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Agenda item

Care Leavers' Local Offer

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Minutes:

Leaving Care Service Leader presented to the Panel the Care Leaver’s Local Offer which had been several months in the making. The document/brochure was presented to internal officers, and more work had been added to this work. The statutory deadlines was within the next few weeks, with an expectation for publication.

 

The Published Local Offer to Care Leavers was a new duty that came about within the Social Work Act in 2017. A local offer would be required to cover six, and do a corporate piece of work, of the entire council and work done by the leaders.

 

In depth, officers shared the key part in developing the offer which was the final literation. The Panel heard that there was two key issues: employment and housing. This version had a strengthen offer where the care leavers would be provided accommodation by the Council, and how young people would be engaged to view properties.

 

Going forward, care leavers forum and setting up home allowance would be set up as this is a duty for the Council to provide money and goods in setting up their first home.

 

Feedback was received from the Executive Director for audio files and other summary and development. To summarise key entitlement to the young person via a Care Leavers app that was proposed to go live during Care Leavers Week in October.

 

Former care leaver, Ashleigh, who sat on the Panel, shared with the Panel of her time as a care leaver. She highlighted that she was not aware of the entitlements she was to receive from the Council as there was no information, and thus the care leaver’s brochure/document would have informative guidelines to help other care leavers that have little support. Ashleigh expressed that when something was in writing it gave the young person something to hold on to as it would be transparent.

 

Members of the Panel welcomed the brochure which was set in the right direction, and the forum was also welcomed to see the progression going forward. Conversely, there was discussions of the document which was quite lengthy, and suggested a more succinct information for young care leavers to access and have available. In addition, it was highlighted that as the brochure was targeted for young people, it would need to be memorable and identify more with the individual who may rely on the brochure as their bible. Some Members on the Panel wanted the style, culture, pictures and language adaptable to be suitable for the young person and indicate the right message. One Member of the Panel welcomed the comprehensive brochure and made comments that there was no issue with the document in terms of language as it was clear English and referred to the document/brochure as a handbook. Officers reassured the Panel that the deliverance of the brochure was a working process and the delivery would have to be accurate to deliver the right information for the older and the younger children.

 

Officers shared that there was different ways the document could be received, such as having a hardcopy, online, audio, and translated versions too, which was feedback from young persons. The idea of a mobile app was also welcomed by the Panel, where they learned that it would be downloaded for the young person to access a summary of things they need to know. There was also ongoing consultation around young people with disabilities.

 

In response to Members questions on pathway plan, officers shared that legally the pathway planning is for young people aged from sixteen years old, and incorporating the plan would be something that would be addressed at the time to network challenge and see what part of the local offer the young person would want. There was a starter point for this at this age and the resource may also bridge the link between the social worker, advisors and young person.

 

As Staying Put was addressed within the brochure, officers highlighted that for every case in every LAC Reviews and other meetings, conversations of what would be offered on their journey would be a continued dialogue. Officers further addressed that the care leaver’s document/brochure was for young people and an offer that they would be entitled to, which the service was required to deliver. It was therefore an important development that the service provided clarification for the young persons’ preparation of adult life.

 

Cllr Henson left the meeting at 7:10pm.

 

The Panel Co-Optees requested for support to be catered to foster carers to provide ongoing provision to their young person, and to be engaged at an earlier stage to address and support to the young person who may have many questions of their journey and further support in the process of closure. The Panel appreciated the comprehensive document as a tool for the foster carers. Further, Panel Members felt that the way Staying Put was worded seemed to imply that the young person makes the whole decision when it too is also a decision for the foster carer; and also that there was little information of transition for the Staying Put young person and an eighteen year old young person.

 

The Panel highlighted that there was a large number of care leavers residing within the borough, and the service’s expectations needed to be a clear aspect for what the care leavers can expect. It was addressed that not many care leavers get involved in change and this was something the service wanted to improve on.

 

The Chair addressed in her final remarks that this was a leaving document that would be evolving over time and would return for review. It was noted that since the first document version, there had been two or three other versions and this would continue to change as there was commitment to housing and other matters. A formal twelve month review to put on the work plan was pending, and this document would also be brought to Cabinet for further detailed discussion.

 

Action: The Panel advised for officers to look at re-wording the section of Staying Put within the brochure i.e. with further discussions with current carers.

 

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