A Guide for young people April to October 2018The North Yorkshire Care Leaver Core Offer will replace this document and be available from October 2018

Leaving Care entitlements

• you are currently looked after; and

• aged 16 or 17; and

• you have been looked after for a period of 13 weeks (or periods amounting to 13 weeks) which began after you reached 14 and ended after you reached 16.

• you are no longer being looked after by the Local Authority but you have been ‘Eligible’; and

• aged 16 or 17 years old;

• immediately before being detained or in hospital you were ‘Eligible’ OR

• lived for continuous period of 6 months or more with parent, someone with parental responsibility and where those arrangements break down

• you are aged 18 years or above, and either have been a Relevant or Eligible child when under 18.

• If at the age of 21 or before reaching the age of 25 you are in education or training, then you will remain a former relevant child until the end of the agreed programme.

• If after 21 years you inform us that you want to pursue or are pursuing a programme of education or training

• you are at least 16 but under 21; and

• you were looked after immediately prior to the making of a special guardianship order which was in force when you reached 18; or

• if at any time after you reached the age of 16 but while you were still a child was, but is no longer looked after, accommodated or fostered; or

• As a Qualifying Care Leaver you are able to access advice and assistance based on a needs assessment completed by the Leaving Care Team

Types of Care Leaver

You are a Relevant Care Leaver if:

You are a Former Relevant Care Leaver if:

You are a Qualifying Care Leaver if:

Social Workers and Personal Advisors

As an Eligible Care Leaver you will have an allocated Social Worker from North Yorkshire’s Looked After Children team. Your social worker will hold case responsibility and will be responsible for the preparation of your Pathway Plan. You will remain allocated to your Social Worker until you are 18 or you Looked After Child status ends (whichever comes first). Your Social Worker will carry out the function of a Personal Advisor.

At 16 years old you will become known to the Leaving Care team. A decision will be made at your Children Looked After Review meeting as to when you will be allocated a Leaving Care Case Worker. This will be 6 months before move on from your care placement or at 17½ years if you are going to Stay Put with your foster carers. You can request a Leaving Care Case worker through your social worker or Independent Reviewing Officer before you are 17½ old.

If you are a looked after child supported by the Disabled Children’s Service your social worker will support your transition to Adult Services. Your social worker will hold case responsibility and will be responsible for the preparation of your Pathway Plan. You will remain allocated to your Social Worker until you are 18 or you Looked After Child status ends (whichever comes first). Your Social Worker will carry out the function of a Personal Advisor.

When you are 18 years old and become former relevant, your Social Worker in the Preparing for Adulthood team will retain case responsibility for you and carry out the function of a Personal Advisor.

If your care provision is funded by health, you will be allocated a Leaving Care Case worker to carry out the Personal Advisor role.

We will prepare a pathway plan for all Eligible, Relevant and Former Relevant young people. Your pathway plan will replace your care plan from the age of 16 years. Your Pathway plan is about your needs and what we all need to do to ensure your successful transition to adult life.

How will I be involved?

For your Pathway Plan to be effective it will be based on an up to date needs assessment; setting out the support that will be offered to you to achieve your aspirations. We aim to fully involve you in the development of your Pathway Plan. You will be offered support from your social worker / leaving care case worker to express your wishes and views for your pathway plan review meeting.

Who else will be involved?

With your agreement, we will seek the views of our partner agencies when completing your pathway plan. This may include Housing, Education, Training and Employment providers, Benefits, Health Services and Youth Offending Service to ensure we all work together to provide you with clear and consistent advice and support.

What will be included in my pathway plan?

• Accommodation• Education, Training and Employment• Health and Development• Independent Living Skills• Family and Social Networks

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Pathway Planning

You are an Eligible Care Leaver if:

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Leaving Care entitlements: A Guide for young people April to October 2018

• Hobbies/social/leisure• Financial support• Further Support• Ethnicity, Culture and Identity• A Contingency plan

When will my plan be completed?

Your initial Pathway Plan will be completed before you are 16 years and 3 months old. If you are over 16 when you are first accommodated then this will be within 3 months of the date of you being accommodated.

What about changes to my plan?

Your pathway plan will then be updated and reviewed at least every 6 months or within 28 working days of any significant change to your plan such as change of address or if you request a review meeting. Your Pathway Plan will be written and available at your review meeting. A review chaired by your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) must take place before making a decision to confirm that you are ready to leave care.

The following figures are accurate as of 1st June 2015 and may be subject to change and will be reviewed annually. A copy of the financial framework is available on request.

Maintenance Allowance

Eligible and Relevant care leavers living independently will receive a Maintenance Allowance of £62.90 per week. (This is the JSA/Income Support benefit rate 2015/2016 + £5). This can be in

cash or in kind (for example food, utilities to the value of up to £62.90) and can be paid into your bank.

Your Leaving Care Case Worker will support you to access advice and, if eligible, claim benefits before your 18th birthday to allow for your claim to be processed.

Accommodation

Relevant Care Leavers cannot claim housing benefit, and the Leaving Care Team will pay your rent for you. This will be up to the level of housing benefit you would be able to claim when you are 18 so you don’t need to move when you turn 18.

The Leaving Care Team can fund accommodation support for Relevant Care Leavers if you need it.

Accommodation deposit / rent advance

If you are an eligible (living independently), relevant, or former relevant care leaver the Leaving Care team can support you secure accommodation by providing you with a bond and your first months’ rent.

If you are an eligible (living independently), relevant or former relevant care leaver you could receive up to £250 per year for ETE (Education to employment). This can be used for materials/books directly relating to your course. This can include work clothes or clothes for an interview.

Employment, Training and Education incentive

If you are an eligible (living independently), relevant or former relevant care leaver aged 16 - 21 you could receive up to £10 per week if your income is lower than £80 per week and you have engaged in some form of education, training or employment that week. This can include voluntary work or training courses. You do not get this money if you are in Higher Education.

Further Education

If you are a former relevant Care Leaver accessing further education or training after you are 21 years and ineligible for benefits the Leaving Care team will support you with rent and living costs for up to 2 years. If you are required to pay course costs we will support up to £2000 for up to 2 years.

Higher Education

A copy of the Higher Education policy is available on request. Financial support will be given to former relevant Care Leavers accessing a full time course.

You will be expected to claim your maximum entitlement to the maintenance/special support loan and grant from the Student Loans Company.

In addition to the finance available from the Student Loans Company you will be provided with a HE bursary of £3,100 per year for up to a maximum of 4 years (up to £12,400 in total). An additional £2000 will be paid to all care leavers upon graduation (‘Graduation payment’), to further assist with the cost of post graduate studies or to pay off some of their student loan. An additional £650 (over the whole of your course) is available to you for help towards the cost of books and high cost, one off items or ICT equipment.

If you are a Qualifying Care Leaver, or a former relevant care leaver with more than £16,000 in savings, or a former relevant care leaver on a part time HE course you will receive a one off payment of £2000.

If your daily cost to get to university is over £3 then we expect you to pay the first £3 and then NYCC will help you by paying up to £5 of your daily travel, based on the cheapest and most practical means to get to university.

NYCC will also help you to get to and from university at the start and end of each term if needed. Each university has different levels of support they offer to care leavers. Your Learning Care case worker can help you to identify this support.

Child care

If you are an eligible (living independently), relevant or former relevant care leaver aged 16 - 25 you can ask for help from the Leaving Care Team with child care costs to enable you to go to some education, training or employment. Your income will be assessed and universal services will be accessed first.

Contact and travel

If you are an eligible (living independently), relevant or former relevant care leaver you could receive up to £250 per year to keep in contact with significant others. This is likely to be given to you in the form of travel tickets, phone credit or stamps. You cannot access this money if you are in higher education.

Housing

Employment, Training and Education

Care Leaver Entitlements

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Clothing

If you are an eligible (living independently), relevant or former relevant care leaver you could receive up to £250 per year for clothing. This will be based on need, either to ensure clothing is suitable for the season, maternity clothing or ensuring adequate clothing for education, training or employment. You cannot access this money if you are in higher education.

Special events

If you are an eligible (living independently), relevant, or former relevant care leaver you could receive up to £80 per year for birthday, festivals (i.e. Eid, Christmas) or similar. On your 18th and 21st birthday you could receive up to £100 for each. This is likely to be in the form of a gift, but your Personal advisor will discuss this with you.

Emergency assistance

If you are an eligible (living independently), relevant, former relevant or qualifying care leaver you could receive up £180 per year if you had no other means to sustain yourself. This will be at the discretion of the Leaving Care Team and will be used as a last resort. It likely that it will be used to buy food for you or pay for utilities for you.

Exceptional circumstances

If you are an eligible (living independently), relevant, former relevant or qualifying care leaver you could access up to £500 for exceptional circumstances. The team manager of leaving care would need to approve this payment, examples would be to attend a wedding or funeral.

Setting Up Home Allowance

If you are an eligible, relevant or former relevant Care Leaver and living independently, you are entitled to up to £2000 for items to set up your home.

What is included in the Setting Up Home Allowance?

Your Setting Up Home Allowance will be held by the Leaving Care team and your Social worker or Leaving Care Case Worker will be able to support you to purchase items that you may need to live independently, for example;

TV licence • TV • TV stand • aerial/extension • washing machine • fridge/ fridge freezer • cooker • microwave • kitchen utensils • bin • mixing bowl & measuring jug • cutlery • chopping boards • tea, coffee & sugar pots • toaster • pots and pans • kettle • plates • washing up bowl • tea towels • dish drainer • cups • glasses • pyrex dishes • sieve • dining table/chairs • coffee table • sofa • carpet • clock • lamp • mirror • wardrobe • curtains • curtain rail • laundry basket • bed base and mattress • bedding • bedside table • quilt • iron and ironing board • chest of drawers • pillow • shower • bath mat • soap holder • bath towels • furniture for your child’s bedroom • contents insurance

This is not an exhaustive list and you can discuss any ideas with your Personal Advisor.

What help can I get for Education, Employment and Training?

Until you are 18 you are entitled to a Personal Education Plan (PEP) which will be carried out with your social worker. This will be regularly reviewed alongside your Pathway Plan. If you

have additional needs and have an Education, Health and Care plan this will continue to be reviewed annually and inform your pathway plan.

If you require a laptop or specific equipment and materials then this should be recorded as a need in your plan and your Social Worker or Leaving Care Case Worker will then be able to request this support for you. Any specific requests will be considered on an individual basis.

Alongside the financial support from Leaving Care, the 16 - 19 bursary is guaranteed for care leaver aged 16-19, and discretionary learner support can support older students. With your permission NYCC will confirm your care leaver status with the Education and training provider but you might want to talk to your School, College or learning provider to find out more.

How can you help me find somewhere to live?

As part of your preparation for adult life, your accommodation options will be discussed with you. Your Social Worker or Leaving Care Case Worker will support you to attend housing assessments, and complete housing applications. If you would like to stay with your foster carer your Social Worker or Leaving Care Case Worker will talk to you about Staying Put, a scheme which enables you to stay with your foster carers until you are 21 years.

We will help you to claim housing benefit or Local housing allowance if you are entitled to either.

You need to be aware that young people under 35 are normally only entitled to rent payments equivalent to the cost of a room in a shared house. Care leavers between 18 and 21 can get the rate for 1 bedroomed accommodation instead, but once you are 22 you can only get the shared room rate. Bear this in mind if you think you will be claiming benefit when you are 22.

What if I need to claim benefit?

Up to 6 weeks before your 18th birthday, your social worker or Leaving Care Case Worker will be able to support you to access welfare benefit advice and help you to make a claim for benefits according to your individual circumstances. This might be Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support or Universal Credit. You can apply online at www.direct.gov.uk or ask at your job centre for a paper claim.

If you are in full time further education, your Social Worker or Leaving Care Case Worker will assist you to claim Income Support.

Universal Credit is a new benefit for people on a low income or unemployed. It will make it easier to start a new job or work more hours. You can check if you can get universal credit by going to www.gov.uk/universalcredit

If you are ill or disabled you will be supported to make a claim for Employment Support Allowance. If you have permanent and substantial disability you can be support to claim Personal Independence Payment.

If you are a parent your Social Worker or Leaving Care Case Worker will be able to support you to claim Income Support, Maternity Allowance (if applicable), Healthy Start Vouchers, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits.

Forms of identification

The Learning Care team will financially support you with one form of photo ID and will financially support you to renew your passport once.

Please note that NYCC will be publishing its Care Leaver Core Offer in October 2018 which will replace this entitlements document. This document should not be referred to once our core offer is published.

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Leaving Care entitlements: A Guide for young people April to October 2018

Contact us

The leaving care team can be contacted on leaving.care@northyorks.gov.uk

North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 8AD

Our Customer Service Centre is open Monday to Friday 8.00am - 5.30pm (closed weekends and bank holidays). Tel: 01609 780 780 email: customer.services@northyorks.gov.uk web: www.northyorks.gov.uk

If you would like this information in another language or format please ask us. Tel: 01609 780 780 email: customer.services@northyorks.gov.uk

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Useful Contacts

Children’s Social Care County Hall, Racecourse Lane, Northallerton

Tel: 01609 780 780 www.northyorks.gov.uk

Emergency Duty Team (out of hours) Tel: 01609 780 780

National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) Tel: 0808 808 1001 (freephone) www.nyas.net

NYCC comments, compliments and complaints Tel: 01609 534 193

Young People’s Council Tel: 01609 536 621 www.northyorks.gov.uk/ypc twitter @YPCNY facebook /youngpeoplescouncil

Childline - 08001111 www.childline.org.uk

Benefit enquiry line (from landline) 0345 608 8545 (from mobile) 0845 608 8545 www.gov.uk

Job Seekers Allowance Tel: 0800 055 6688 https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance

Universal Credit www.gov.uk/universalcredit

Child and Working Tax Credits – 0845 3003900

Child Benefit – 0845 3021444

Money advice Service www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau www.cecab.org.uk

National Care Advisory Service www.leavingcare.org