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Contents

1. Planning
2. Students Completing A Level Courses
3. Young People in Further Education - 16 to 18
4. Young People Not in Education or Training - 16 to 18
5. Young People in Higher Education
6. 19th Birthday
7. Special Guardianship

1. Planning

All young people in the care of the local authority will be referred to the Leaving Care Team in accordance with the Transfer Protocol between the Permanency and Children In Care Team and the Leaving Care Team - see Service Remit and Transfer Protocol. A timetable will be set out for their assessment of need and Pathway Plan. The assessment and plan must consider the plans for post 18 accommodation and discussions with young people and foster carers should take place to establish their wishes and feelings regarding post 18 accommodation. The Pathway Plan must clearly set out the plan for post 18 accommodation. This will be reviewed on a 6 monthly basis.

Post 18 placements are not foster care placements. They are Supported Lodging placements for vulnerable young people. Carers will need to seek advice regarding liability to taxation.

2. Students Completing A Level Courses

For students 16 - 18 years of age completing A level courses an equivalent funding for their foster care placement will continue until the September following the completion of their course. This will allow stability until they commence higher education or give time to make a transition into independent living. Personal Advisers from the Leaving Care Team and fostering support workers will assist the young person to negotiate how the carer and young person deal with clothing allowances and personal allowances. The young person will also claim Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

3. Young People in Further Education - 16 to 18

Young people undertaking further education courses of at least 16 hours per week can with the agreement of carers remain in placement but the placement becomes a Supported Lodging placement. Young people over 18 in further education can claim benefits; these benefits will fund clothing and transport.

The carer will receive payment at the accreditation level they had immediately prior to the young person's 18th birthday (level 3 if contract care prior to 18th birthday) minus clothing allowance, transport and holiday allowance and any Housing Benefit claimed by the young person. If the young person stays with their carers following their 19th birthday, the carers will be paid at level 1.

Carers will also receive an allowance of £50 at Christmas and on the young person's birthday in order to purchase a gift for all young people supported under these arrangements.

The young person should be assisted to claim benefits (Income support and Housing Benefit) and claim EMA. Young people under 18 living in semi independent accommodation will receive maintenance allowance paid by the Leaving Care Service plus EMA if they are in training. All rent and utility bills, where applicable will be paid by the Leaving Care service. They will also receive £50 at birthday and Christmas (or alternative festival if desired). They will also receive a mega rider in term time and £200 clothing allowance per annum paid in two instalments - April and September.

Young people over 18, living independently and in training who are responsible for utility bills will receive £20 per month towards utility bills until their 19th birthday.

4. Young People Not in Education or Training - 16 to 18

Young people living independently who are not in education or employment receive the equivalent of income support paid by the Leaving Care service. They will also receive a payment of £50 on their birthday and at Christmas (this may be given in the form of a gift). They will receive a mega rider to allow them to attend educational appointments.

 If a young person fails to attend a connexions appointment his/her Personal Adviser will arrange another appointment and accompany them. If they fail to attend 3 meetings their mega rider will still be provided but will be deducted from their allowance. Their clothing allowance will be half the amount of young people in education, training or employment.

Young people not in education, employment or training can remain with their foster carers with the agreement of the carer and Leaving Care Team but the placement becomes a Supported Lodgings placement and payment is provided at the same level as a young person in further education.  There will be an expectation that the young person will attend all relevant appointments to secure education, employment or training. This arrangement will be reviewed on a monthly basis.

5. Young People in Higher Education

The Leaving Care Team will pay university fees, accommodation costs of young people at university. If young people wish to return to their foster carer at weekends and holidays the carers will receive a payment for the actual time the young person spends with them. This payment will be a percentage of the accreditation level (level 3 if contract carers) they had immediately prior to the young person going to university minus clothing allowance, transport and holiday allowance.

Young people at university will also receive a Laptop computer with Micro soft office or equivalent and text books necessary for their study. They will also receive Christmas and birthday payment to the value of £50 and a clothing allowance of £200 per annum paid in two instalments.

6. 19th Birthday

All Former Relevant Young People will receive a total of £20 on their 19th birthday.

7. Special Guardianship

Where a Special Guardianship Order is taken on a child 11 years and above and immediately prior to the making of that order the child was a child in care or at risk of being a child in care, he or she will be entitled to full leaving care services from the Leaving Care Team.

Where the child is below 11 years at the time of making the order and immediately prior to the making of that order the child was a child in care or at risk of being a child in care the entitlement will be subject to a needs analysis based on experience and the age of the child coming into care and agreed by the Service Manager for the Children in Care Services and the Service Manager for the area team.

If we have had no involvement prior to the receipt of the application for a Special Guardianship Order, the child will not be entitled to advice and guidance from the Leaving Care Team upon reaching 16 years.

End