Become Charity Care Leaver Fact Sheets

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FACTSHEET

A GUIDE TO FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR CARE LEAVERS AGED 18 AND OVER, THAT YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO OR CAN APPLY FOR.

This is from a series of FREE factsheets for young people with care experience, produced by Become.

Financial entitlements for care leavers

ALL ABOUT

THE MONEY Support from your council Your council has a duty to provide the following financial assistance once you turn 18: Leaving Care Grant (setting up home allowance) To furnish your accommodation. Government guidance says at least £2,000.

16-19 Bursary Aged 16-19?

In education? You should receive £1,200 each academic year from your college.

Higher Education Bursary In higher education? You’re entitled to £2,000,

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usually paid in instalments over the duration of your course.

Vacation accommodation for higher education You should either get somewhere to live or help paying your rent.

Assistance with costs for education, employment and training All councils should have a financial policy for care leavers and your pathway plan should highlight the support you need. For example, money towards driving lessons.

Benefits (help with living costs, from the government) Lots of factors affect which benefits you can apply for and the amount you’ll receive. Benefit calculators are a handy way to work out what you’re entitled to!

Try turn2us.org.uk and entitledto.co.uk.

You don’t have to tell the job centre you’re a care leaver, but if you do, they should provide extra support.

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The three most common benefits for single young people are: ❍❍ Jobseeker’s Allowance If aged 1824, not in full-time education, actively seeking/available for work or working under 16 hours per week, you could receive £57.90 per week*. ❍❍ Income support If aged 16-19, in fulltime education and either a parent, not living with a parent, or a refugee, you could receive £57.90 (£73.10 if you’re a parent)**. Care leavers can continue to receive income support until age 22 if your claim started before you turned 21 and you’re still in education.

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❍❍ Housing benefit If you live away from family, have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings, you can get help with your rent. People who cannot claim include EU jobseekers, asylum seekers without leave to remain and full-time students (unless you have children). Different rates apply depending on where you live.

Care leavers eligible for housing benefit should be entitled to the full one-bedroom rate up to age 22.

By 2017, Universal Credit will replace some individual benefits with a single payment that considers all your financial needs.

If you’re receiving benefits and need extra help, you can apply for a budgeting loan. It’s interest-free, but repayments come out of your benefits. More info: gov.uk/budgeting-loans.

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FACTSHEET

FOR SUPPORT AND ADVICE, OR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS, CALL THE CARE ADVICE LINE WEEKDAYS, 10:30AM-3PM

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0800 023 2033❍

Financial entitlements for care leavers

Grants (these don’t need to be repaid) Some organisations help young people in need by awarding grants. Read websites carefully for full eligibility details before applying. Usually, grants are only made if you’ve tried all other options.

Care Leavers’ Foundation awards grants of up to £400 to care leavers aged 18-29 for things like household items, emergency living expenses, education costs, medical needs, training and employment. thecareleaversfoundation.org Capstone Care Leavers Trust awards grants of £300£2,000 to care leavers aged 17-25, for education courses and equipment (including travel), driving lessons/tests and household items. capstonecareleaverstrust.org Buttle UK awards grants of up to £2,000 to estranged young people aged 16-20 for support with education, employment and training, setting up home, and improving emotional and physical wellbeing.

Applications should be made by statutory or voluntary organisations on your behalf. buttleUK.org The Spark Foundation awards grants of up to £600 to care leavers up to age 25 for setting up home, education/ employment, skills and interests. sparkfoundation.org.uk

* Correct for financial year 2017/18 – full rules at gov.uk/jobseekersallowance/what-youll-get ** Correct for financial year 2017/18 – for full eligibility see full rules at gov.uk/ income-support/overview

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Lawrence Atwell’s Charity awards grants of £100-£1,500 to young people aged 16-26 to help with training courses, including buying equipment, living expenses during the course and fees for tuition, enrolment or exams. theskinnerscompany.org.uk/grants-andtrusts/lawrence-atwells-charity

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The Prince’s Trust awards grants for young people aged 17-25, working fewer than 16 hours, or in education for fewer than 14 hours per week, to help with getting into work, education or training; loans are also on offer to help you start a business. princes-trust.org.uk Turn2Us have a grant search tool. Enter your postcode for info on grants you could apply for. turn2us.org.uk Struggling to pay utility bills?

Some major providers have debt relief funds. See which ones, and how to apply at charisgrants.com/ application-forms

Please note: this information should be used as guidance and is in accordance with English legislation.

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FACTSHEET

Who’s who in Children’s Services?

THE

NAME GAME

A GUIDE TO THE PEOPLE YOU’LL PROBABLY MEET IN CHILDREN’S SERVICES, IF YOU’RE IN CARE OR A CARE LEAVER. ALTHOUGH JOB TITLES MIGHT DIFFER BETWEEN COUNCILS, THEY’LL DO THE SAME JOB.

This is from a series of FREE factsheets for young people with care experience, produced by Become.

Social Worker What they do: In care? Then you’ll have a Social Worker. They make decisions about your care and manage your care plan.

They should be in regular contact with you and visit you at least every 6 weeks.

How they help: They must listen to you and include your wishes and feelings in your care plan. They should explain decisions and ensure you know how to get your voice heard. You should always have your social worker’s contact details!

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Personal Advisor (PA)

What they do: Over 16 or a care leaver?

You’ll have a PA. They’ll take over your care planning and complete your pathway plan reviews until you’re 21 (or older if you’re in education or training).

How they help: They should stay in regular contact, helping you get into education, training and employment.

They also advise on things like housing, money, health and wellbeing to ensure you’re ready to live independently.

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Team Manager What they do: They decide who your social worker or PA is and make sure they’re doing a good job, while providing advice and approving decisions.

How they help: They can attend meetings where important things are discussed. Sometimes getting your views across to them helps make sure things get done!

Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) What they do: If you’re in care, you should have an IRO. They’ll chair your care planning meetings and ensure the decisions made are acted on. If you have siblings in care, they should have the same IRO as you.

How they help: They’ll make sure decisions are made in your best interests, listen to you and ensure your views are listened to. They’ll also tell you how to make a complaint and will try to resolve any disagreements you have about the services you receive. They’ll stand up for your rights!

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FACTSHEET

FOR SUPPORT AND ADVICE, OR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS, CALL THE CARE ADVICE LINE WEEKDAYS, 10:30AM-3PM

Care ADVICE LINE FREEPHONE

0800 023 2033❍

Who’s who in Children’s Services?

Director of Children’s Services (DCS) What they do: They’re in charge of Children’s Services. The DCS must make sure that the service does the best it can, to keep you safe, and make sure schools are of a high standard.

How they help: You might never see the DCS but it’s their job to check your council gives you the best possible service.

Advocates/Children’s Rights Officers What’s the difference? If you’re in care, you’re legally entitled to an advocate.

Advocates usually work for independent organisations, whereas Children’s Rights Officers work for the council. Their roles are the same though.

How they help: They should make sure your voice is heard, listen to you, help you make a complaint, check you’re getting what you’re entitled to and that you understand your rights, and support you in important meetings.

Participation Officer What they do: They work closely with Children in Care Councils to make sure young people’s views on services are heard.

How can they help? They often organise fun activities and offer opportunities like training and meeting other young people in care. If you have a problem, they can help you find the right person to talk to.

Independent Visitor (IV) What they do: IVs are volunteers who aren’t connected to the council, who befriend and support children in care (like a mentor). If you’re in care, the law says that you must be offered the chance to have an IV.

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How they help: They’ll be someone to talk to, give advice, support you and be a friend!

Virtual School Head Teacher & Designated Teacher What they do: They’ll check your school/ college understands the issues that might affect your education and keep track of how you, and all children in care, are doing. They’ll also be responsible for your Personal Education Plan (PEP), which should help you fulfil your potential.

How they help: They’ll help your school/ college support you and meet your needs, checking you’re involved in setting learning goals and that there’s a smooth transition if you change courses.

Designated Nurse What they do: If you’re in care, you should have a health assessment every year (twice a year for under 5’s) overseen by the Designated Nurse. They’ll work with your social worker to ensure your health needs are met.

How they help: They understand issues facing children in care and give advice and support with this in mind.

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FACTSHEET

THE PATHWAY PLAN IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT WHICH SETS OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, WHAT SUPPORT YOU NEED AND HOW THE COUNCIL WILL HELP YOU GET IT.

This is from a series of FREE factsheets for young people with care experience, produced by Become.

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Your pathway plan

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PATHWAY TO

SUCCESS What’s a pathway plan and why is it important?

Every looked after child must have a pathway plan, usually starting around your 16th birthday. It’s the law!* Your pathway plan says how the council will help you prepare to live independently. It’s like a contract between you, the council and other important professionals in your life.

Most importantly, it gives you a chance to get your wishes and feelings written down, as the plan must take your views into account.

When preparing your pathway plan, remember: ❍❍ Raise anything you’re unhappy about. ❍❍ There should always be a ‘plan B’ in case things don’t turn out as expected. ❍❍ Disagreements with your SW/ PA should be noted carefully so everyone’s point of view is clear. ❍❍ Other people can be asked about your plan, such as your family, foster

carer, teachers, health services, IRO and advocate (but not without you knowing). ❍❍ The last year of your pathway plan should focus on support you can get while living independently. Good pathway plans should say who’s there to help you, what they can do and how you can get in touch.

Reviews

Don’t forget:

Your pathway plan should be reviewed at least every 6 months, but you can ask for it to be reviewed any time. If there are any big changes in your life, there should be a review, because your plan should reflect what’s happening now.

Whenever your pathway plan is reviewed, you and your Social Worker/PA should sign it and you should get a copy. Keep it safe and check it regularly to make sure everyone’s sticking to it!

❍❍ It’s about your life ❍❍ You must be involved in completing it ❍❍ It should say how your council will help you ❍❍ You should always have a copy

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FACTSHEET

FOR SUPPORT AND ADVICE, OR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS, CALL THE CARE ADVICE LINE WEEKDAYS, 10:30AM-3PM

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0800 023 2033❍

Your pathway plan

What should my pathway plan cover?

Health If you have health problems, your pathway plan should say how the council will help you manage them. It’s not just for problems though: it should also say how the council will help you live a healthy lifestyle (e.g. helping you with gym membership).

Education, training and employment Your plan should make sure you have everything you need to succeed and are on track to achieve your career goals. This includes clear aims for you to meet and how the council will support you, including financially (need a laptop for your studies…? Raise that here!).

How you feel❍ How do you feel about yourself? How do you get on with other people? Are there things that could help? Let your social worker/PA know so they can follow it up.

Family and social network Do you have a good relationship with your family? Have you got people to turn to when you need them? Your plan should say how the council will help you have good social and family relationships.

If you’re unhappy about contact arrangements with your family, speak up here!

* Set out in The Children Act 1989 & Leaving Care Act 2000

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Identity This is about what makes you… you!!

Your council should help you with any questions you have about your past, support you need around language, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation, as well as ensuring you have the right ID documents and know how to access your files.

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Your practical skills This should look at how prepared you are for life as an adult. What do you need to learn to be ready to live independently – and how will the council help you do that?

Money It’s really important there’s a clear statement of the financial support you’ll get from your local authority. This should state your entitlements and other help you’ll get, how to get it and when.

It should cover help you might need to budget, savings you may have and benefits you’re entitled to.

Where you live Your council should assess your accommodation (current or planned) and see if it’s suitable for you, including location, safety, bills and rent. Future housing options should be explained, including plans to move to independent accommodation and what needs to be done for this to happen. Not happy where you live? Let them know!

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FACTSHEET

GOING TO COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IS A BIG STEP, BUT THERE’S SUPPORT AVAILABLE IF YOU’RE CAREEXPERIENCED. THIS IS A GUIDE TO WHAT YOU’RE ENTITLED TO.

This is from a series of FREE factsheets for young people with care experience, produced by Become.

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Entitlements in higher education

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HELPING YOU

REACH HIGHER

Support from your council Pathway Plan Every looked after child must have a Pathway Plan1, usually starting around your 16th birthday. It’s like a contract between you and the council, setting out how they will help you live independently.

Whether you want to do a degree, a degree apprenticeship, become a doctor or a basketball coach, get it written into your Pathway Plan. Check out Care Advice Line Factsheet 3 for more on getting the most out of your Pathway Plan.

Personal Adviser Whether you’re in education or not, you’re entitled to support from your Personal Adviser (PA) until your 25th birthday.2 Once you’re at college or university, you can contact your PA for support both in and out of term-time.

Every local authority must publish their local offer and financial entitlements policy for care leavers – ask for a copy of both documents so you know what you’re entitled to.3

www. becomecharity.org.uk/care-advice-line

Become runs Propel, a website which lets you search for the support on offer to care-experienced students applying for higher education courses at UK colleges and universities. Check it out at propel.org.uk Higher Education (HE) bursary You are entitled to a bursary of £2,000 if you are studying at university, paid by your local authority. This is usually paid in instalments over the duration of your course.

Holidays Your local authority should give you money to live on over the holidays, and somewhere to live if you don’t have yearround accommodation where you’re at university. Talk to your PA to find out what your local authority offers.

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FACTSHEET

FOR SUPPORT AND ADVICE, OR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS, CALL THE CARE ADVICE LINE ON 0800 023 2033 (WEEKDAYS, 10:30AM-3PM) OR EMAIL ADVICE@ BECOMECHARITY. ORG.UK.

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Become would like to thank the UPP Foundation for their generous support in producing this factsheet.

1. Set out in The Children Act 1989 & Leaving Care Act 2000 2. Children and Social Work Act 2017, s3, and will come into place later in 2018.

3. Children and Social Work Act 2017, s2, and will come into place later in 2018.

4. Maximum Tuition Fee Loan for the 2018/2019 academic year in England, from https://www.gov.uk/studentfinance/new-fulltime-students 5. Maximum Maintenance Loan for the 2018/2019 academic year in England, from https://www.gov.uk/studentfinance/new-fulltime-students

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Entitlements in higher education

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Support from universities, colleges and other sources Tick the Box It is vital that you ‘Tick the box’ on UCAS form so that your chosen universities and colleges can let you know what additional support you are entitled to. This could include finance, accommodation and other support services. Ticking the box is confidential and the university will only share your information with people who need to know it, and who you have agreed should be informed.

Student loan Student Finance England will give you a loan to pay for your tuition fees (of up to £9,250 per year)4 and a maintenance loan for your living costs (of up to £8,700 per year, or £11,354 if you are in London)5.

You don’t have to start paying your loans back until you are earning over a certain amount. As a care leaver, unless you are earning an income, you will probably be entitled to a full loan for both fees and maintenance. Your HE bursary does not count as income.

Care leaver bursary Lots of universities offer bursaries specifically for care leavers – you can see which universities offer this kind of support by using Propel. The amounts vary and can be from £1,000 and £3,000

per year. Universities also offer hardship funds in case you have trouble paying for the things you need. There are also funds for things like study trips and equipment.

Some will be grants, others will be loans that you have to pay back.

Charitable grants The Unite Foundation (www. unitefoundation.co.uk) offers a scholarship scheme with some universities, providing free accommodation for young people without family support, including care leavers. Some charities offer grants to care leavers, such as the Rees: The Care Leavers Foundation (www.reesfoundation. org), Buttle UK (www.buttleuk.org) and the Spark Foundation (www.sparkfoundation. org.uk). For more information, see Become’s Care Advice Line Factsheet 1.

Support for refugees, asylum seekers and people with discretionary leave to remain If you have refugee status, you are entitled to the same student loans as UK students. You should also ask about specific bursaries and grants available at your university. Asylum seekers are not eligible for loans from Student Finance England, but there are bursaries and grants available to you. Article 26 (article26.hkf.org.uk) provides bursaries for asylum seeking students – visit their website to find out which universities are

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There’s loads of support available to help you to achieve great things. You can do it! participating. If you have discretionary leave to remain, you might be entitled to help from Student Finance England.

For advice, contact Just for Kids Law (www.justforkidslaw.org).

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FACTSHEET

A GUIDE TO THE SORT OF PLACES YOU MAY LIVE IN WHILE YOU’RE IN CARE, AND YOUR HOUSING OPTIONS WHEN YOU LEAVE CARE.

This is from a series of FREE factsheets for young people with care experience, produced by the charity for children in care and young care leavers, Become.

Where you’ll live in care

HAVING A

PLACE TO LIVE Where you might live when you’re in care Foster home This is when you live with and are cared for by foster carers in a family home. There may be other foster children there as well as you. Your foster carers might also have their own children.

You might be in a foster home for a short time, or a long time – your social worker should tell you what the plan is for how long you will stay. Your foster carers will either work for the local authority or for an organisation called an independent fostering agency, who will give them training and advice on how to be a good foster carer.

Children’s home This is a big house with other children and you’ll be cared for by a team of staff. You’ll have your own room and there are also shared areas to relax, eat and have fun in.

A respite care placement This is when you go to stay in a different place to where you normally live - for example if your usual carers are ill or if they need to go away for any reason. This is only temporary.

A secure placement This is a residential placement (like a children’s home)

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Moving suddenly

that is locked. You may have to live in one if people think you are likely to hurt yourself or someone else, although the purpose is to keep you safe, not to punish you.

Kinship care This is when you live with someone in your family (not your parents) who has been approved by your local authority to be your kinship carer.

If you are told you have to move from one care placement to another and you weren’t expecting this, then it’s important to remember that your wishes and feelings HAVE to be taken into account by the people deciding about the move. If you have any worries about moving placement then you

should talk to your social worker and tell them how you feel (or personal advisor if you’ve left care but are under 25). If you don’t think your views are being listened to, you can contact your independent reviewing officer or request support from an advocate (see Factsheet 2 The Name Game if you’re not sure who these people are and how they can help you).

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FACTSHEET

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANYTHING IN THIS FACTSHEET CONTACT THE CARE ADVICE LINE ON 0800 023 2033, WEEKDAYS 10AM – 5PM. WE’RE HERE TO HELP CHILDREN IN CARE AND THE ADULTS WHO LOOK AFTER THEM.

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Where you’ll live in care

Where you live when you leave care When you turn 16 your social worker will start helping you think about what you want to do when you leave care. You don’t have to leave until 18 and it’s a really good idea to stay in care as long as you can, with people looking after you and helping you think about where you want to go in life.

The law says that your local authority has to provide you with somewhere suitable to live when you leave care. Your social worker should ask you for your views on where you want to live and they should write down any decisions you and they make about your future in a document called your pathway plan (make sure you have a copy of this so you know what the local authority has promised you).

When you move on from foster or residential care, the accommodation you choose with your social worker or personal advisor will depend on what’s available, and how much independence you (and they) think you’re ready for.

Here are some of your options Staying Put If you are settled and happy in your foster placement, and your foster carers want you to stay, you can ask to remain there until you are 21. At 18 you’ll still become a ‘care leaver’, but really nothing much will change.

where you can practise living independently.

They are different in each local authority, but you may stay there for a few months or longer while you develop your skills in managing a tenancy, budgeting and living alone while still being supported by adults.

Supported lodgings This is similar to ‘staying put’, but you’ll be living with a new carer and you’ll have more independence than when you were in your foster placement.

Specialist accommodation If you have certain needs (for example, a disability) that can’t be met by common types of accommodation, you should be given housing that’s right for you.

Foyers and supported housing Similar to a hostel, but much nicer and for 10 to 100 people. You can usually stay up to one year. They also provide opportunities for education, training and employment.

Some young people may be housed in a hostel or other temporary accommodation such as a ‘B&B’, but this is only appropriate if you are over 18, and should only be for very short periods of time.

Independent accommodation This is rented accommodation with extra support if you need it, such as financial advice.

Training flats/supported accommodation (sometimes called ‘semi-independence’) These are flats

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University accommodation If you are going to university, the local authority must find you somewhere to live during the holidays (which might be at the university) or give you money towards it. There are other ways to fund your accommodation the rest of the time – take a look at Factsheet 4 in this series or our website Propel.org.uk which gives information about what each university offers care leavers.

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FACTSHEET

A GUIDE TO THE CARE SYSTEM AND WHAT RIGHTS YOU HAVE WHEN YOU’RE IN CARE.

This is from a series of FREE factsheets for young people with care experience, produced by the charity for children in care and young care leavers, Become.

Care and your rights

PAGE 1 OF 2

GET TO KNOW

YOUR RIGHTS

Why do people go into care?

There are many reasons why you might have gone into care. It could be because your family aren’t looking after you properly or because something bad has happened at home. Whatever the reason is, it’s really important to remember that it’s not your fault and that lots of children go into care. Going into care can be a confusing and worrying time as it often means adults you have only just met making big decisions about your life, such as where you might live and when you might see your parents or brothers and sisters. However, it can also be a chance for a fresh start for you.

Your life will definitely be different, but lots of young people say that they were glad they were taken into care and that it was better than living with their family.

What is the ‘care system’?

If you are a child under the age of 18 in the UK and you cannot live with your family for some reason, the government has to make sure that you are safe and well cared for. You will go into care and be in what is sometimes called the ‘care system’, which means how care is organised.

What bits of law affect being in care?

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Section 20 of the Children Act 1989 Voluntary Care If you’re in care under section 20, it doesn’t involve a court and your parents will still have legal responsibility for you, shared with the local authority. This sometimes happens when a child’s parents are in prison, or when a young person’s relationship with their parents has broken down, or when a young person is homeless. It can also happen when a young person asks to be taken into care.

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Section 31 of the Children Act 1989 – Care Order This is when the court makes a ‘care order’ for you, because it’s likely you might be harmed physically or emotionally if you stay living at home. This means that the main parental responsibility for you is taken over by your local authority. If you’re in the care of a local authority, you will be considered a ‘looked after child’ (the legal term for being in care) and your local authority takes the role of your ‘corporate parent’ which means they have responsibility for you. As a looked after child, there are several things that the law says your local authority must do for you to ensure you are safe and well cared for.

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FACTSHEET

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANYTHING IN THIS FACTSHEET CONTACT THE CARE ADVICE LINE ON 0800 023 2033, WEEKDAYS 10AM – 5PM

Care ADVICE LINE

Care and your rights

PAGE 2 OF 2

So, you’re in care… what are your rights?

The good news is: you have lots of rights - so make sure you know what they are! Here are some of the main things your local authority has to do for you: ➜ They must make sure you have somewhere safe to live. (See Factsheet 4 for more about this.) ➜ They must make sure you are in education and have something called a Personal Education Plan to make sure your educational needs are met and that you are supported to achieve your goals. ➜ They must meet your health needs – this includes your physical and mental health. If you think you need help with anything to do with your health, remember you have a RIGHT to be helped. Tell your

carer or social worker. ➜ They must give you a social worker, and your social worker’s job is to make sure you’re happy and that you’re cared for. It’s important that you feel able to talk with your social worker and tell them what you need.

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Your social worker must: ❍❍ Visit you at least every six weeks.

When they visit, they must spend some time with you alone and get to know you. ❍❍ Listen to your views and take them seriously. They must involve you in decisions about your life. This includes where you’ll live, who’ll look after you, your education, health, and contact with your family.

You must also have an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) Everyone in care has an IRO, and their role is to make sure that your social worker is doing everything they should be to help you.

You also have the right to Make a complaint You have the right to complain formally about your care and your local authority should let you know who you need to contact to do this. Start by telling

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❍❍ Write you a Care Plan. This should consider all your needs, like your health and development, family relationships, where you will live, your education, and much more. Your Care Plan will go with you throughout your time in care. It’s your document so it’s important you tell your social worker what is important to you so it is written in the plan.

your social worker that you want to make a complaint. They should then help you contact an advocate and tell you what to do next.

An advocate Their job is to help you get your opinions heard if you don’t think decision makers are listening to you. An advocate can come and help you in meetings about being in care – they will help the decision makers understand how you feel and what you want.

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