants, and these views should be respected.
The review of the Pathway Plan will be recorded electronically, using the exemplars developed from the Department of Education guidelines.
It is expected that Personal Advisor will remain in contact with all Former Relevant young people up until the age of 21 (or 24 if they remain in education). However for those young people who consistently fail to be in contact with their personal advisor over the age of 18, an executive Pathway Plan will be completed by their Personal Advisor, and placed on their electronic file in their absence.
13. The Role of the Personal Advisor
Personal Advisors should help young people develop high aspirations and support and encourage them to achieve positive goals and fulfil their potential. The promotion of the education, training, employment and good health of Looked After young people is the responsibility of the Children's and Young People's Services acting as a corporate parent and the Personal Advisor should not hesitate to access universal or specialist services if required. The role of the Personal Advisor is both pragmatic and proactive. The Personal Advisor should offer practical, timely assistance to ensure ongoing success for the young person and if necessary should put the young person in touch with other agencies offering support.
The Personal Advisor should take a close interest in the young person's health care and ensure that the young person is registered with a GP and dentist. This will be especially necessary for those young people who move out of the area and who cannot keep their existing registrations. The Personal Advisor should liaise with the appropriate Looked After Children's Nurse to ensure a smooth transfer, and place the young person in touch with the sexual health nurse for advice and information if required.
The allocated social worker from the leaving care (16+) will fulfil the role of Personal Advisor for Eligible and Relevant young people. At the age of 18, Former Relevant or Qualifying young people will be transferred to a Personal Advisor from within the leaving care team (16+).
The Personal Advisor is responsible for managing and implementing the Pathway Plan. It is not intended that the Personal Advisor should be solely responsible for all the tasks identified in the Pathway Plan, these should be allocated, by agreement, to those people best able to meet the young person's needs. However it is the responsibility of the Personal Advisor to ensure that the identified tasks are achieved. Thus the task of supporting a young person to access education, training or employment may be delegated to a Connexions Personal Advisor, whilst it remains the role of the personal advisor to ensure that plans are progressed.
The Personal Advisor also has a monitoring role; they are responsible for keeping in touch with Eligible, Relevant and Former Relevant young people, keeping appropriate records and reporting on outcomes, thus providing the information necessary for the Performance Indicator returns to central government. The currently required information relates to the employment, education or training status of the young person, the suitability of the accommodation, whether the young person is still in contact with the authority, and whether they have become pregnant during the last year.
The Personal Advisor should monitor the young person's employment, education and training and offer all the advice and support necessary to ensure success. Support for young people in developing their education, training and employment plans can be accessed from the Connexions advisor, from the education social workers and via a referral to SOVA for a mentor. The personal advisor will be responsible for identifying any financial assistance required by the young person in connection with their employment, education and training. Requests for 'one off payments' for clothing, equipment travel etc, associated with this can be made directly to the Leaving care team (16+) Practice manager. For ongoing packages of financial support for young people in Further and Higher Education, the Personal Advisor will complete an application with the young person, which will need to be authorised by the Service manager IYS.The Personal Adviser should also monitor the young person's accommodation and as far as is possible, ensure the suitability and stability of the accommodation.
The Personal Advisor is the key person for keeping in touch with the young person, as required by the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 . The Personal Advisor should, as far as is reasonably practicable, be aware of the young person's friends and extended family members, who can be contacted should they lose touch with the young person. These contact details should be recorded, in case the Personal Advisor is unavailable at some time in the future. Although the legal requirements for the frequency of contact is a minimum of 3 months, for Eligible and Relevant young people, it is expected that it will be significantly more in order to ensure that plans are implemented.
14. Financial Arrangements
The Children's and Young People's Services, in partnership with other agencies, particularly the DWP and Housing Benefit agencies, will seek to ensure that all young people leaving care have adequate financial and other material support during their transition to independence.
15. Procedures for Looked After Children remaining in Placement post 18
| 15.1 | Introduction |
| 15.2 | Entitlement For Young People |
| 15.3 | Funding Arrangements for Foster Carers |
| 15.4 | The Process |
| 15.5 | Professional Roles |
| 15.6 | Funding |
| 15.7 | Police Checks |
| 15.8 | Review of Arrangements |
| 15.9 | Ending the Arrangement |
15.1 Introduction
Aims
The key aim of this procedure is to enable care leavers in some situations to remain living with their former foster carers post 18. This is to:
- Provide the stability and support necessary for young people to achieve in education, and training;
- To enable young people to build on and nurture their attachments to their carers so that they can move to independence at their own pace and be supported to make the transition to independence in a more gradual way.
Objectives
Remaining with carers post 18 meets the objectives within the Children Act 89, the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the Transition Guidance 2010, which are:
- To delay young peoples discharge from care until they are ready and prepared;
- To improve the assessment , preparation and planning for leaving care;
- To provide better personal support for care leavers after they have left care.
The practise also fits with Public service Agreement 2 national Indicators 147 and 148 which identify where:
- Young people leaving care are living in suitable accommodation;
- Young people leaving care are engaged in education, training and employment.
15.2 Entitlement For Young People
- In Bexley a young person is entitled to remain living with their foster carers if they are still in education on their 18th birthday. This policy enables them to choose to remain living with their foster carers until they have completed their current course of education;
- There may also occasions where young people not in education, training or employment may are assessed as having complex needs and being too vulnerable at 18 to make the transition to independence but who do not meet the Adult social care threshold criteria for a service. These young people would be considered on a case by case basis. Agreement for any such arrangements must be agreed with the Service Manager, Leaving Care and Targeted Youth services.
15.3 Funding Arrangements for Foster Carers
There will be different financial arrangements for carers depending on the education level being studied and the location of the placement:
- For those young people wishing to remain with former foster cares to enable them to complete A level courses the 16-18 year old fostering rate will continue to apply minus the Income support and Housing benefit rate which young people are entitled to claim;
- For those young people placed out of borough the fostering rate will continue to apply to enable them to complete any college or training course. This will be minus the income support and Housing benefit rate which young people are entitled to;
- For young people completing a course other than A levels in borough the supported lodgings rate will apply minus the income support and Housing benefit which young people are entitled to claim;
- For young people not in education or training but with complex needs and assessed as to vulnerable to make the transition to independence at 18 the supported lodgings rate will apply minus any benefits that young people are entitled to access. This may be Job Seekers allowance, Housing Benefit and Disabled Living Allowance.
15.4 The Process
The option of remaining in placement post 18 should be identified within the young persons Care Planning/Pathways Planning process no less than 6 months before their 18th birthday.
The social worker must inform the Service Manger, Leaving care service if such an arrangement has been identified as an option and is being considered by both the young person, their foster carer and the carers Fostering link worker.
Such an arrangement must be agreed by both the young person and the foster carers. The foster carer must be given advice and information abut the difference between a foster placement and a post 18 placement including the difference in financial arrangements in order that an informed decision can be made.
Occasionally young people and carers may change their minds after making an initial decision. The system should always allow contingency planning for both the young person and foster carer to change their minds without any adverse affects on the young persons education.
The Leaving Care social worker should forward a copy of the Pathways Plan to the Service Manager no less than 6 weeks before the young persons 18th birthday.
The Leaving Care social worker must work with the young person and the carer to establish what financial contribution the young person should make to the carer before the placement is finalised
The Leaving Care worker must work with the young person to support them to claim all state benefits to which they are entitled.
The Leaving Care social worker must ensure that all claims for benefits are submitted in a timely manner that minimises any potential disruption in allowances being received by the former carer. This includes claiming Housing benefit. See separate procedures.
The Leaving Care social worker will in conjunction with the young person follow up all claims for benefits until a decision is made and payment commences. In certain circumstances it may be necessary for contingency payments to be made so that the foster carers remuneration is not disrupted,
If the payments of benefits to the young person are delayed more than 4 weeks due to failure on the part of the young person to follow up their claim any subsistence payments made to the young person in the interim will cease.
15.5 Professional Roles
The Leaving Care worker will continue to provide support to the young person in accordance with their role as personal advisor set out within the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000. This will include reinforcing what the young person is expected to contribute to and pay for from their benefits entitlement. Whether paid at the fostering rate or the Supported Lodgings rate a Supported Lodgings placement agreement meeting should be held. The appropriate pro forma will be used to agree the expectations, roles and responsibility’s of both the provider and the young person and this will be recorded.
15.6 Funding
Foster carers providing placements post 18 years should be given information about the income tax and national insurance implications of the arrangement by their fostering link worker. Former foster carers can no longer use the ‘foster carers relief scheme’, but there are a number of tax concessions for adult placements schemes.
HM Revenue and Customs office has stated that the same arrangements that apply to adult placements ‘shared lives’ carers should apply to former foster carers if the carer continues to provide support and continues to receive payment.
Adult placements carers are treated as self employed for tax purposes and can pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions in order to qualify for basic state pensions.
For carers who are in receipt of benefits , advice should be given about whether payments for a young person remaining post 18 will be disregarded or considered as income for means tested benefits. These payment may include:
- Rent payments to the carer;
- Payments for the young person to the carer;
- Payments from the Leaving Care Team to the carer made under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000.
A young person may not be able to claim Housing benefit if the carer is already in receipt of Housing Benefit to meet their own housing costs.
In circumstances where all or part funding for the post 18 placement comes from the Leaving care Team, payments can be made under Sect 24 of the Children Act 89. In these circumstances a letter will be written to the former foster carer confirming the level of payment being made by the Service Manager Leaving Care and targeted Youth services. This payment should therefore be disregarded for income tax and benefit purposes. The current maximum payment payable from Housing benefits is £73.89 per week.
If the carers are tenants themselves it is advisable for them to check their Tenancy Agreement and ensure that their lease allows them to have a lodger.
If carers are mortgage payers it is advisable for them to check whether having a lodger is within the terms and conditions of their mortgage lender and insurer.
It is advisable for the carer to inform their insurance company providing their household insurance when a young person is no longer a fostered child but is remaining in their home as an adult lodger. This is to check that existing insurance arrangements still provide adequate household insurance.
Foster carers are covered by the LB Bexley for any allegations made against them by a foster child. Carers must be informed that their legal protection insurance does not continue for a care leaver remaining post 18.
15.7 Police Checks
If the former carer is going to continue to work as a foster carer at the same time as providing a post 18 arrangement for a care leaver the care leaver will be required to have a CRB check as they will count as an adult within the household. The care leavers’ Personal Advisor will assist them with this process
15.8 Review of Arrangements
Arrangements for young people being supported to remain with their former foster carers post 18 must be reviewed as part of their Pathways Plan every 6 months. This should include any problems and difficulties that have arisen.
A review can be arranged earlier by agreement between the young person, carer and Leaving Care worker.
15.9 Ending the Arrangement
Agreement at the commencement of the placement should normally identify when the arrangement is likely to cease. This will normally be following the young person completing their course of education or training.
The Pathways Plan review that takes place 6 months prior to the completion of the course of study should confirm plans for transition from the placement to independence. This should identify where the young person wishes to live. Any young person placed out of borough wishing to remain in same area , needs to be aware that they are very unlikely to be considered as in priority need by their local Housing Department and they are therefore likely to have to access accommodation via the private rented sector.
For those young people wishing to live in Bexley a housing application should be made 6 months prior to the expected end date of their course. This needs to be followed up with an application for social needs housing 3 months before the date. This will be made by the Personal Advisor.
16. 16-18 Year Olds who have Left Care (Relevant Children)
The Young People's resource Service 16+ will be responsible for the total financial maintenance of all "Relevant Children", i.e. 16-18 year olds who have left care since 1st October 2001. This will include subsistence and accommodation costs, and incentive payments and fares for those attending education and training.
Young people have an absolute right to financial support at the minimum level of that which they would receive were they able to claim state benefits (Income Support, Job Seekers' Allowance and Housing Benefit). This basic minimum will cover accommodation and maintenance, education, training and employment.
The financial support agreed will be above this minimum level, and will be determined in accordance with current agreed practice and budgetary considerations. Young people should receive what a "good parent" would be likely to provide. A full list of items that could be considered for funding can be found in the below Appendix 2: Money for care Leavers .
Generally purchasing orders must be used to purchase items. In exceptional circumstances cash payments may be made to reimburse purchases that have been made. Authorisation for such payments is required by the Senior Social Worker or for expenditure from their leaving care grant by the Service Manager of the Integrated Youth Service.
Details of the minimum basic, and possible additional payments are set out in the below Appendix 2: Money for care Leavers
Young people in full-time employment will be expected to contribute towards their maintenance as part of their preparation process. However this money will be saved for the young person, and added to their leaving care grant.
It will be the responsibility of the Personal Advisor to monitor the proper use of funds provided. The Personal Advisor should know the young person sufficiently well to be able to come to a judgment about the degree of supervision necessary for each young person. Some young people will need little or no supervision, others will need a more structured framework including, for example, the direct payment of essential bills. (Rent will be paid direct to the landlord unless there are strong reasons why this should not be the case). Young people should be encouraged and supported to open and manage bank accounts. Whatever the arrangements, they must be recorded in the Pathway Plan. Any changes to weekly allowances payable must be recorded on the Pathway Plan. In addition for those who are paid via cash payments at the Town Hall, line managers and Team Administrators must be informed immediately. For payments made via BACS, the Finance section must be informed by e-mail immediately.
Lone parents and sick and disabled young people who meet the criteria described in Schedule 1B of the Income Support Regulations 1987 will still be able to claim Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance. However, young parents will not be entitled to Housing Benefit, and the Leaving care Team (16+) will be responsible for rent payments.
Young disabled people may be eligible for Disability Living Allowance and Severe Disablement Allowance.
Such income will be taken into account when deciding what additional financial support will be provided through the Pathway Plan.
17. Care leavers Aged Between 18-21 (Former Relevant Children)
On reaching 18 years, care leavers will derive their income from the same sources as their peers; through employment, student loans, welfare benefits etc. Young people will be assisted to make claims for benefits by their Personal Advisor. It is acknowledged that new claims usually take a minimum of 2 weeks to be processed, and previous levels of subsistence payments will continue during this period. If claims decisions become protracted by the DWP, then the Personal Advisor will liaise with the DWP and make arrangements to make payments to the young person during this period. Such payments will be reimbursed to the local authority, once the claim has been resolved and a back dated payment agreed. The young person will be required to give their written agreement to this process.
For full details of financial support available to care leavers please refer to Appendix 2: Money for care Leavers . For those young people engaged in courses of further education, they are entitled to claim income support for any course over 16 hours per week, up until the age of 20, or when the course finishes, whichever is the sooner, and Housing Benefits. It is expected that care leavers access their entitlements where eligible supported by their Personal Advisors
Where a care leaver is still involved in a course of Further or Higher education when reaching 21, the Young People's Resource Service (16+) will continue to have responsibility to provide financial assistance until the course finishes or the young person becomes 24, whichever is the earliest.
18. Health
Care leavers often have little information about their medical history and how to take care of their personal health. Therefore the Leaving Care Team(16+), in partnership with other agencies, will ensure that all young people leaving care have sufficient knowledge and access to services to enable them to take good care of their health.
The Pathway Plan will build on the planning and action related to health while the young person was looked after. The maintenance of health records will be the basis of planning a healthy lifestyle with access to appropriate services.
The Personal Advisor will be responsible for ensuring the continued health needs of the Young person are met. Eligible young people will be encouraged via their carers to have annual health assessments. All Eligible, Relevant and Former Relevant young people will be supported to be registered with a GP and dentists and the Personal Advisor will encourage young people to attend optician appointments and 6 monthly dental checks. They will also encourage young people to update their immunisation programmes. If the young person has any specific medical conditions, the Personal Advisor will also undertake responsibility for trying to ensure that appropriate referrals to specialists are monitored and reviewed.
Any young person identified as having issues with substance misuse should be encouraged to participate in a SMART assessment and if substance misuse needs are identified should be refereed to the Youth Engagement Service (YES) for support or treatment services.
All young people will be encouraged to meet with the sexual health nurse for advice and information around keeping themselves safe.
Young people's mental and emotional health needs will also be assessed and, where appropriate, referrals made to the CAMHS service and the Counselling Service offered by the Youth Engagement Service.(YES)
19. Education, Training and Employment
It is recognised that care leavers often leave care with few qualifications, and can be disadvantaged when planning for future careers. Pathway Planning will seek to maximise and support young people overcome these disadvantages through a variety of services.
Pathway Plan will build on Personal Education Plans for eligible young people.
Young People remaining in education post 16 will be supported to access Education Maintenance Awards. (EMA)
An education social worker will be involved in Pathways Planning with any young person not in education in Year 11.
Any young person not in education, training or employment following their statutory school leaving age, will be referred to a Connexions Personal Advisor, who will contribute to their Pathway Plan.
Any young person requiring additional support with education, training or employment has the option of a referral for a mentor to the SOVA service at the Young People's Resource Service (16+).
The Children's' and Young People's Services via the Leaving Care Team (16+) will give financial support to care leavers undertaking agreed courses of Further and Higher education. (Please refer to appendix below in ' Money for care Leavers .')
20. Accommodation
Young people leaving care are particularly at risk of becoming homeless, and have an absolute right to be offered accommodation suitable to their needs.
As previously stated the Children's and Young People's Services is committed to Looked After young people remaining in foster care for as long as possible. However it is recognised that foster care does not suit the needs of all 16/17 year olds. It is further recognised that not all young people are able to live completely independently at 18. A range of accommodation and housing resources have therefore been developed to meet individual needs. The Pathway Plan will be the essential planning mechanism for determining the Pathways to Independence plan for each care leaver.
21. Supported Lodgings
The Leaving Care Team (16+) has assessed and recruited a number of supported lodgings providers. These are single adults or couples that have an interest in and commitment to young people, and are able to offer them a room in their home. This resource is available to Relevant young people as a stepping-stone to independence. In exceptional circumstances Former Relevant young people may be able to remain in placement beyond their 18th birthday, if they are engaged in a course of Further education, and a move prior to the completion of their course would lead to a disruption in their education. Such agreement is subject to the approval of the Service manager IYS.
All placements are subject to a Placement Agreement between the supported lodgings provider, the young person and their Personal Advisor. These placements provide the opportunity for young people to experience the realities of independence with support and advice.
For some young people who are completing 6th form or involved in courses of Further education it is accepted that it would be inappropriate for them to move on from their foster placements when they reach 18. In such cases, consideration will be given to them remaining with their former foster carers on a supported lodgings basis until they have completed their course and are ready to move on. Personal Advisors for young people in this position may apply via the Services Manager for Integrated Youth Service for agreement. The final agreement will rest with the Deputy Director (Youth and Inclusion).
22. The Dispersed Foyer
The dispersed Foyer provides independent accommodation with 6 month assured short hold tenancies, with the addition of floating support from an NCE Housing support worker whose role is to offer tenancy and self-care support. All Young people will be linked with a Connexions personal Advisor. Both workers will contribute to Pathway Plan reviews for care leavers within this service. There are currently 16 places available for care leavers with an age range from 16-21. This accommodation is in dispersed self contained and furnished flats. Young people are expected to stay for a period of 18-24 months. There is additional capacity for a further 14 Y/P to be tenancy support either to Y/P preparing to move into independence of who are already living independently in their own tenancy but are assessed as requiring additional support and are keen to engage with support services.
23. Private Agency Placements
The LCT (16+) will, in exceptional circumstances spot purchase supported semi independent accommodation from experienced private providers for eligible and relevant Y/P. This is in response to the complex needs of some young care leavers, and would be subject to individual needs having been identified within the Pathway Plan which cannot be met within the Services own resources. The level of 1:1 support provided would be subject to individual assessment and review.
24. Social Needs Tenancies
As corporate parents, Bexley Housing Allocation Team accepts care leavers onto the priority housing list band A to ensure that Care Leavers who are assessed as being fully prepared for independence can access housing association tenancies.
For those young people who have confidently been assessed as able to manage their own tenancy without support prior to their 18th birthday, the Deputy Director has delegated responsibility to act as rent guarantor on behalf of Bexley Council, until the young person becomes 18.
Bexley Housing Department now operates a choice based lettings scheme.
25. Private Rented Accommodation
It is acknowledged that some care leavers who have been placed out of borough during their care experience, may have relinquished links with their family and friends in the Bexley Borough, and have established enduring links within the area that they have been placed. It may not be appropriate for such care leavers to be expected to return to Bexley at 18, due their inability to access accommodation in the local area that they have been living.
In situations such as these, an application for social needs housing to be provided should first be submitted to the allocations department, with a request for a social needs referral to be negotiated with the appropriate borough, or local authority. We have experienced varying levels of co-operation from other boroughs/authorities, who have no duty to accept such a referral. For those young people who are unsuccessful in obtaining social housing via this route, the young person's leaving care grant may be accessed to provide the deposit and rent in advance for furnished, private rented accommodation, upon the receipt of a valid tenancy agreement.
26. Bed and Breakfast
The use of bed and breakfast for Eligible and Relevant young people is not encouraged, or seen as an appropriate placement. However it may be that in some situations there is no alternative to ensure that emergency accommodation is provided following a breakdown of another placement, and a reassessment of need is undertaken. The LCT is clear that the use of B&B (via CRB approved resource providers) will be time limited whilst a reassessment of needs in undertaken and another appropriate resource has been identified to meet this need.
27. Group Work Activities
The Leaving Care Team (16+) recognises the needs of Looked After Children and care leavers to have the opportunity to meet and socialise with other young people to avoid social isolation and encourage integration. It also welcomes service users to have the opportunity to have a voice in the shaping and planning of services. For these reasons a variety of groups are available:
28. Monday Drop In Service
A Drop In service is available every Monday 12.30pm-2.30pm at the Youth Centre on the Howbury site. This is a multi-agency service and is staffed by a Senior Social Worker, a Personal Advisor, and is attended by a Connexions Personal Advisor, the Looked After Children's nurse, and is also supported by volunteer mentors from the SOVA project and care experienced Y/P.
A meal is available, as well as some leisure activities. Eligible and Relevant Y/P who are living in the Bexley area and who are not involved in Education, Training or Employment are expected to attend prior to receiving their weekly pocket money/subsistence and are linked with the Connexions worker to develop their ETE plans.
Professionals from other agencies are invited on occasions, to share information about support and resources available.
29. Preparation and After Care Support Group
Whilst there is no preparation and after care support group currently in progress it is planned that this will be resumed in September 2010 in partnership with the Bexley Foyer and supported by care experienced young people
Appendix 1: Age assessments for Asylum Seekers
Click here to view Appendix 1: Age assessments for Asylum Seekers
Appendix
2: Money for care Leavers
Guide to Financial Support for Young people Leaving care
Bexley Leaving Care Team16+
Contents
- Introduction
- Eligible Young People
- Relevant Young People
- Rates for Former Relevant Young People
- Education Support Application Procedure D74
- Suggested List of Items for Tenancy
- Things to do when you get your Tenancy
- Managing Household Bills
1. Introduction
This booklet describes how the Leaving Care Service will provide you with financial support and help you gain confidence in handling your money.
The Children (Leaving care) Act 2000, introduced new financial arrangements for care leavers and made it clear that the responsible authority will normally be the young persons primary source of income. Access to Income Support, JSA and Housing Benefit for most 16/17 care leavers has now been removed.
If you are still in care it is important to start thinking of managing your money now. The experience of those that have already left care and are living independently, informs us that difficulties in managing to budget effectively on a low income, is one of the main areas that care leavers have problems with. Using the assistance and support available to you whilst still in care, to gain experience with budgeting can avoid getting into difficulties at a later stage.
If you have left care and are not yet 18, you will get your accommodation and living expenses paid for by Social Services.
If you are in paid employment, you will be expected to make a contribution to your accommodation, but if you are low paid, we can top up your money so you have more than people who don't work.
You can also get extra money if you are in education or training.
If you have a special need and/ are 29 weeks pregnant or have a dependent child you will still be able to claim Disability Benefits or Income Support.
If you are 18, and have left care you will support yourself by:
- working and earning wages or
- actively seeking work and claiming Job Seekers Allowance and Housing Benefit
- claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit, if you have a special health needs, or you are in education or you have dependent children. Your personal advisor will assist you to do this
All care leavers will get an allowance to set up home and financial help with education & training courses, including higher education or help to get and keep a job.
In all our dealings we will not take into account any money you have in savings or trusts etc.
If you are not satisfied with the amount or way we are paying you, you should ask for a review of your Pathways Plan to reassess your needs.
Arrangements for payments
The way in which you will be paid and the amounts will be agreed in your Pathways Plan, which will be reviewed 6 monthly.
If you do not comply with the agreement made within the Pathways Plan about getting you money, then sanctions may be imposed in the manner in which you receive your allowance.
2. Eligible Young People
Definition
An Eligible young person is one who is aged 16/17, has been looked after by the local authority for a period of 13 weeks since the age of 14, and who remains looked after. The period of 13 weeks need not have been continuous and may be made up of a series of shorter periods when the child was looked after.
The period of care must cross their 16th birthday.Planned periods of respite care do not count towards eligibility.
Young people remanded into the care of the local authority.
Young people remanded into the care of the local authority are regarded as eligible, even if they are not given a custodial sentence, providing that the period of remand is for 13 weeks or more, and crosses their 16th birthday.
Unaccompanied asylum seekers
Unaccompanied asylum seekers seeking accommodation will become looked after children under sect 20 Children Act 89. Whilst they may not remain looked after children until they are 18, and this will be a decision based on their assessment of need, they will not be discharged from care prior to having been a Looked After Child for at least 13 weeks, and are therefore Eligible and will be entitled to leaving care services.
Click here to view Money Management for Young People in Foster Care
Eligible young people who are not in education training or employment.
For those young people that remain in foster care but are not in education, training or employment, following the end of year 11, the way they are paid will be different.
These young people will no longer receive pocket money and clothing directly from their foster carer.
From the 1st September of the year following their legal school leaving age, they will be required to attend the Monday Drop In at the Howbury Youth centre where they will have regular appointments with the Connexions worker, to plan for their future, and receive support in identifying and accessing their chosen career path.
They will receive subsistence payments following evidence that they have linked with the Connexions worker, which they will collect from Erith Town hall.
Weekly subsistence payment will be £51.85 From this they will be required to pay their Foster Carer £15.00 per week. The purpose of this is give young people the experience of undertaking financial responsibility for their keep, whilst supporting them in considering their future. Payments will be monitored and deducted from source and paid directly to the Foster Carer if the young person does not make them. The way payment are made will be recorded in the Pathways Plan.
This £51.85 will be deducted from the foster carer's direct payment
If your placement is not in reasonable proximity to Erith, and you are therefore unable to attend the drop in service, there will remain an expectation that you are registered with your local Connexions Service and attend regular appointments.
3. Relevant Young People
Definition
Under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, a Relevant child is one who was previously an Eligible child, but who is no longer looked after, and is under the age of 18.
Note: young people on a care Order remain eligible until such time as they reach their 18th birthday, or the care Order is discharged, whatever their living arrangements.
Young people detained or in hospital.
The regulations provide for an additional category of Relevant young people. These are young people who, on reaching their 16 birthday are detained in a remand centre, young offenders institution, or any other institution ordered by the court and immediately prior, to being detained or in hospital had been looked after for 13 weeks since the age of 14. This exemption applies even if the young person is detained overnight.
Young Parents
Relevant young people who are lone parents can claim income support, but not Housing benefit. For all other purposes of the Act they are considered RelevantFinancial assistance to Relevant Young People
How Payments will be made
All payments to be agreed as part of a Pathway Plan. This should be recorded, both in terms of the amount of payments and how they will be paid to you. You should have a copy as a record of this agreement.
Accommodation
Housing Associations or Private Rented
Your Social Worker will arrange the tenancy with the Landlord.
The council will pay your rent but your Social Worker may ask you to sign a 'Written Agreement' with us.
Supported Lodgings/ Bed & Breakfast etc.
Your Social Worker will arrange the placement with the provider.
You will be asked to sign up to a Lodgings Agreement.
If your placement agreement states that your lodgings provider provides your meals, you will be expected to pay towards this from your subsistence payment. The amount payable will be discussed and agreed within your placement agreement. This is usually around £15.00 per week
Subsistence and Other Payments
If you are able to budget and have a current bank account and are in education training or employment
It is possible to pay your weekly allowances directly into your bank account.
Your Social Worker will agree a weekly amount to be paid, with reference to your Pathway Plan and the schedule of payments contained in this booklet.
We will also need details of your bank account.
Your Social Worker will confirm the arrangement in writing to you.
If you are learning to budget or do not have a current bank account
Your Social Worker will assist and encourage you to open a bank account.
Your Social Worker will agree the weekly basic amount to be paid to you and how you can access discretionary payments, with reference to your Pathway Plan and schedule described in this booklet.
The money can be paid in cash, vouchers or kind.
Your Social Worker will provide you with a Leaving Care Service Identity Card
Young people not in education, training or employment
Accessing your money
Come to the Leaving Care Service Drop-in at the Howbury Centre on Monday mornings between 12.30pm -2.30pm
A Connexions Advisor will be on hand to discuss your education or employment plan with you.
Your Social Worker will confirm the amount you will be paid and the incentive payments you can receive in writing.
You can collect your money from Erith Town Hall, Walnut Tree Road, Erith
NB: you will need to show your Leaving Care Service Identity Card.
If you live outside Bexley and need cash payments
Your Social Worker will contact the leaving care service in the area where you live so that you can receive money locally.
Rates for Relevant Young People
You left care after 1.10.2001 and are under 18
Everyone not in work gets:
| Living Allowance | £ 51.85 per week |
| Housing/accommodation | Rent payments as required up until the age of 18 |
| Travel | Local Bus Pass if can evidence actively seeking work/education |
| Maintaining relationships | £2.50 per week towards the cost of mobile phone calls |
Relevant young people that are working:
Every one working full time continues to receive subsistence payments to guarantee £100.00 in their pocket in addition to their rent and travel costs. Once the total income from wages and subsistence exceeds £100.00, the amount of subsistence we pay will be reduced. This will be placed in a savings account that you may access when you move into your own home.
For those working part time the same rules apply once the combination of wages and subsistence exceeds £80.00 per week.
You can get these additional payments if you are:
| In education/ training | £10 per week bonus for full attendance and travel costs associated with the course (pro rate for P/T courses.) NB this payment is term time only but does include half terms. |
| Education expenses | Up to £200.00 per year for books and equipment |
| Clothing | Up to £75.00 per year for work/education/training UASC's £150.00 in the first year of arrival |
| Special Needs | |
| Medical/dietary | Up to £10.00 per week |
| Cultural/religious needs | |
| Visit to place of origin | Considered upon request |
| Fares to attend place of worship | Considered upon request |
| Special hair/body care | Up to £5 per week |
| Counselling | Considered upon request |
| Holidays | Match any amount saved up to £100 Max. (subject to the production of evidence.) |
4. Rates for Former Relevant Young People
Left care after 1.10.2001 and over 18 but under 21 (24 if in full time education)
If you are 18, you will support yourself by working and earning wages or actively seeking work and claiming Job Seekers Allowance and Housing Benefit or claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit, because you have a special need and/or dependents or are in F/T non advanced education.
You can get additional money from the council if you are:
| In Education or Training | Not in Ed/Training | |
| Receiving State Benefits | up to £10 pw bonus for |
Fares to interviews |
| No Benefits | Education Package |
Fares to interviews |
| Housing Costs | ||
| Receiving Benefits | None | None |
| No Benefits | Education package |
None |
| Travel | ||
| Receiving Benefits | Costs to get to course | Fares to interviews |
| No Benefits | Education Package |
Fares to interviews |
| Holidays | Up to £50 for a special trip | None |
If you are working and in part time education we may be able to help you with the cost of your course.
If you are working and have difficulty paying the rent we may be able to help or advise you.
Please ask your social worker or personal advisor for more information.
Money available to all care leavers up to 21
| Further/Higher Education | Education Package- Procedure D74 |
| Special Needs | Individual cases to be considered |
| Contact with family etc. | Travel Warrant if outside locality |
| Cultural/Religious needs | Individual cases to be considered |
| Clothing | Special items associated with work/education |
| Leisure | Free membership of Bexley youth and leisure facilities, which enables reduced entrance fee |
| Driving lessons | £100 contribution towards license and test fee + cost of 6 driving lessons - by agreement in advance upon confirmation of Y/P having funded 1st 6 lessons |
Other (Care leavers only)
| Birthdays (17,19,20 ) | £15 in vouchers |
| 18th birthday | £40 in vouchers |
| 21st birthday | £30.00 vouchers |
| Christmas | £15 in vouchers |
| Leaving Care allowances | Up to £1,500.00 to spend on essential Items and including cost of 1st year insurance and TV license |
| Security | Up to £100 for locks/bolts etc. |
| Food stock Smoke alarm, fire blanket and Fire extinguisher |
£ 40 |
| Payments for consultation work | £7.00 per hour + travel expenses. |
We are aware that at times for a variety of reasons there are breaks in Y/P's benefits. The LCT may assist with emergency payments during these periods subject to a full assessment of circumstances. The maximum emergency payment will be £20pw plus £15 vouchers. We will offer support to enable Y/P to gain the benefits back on line. Where Y/P eventually gain back dated payments there is an expectation that the Y/P repays these payments.
5. Education Support Application Procedure D74
6. Suggested List of Items for Tenancy
Click here to view the Suggested List of Items for Tenancy
7. Things to do when you get your Tenancy
Click here to view Things to do when you get your Tenancy
8. Managing Household Bills
Introduction
All tenants living in rented accommodation will have to pay for gas and electricity. Meters for these are usually situated in the cellar, cupboard under the stairs or outside.
First Steps
Before moving into a property you should inform both the gas and electricity companies of the date you are due to move in. This is to ensure that you are not charged for the fuel you have not used.
How bills are calculated
Gas and Electricity bills are based on the reading of meters. If the company can't gain access they will estimate your consumption for that quarter. (3 Months) However, if you read your own meter and promptly post the relevant card your bill will then be based on that reading. Coded letters on your bill will show if you have an estimated bill. These can be inaccurate as they are based on the consumption registered by your meter for the same period the year before.
Gas, Electricity and Telephone bills are usually sent out on a quarterly basis. They feature a standing charge for the provision of the service, a charge for consumption, and VAT.
Unpaid bills
Failure to pay bills will attract a reminder letter. If you ignore this your supply/service could be cut off, and it is expensive to be reconnected. Seek advice immediately from the company if you have difficulty paying for your bill.
Making savings
Any form of heating is expensive, especially electric fires and fan heaters. Heating old houses for 24hrs a day can lead to high bills. If you suspect your heating system is inefficient, discuss this with the council who have an obligation to carry out necessary repairs. You could save on heating bills by insulating doors, windows and letter boxes with draft excluder.How to pay your bills
Consult the back of each bill for details and check whether the method you want to use will incur an extra charge. Also check bill for advice on where to pay your bills.
Key meters
Some houses/flats/bedsits have pre-payment meters. This is usually by a key and can by topped up at a post office or convenience store.
Telephone
Telephone bills tend to mount up quickly. There are ways in which you can minimise your bills.
Incoming calls only - BT charge for this service and there is still a charge for line rental.
Payphones are available through BT. These can bar certain types of calls, e.g. chatlines and reverse charges. Contact the BT Customer Service on 150 for more details.
Televisions
Legally, each household with a TV needs a licence. If you have a television then you must purchase a licence. You will only need one licence for each household and not one for each television.
Licenses currently cost: (from 1st April 2003)
- Colour - £116.00
- Black and White - £38.50
For further information contact the TV Licence Enquiry Line on: 0870 600 1236
Energywatch
Energywatch is the new free, independent consumer organisation which represents the interests of gas and electricity consumers. You can contact them for advice and any complaints which you may have.
How to read gas and electric meters
Once you have found the gas and electric meters you will need to ensure that you have to correct key for entry.
In front of you there will be a meter. You will see a line of numbers (sometimes) digital. You will need to read these numbers starting from your left.
The line of numbers are your meter reading and calculate how much electric or gas you have used.
Once you have written these numbers down then you can either phone the reading through to your gas or electric company or send the reading off in the post with your current bill. You will then receive in a few days time an actual bill of how much to pay.
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