Hampshire County Council

Children's Services Policy Review Committee Item 13

12 July 2005

Care Leavers' Passport to Success

Report by the Director of Social Services

This scheme will impact on the delivery of the following Corporate Aims:

Aim 1 - Maximising life opportunities

It will help to maximise the life chances and opportunities of care leavers (who are some of Hampshire's most vulnerable and disadvantaged young citizens), subsequently leading to better outcomes in their adult lives.

Aim 3 - Achieve economic prosperity

It will help to enable some of the most disadvantaged young adults, who, without such support are likely to experience long-term poverty, to succeed in achieving economic prosperity.

Aim 4 - Building strong and safe communities

It promotes social inclusion, where care leavers are supported to become active members of their communities. It will also help to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in Hampshire.

Aim 5 - Improving services

It will enable care leavers to receive better support from their corporate parents, which is tailored to their individual needs. The improved level of support will better enable them to make the smooth transition to adulthood that any good parents would aspire for their own children.

1.

Summary

1.1

This report seeks approval for Hampshire County Council, as corporate parents, to develop, within the available resources, the support offered to young people in Local Authority care in their transition to independence. Between 80 and 100 young people leave care each year and are entitled to the services identified within the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000.

The Act places a duty on the County Council to support these young people until the age of 21 (24 if they are still in education).

The total number of care leavers supported by our specialist service is currently 450.

1.2

The proposals would improve integrated working between departments within Hampshire County Council, and would also enhance the joined-up approach between the statutory, voluntary and private sector. The `passport' is aimed at helping care leavers make a smoother and more successful transition to a prosperous and fulfilled adulthood.

2.

Impact Assessment

In compiling this report, account has been taken of the requirements of the Corporate Equalities Plan and Race Scheme.

2.1

There will be a robust diversity policy in the recruitment and appointment of mentors.

2.2

Measures will be taken to ensure that young people with disabilities and those whose first language is not English are able to access the mentoring services and receive the same standard of mentoring as any other young person.

2.3

The Children's Services Department will monitor the gender and ethnicity of clients who receive the services that are described in section 4.2

3

Consultation with Local Members

3.1

There has been no specific discussions with members as the "Passport" is a programme that focuses on the outcomes for all the county's care leavers.

4.

Children Act 2004

This scheme will impact on delivery in relation to the five outcomes identified within Every Child Matters and is subsequently underpinned by the Children Act 2004.

Be healthy:

Care leavers will be better supported to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles, hence enhancing both their mental and physical health.

Stay Safe:

Through providing more suitable and stable accommodation for care leavers, where they are less likely to be exposed to violence, crime and illegal drugs, it will help care leavers to sustain a safe lifestyle.

Enjoy and achieve:

It will increase care leavers' access to leisure and recreational facilities. Care leavers will receive more recognition for their achievements from their corporate parents, which will raise their self-esteem and encouraging them to further succeed.

Make a positive contribution:

Providing a higher level of support will help to reduce offending among care leavers. It will also better enable care leavers to develop the necessary skills and abilities required to lead successful adult lives.

Achieve economic well-being:

It will improve care leavers' access to further and higher education, as well as enabling them to be socially included within their local communities and not be subject to poverty.

5.

Key Elements of the Proposal

5.1

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

If a person is eligible under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and is not living with his/her family, he/she is entitled to and currently receives:

A needs-led grant for household items when he/she moves into independent accommodation and appropriate guidance in spending the grant effectively

Support to find and sustain suitable accommodation

Support to obtain suitable home insurance (£50 per person)

A mentor. If he/she lives out outside of Hampshire, he/she can receive e-mentoring services

Support in accessing Higher Education. If he/she does access higher education, he/she can receive a grant from Hampshire County Council, equivalent to the expected parental contribution

Achievement awards (up to the value of £100 per year) for reaching personal targets. Any such targets must be recorded in the pathway plan, with agreed timescales. Timescales should always be within a period of twelve months.

5.2

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

If a person is eligible under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, and is not living with his/her family and is following his/her pathway plan, then Hampshire County Council with its partners should explore opportunities to provide him/her with:

A trust fund until he/she is twenty-one

A pass that gives discounted travel on local buses and trains (£50 per person)

A pass that gives discounted access to facilities at his/her local leisure centre (£50 per person)

Additional support in managing his/her finances

A driving bursary. A young person may receive a maximum of twenty lessons, one theory test and one practical test. (£470 per person)

5.3

Eligibility for any of the items mentioned in 5.2 is at the discretion of the personal advisor in the leaving care team, in consultation with the Team Manager and the Service Manager.

These additional elements of the "Passport" should be phased in when funding and key partners are identified.

5.4

Where there are limited resources, eligibility shall be determined on a needs-led basis, decided by the Service Manager.

Please refer to the `Care Leavers' Passport to Success' background papers 1 and 2.

Recommendation(s)

That the PRC advises the Executive Member for Children's Services to agree that Hampshire County Council should:

1

Develop the key elements of the proposal, as described in section 5, through a phased approach, as and when funding can be made available.

2.

Working in partnership with the Legal Department, investigate the possiblility of a preferred provider for home insurance.

3.

Work with the private and voluntary sectors to develop an e-mentoring scheme.

4.

With support from the Environment Department, develop partnership with local transport companies to give care leavers discounted travel.

5.

With support from the Recreation and Heritage Department, negotiate arrangements with district councils in developing schemes to allow care leavers discounted access to recreation and leisure facilities.

6.

With support from the County Council and Voluntary Partners, develop a scheme to enable care leavers to receive support in managing their finances.

7.

Develop partnerships with the private sector in providing driving lessons.

8.

Continue to develop a robust partnership with the Aim Higher project and Compact agreements with all universities in the south east region..

9

Further strengthen the County Council's partnership with Strategic Housing Authorities and Housing Providers to continue developing a wider choice of housing.

10.

Develop new passport partnerships through a pilot project approach.