How we will support you

You can access support from the Leaving Care service until you are 25

We will try to make sure that you keep the same personal adviser, but this isn’t always possible

Allocation of a personal advisor is based upon your individual needs

A pathway assessment (needs
assessment)

This should take place no later than 3 months after your 16th birthday or 3 months after you become looked after

You are also now able to return to the service for help and support from 21 to 25 and we will undertake an assessment with you to establish how best we can provide you with the support that you need

A pathway plan.
We will prepare a pathway plan with you that sets out how we will help you to achieve the things you want to. We will review the plan at least every 6 months with you and we will always involve you in preparing your plan.

You are expected to actively participate in your plan so that we are able to support you with your hopes and aspirations.

You should expect to receive a copy of the results of the assessment and pathway plan and of each reviewed pathway plan thereafter.

A pathway plan will be completed based upon your individual needs

The Leaving Care service will support and offer advice where appropriate.

Support and guidance in accessing other forms of support and specialist advice

Your personal advisor will help you to make contact with other community-based resources and activities

Regular visits to see you and keep in touch

We must have face to face contact with care leavers every 2 months. This can be more frequent if needed.

For some 16 and 17-year-olds this could be every three months if settled.

We would expect other forms of communication in between, such as telephone calls or emails.

Once you turn 21 contact arrangements can be decided and agreed upon between you and the Leaving Care service.

If you are not in touch with us, we will write to you every year to remind you that you can still contact us if you need to.

If you are under 25 and would like a Leaving Care service, you can re-refer yourself directly to the
Leaving Care team.

We will provide you with a Higher Education (HE) bursary.

University – A bursary is available to care leavers attending university – See financial entitlements for current bursary details.

Other Higher education routes – Your PA will discuss with you the support on offer.

Ensure that you can access careers guidance.

This will be through referrals and appointments to Connexions or the adult careers service, both of whom work in the same building as the Leaving Care service. We would also encourage you to access careers guidance in your school, college or university

You may have other services and professionals involved and we will work closely with them to ensure that your aspirations and needs are being met. This could be social workers, teachers, college tutors or training providers. We also have good links with the Derby Virtual School for looked after children and care leavers.

Additional financial support to cover travel costs, IT costs, book allowance, set up costs and material costs.

Access to DCC apprenticeships, work placements and traineeships. 

We will support you in terms of accessing a bursary if you are in training or at college. If the provider does not operate a bursary we will pay an equivalent amount. 

The amount will of bursary we will pay will be the same as the national amount of up £1200 per year.

You will be expected to attend regularly and behave responsibly.

We can help to provide you with support so that you can obtain the necessary employment skills.

We would expect that you would participate positively in these sessions

We will celebrate your achievements. This is both through incentives (see finance section) or an event

You can expect some financial rewards and also recognition from your corporate parents for your achievements.

We will be aspirational for you with regards to your education, training or employment plans. Encouraging you to apply to university, apprenticeships and employment

In our conversations with you, we will try to encourage you to think positively about your options and to aim as high as you can.

Support you with accessing taster sessions and open days to our local universities and colleges

If you have left care we still have this responsibility. We expect that you will engage with your PA and support workers. Failure to live in the accommodation could place it at risk

As a care leaver, you will be entitled to an additional Corporate need on Derby Homefinder as well as other needs depending on your current housing-related circumstances.   

Derby City Council exempts care leavers from Council Tax wherever you live in the country – speak to your personal advisor about this for more information 

To support you in setting up your first home.  

After the first year, we will support you to set up the most suitable method to start paying the licence yourself.

Tenancy and independence training
for care leavers.

We will support you to access support and training around living independently.

A Health Passport outlining your known health history.

You will receive this as you turn 18 years of age and it is a summary of your health information
including any immunisations you may have had and is an important document for you to keep.

Help you to register with health services.

We will expect that you will work with your personal advisor (PA) to ensure that this happens and that you are registered with all health services, such as GP, dentist and opticians.

Help you to manage your emotional well-being. This may include Children and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and then the transition to adult mental health services.

We will discuss this with you as part of your pathway plan and ensure that we listen to you so that you can access the right support and help.

This will not always necessarily mean a lift to these appointments but may mean access to public transport where it is suitable.

Provide help and support to you if you are a young parent.

We will make sure that alongside yourself we will get you the support you need.

Support and advice in accessing specialist services. For example, Drug and Alcohol services, and domestic violence support, amongst others.

Your PA will discuss this with you before making referrals to other agencies.

If you agree then you would be expected to keep the appointments.

Access to leisure and cultural activities.

Your PA will support you in identifying suitable activities to assist in your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Please discuss this with your PA and raise this in your pathway plan.

Setting up home grant

Maintenance Allowance

Equivalent to Benefit rate

This is for those young people living semi-independently who are relevant.

Birthday and festival (eg Christmas,
Eid) allowances / gifts

The amounts are reviewed each year. Please see Leaving Care Financial Entitlements section.

We will make sure that you can access the financial advice you need so that you can learn to manage your money

We would expect that you would take up the help of assistance if you are in need of help with regards to finances.

Communication Allowance. £15 per month. Reviewed annually. For all care leavers and ‘ eligible’ young people who are living semi-independently

You are expected to provide your personal advisor (PA) and Leaving Care service with an up to date telephone number and email address in order to access this payment

We have a principle that any care leaver should have a minimum income equivalent to the basic benefit rate plus £30 after housing costs, Council Tax and transport to work or training has been deducted. 

Each case will be addressed on its individual merits but this is an underpinning principle so it’s important that you discuss this with your PA.

Council Tax exemption for all care leavers

Your PA will discuss this with you if you live outside of the city in the first instance or support you if there are any problems.

This will need to involve a discussion between yourself and your personal adviser in the first instance.

The Leaving Care Service will support you to achieve financial independence.

Support with contact

Arrangements should be made with your PA and agreed upon within your pathway plan.

The finances available will be assessed on an individual basis.

Support to participate in activities, hobbies and pastimes

We will actively encourage you to participate in activities that interest you.

This could be help with membership of clubs, sports equipment, music clubs etc.

The Leaving Care Service will facilitate monthly and annual activities for you to engage with and enjoy. Please speak with your PA for a timetable of events.

Financial support may be offered to support you in accessing relevant activities. This needs to be discussed with your PA and recorded in your pathway plan.

Support for independent transport

Financial contributions may be offered towards driving lessons, purchase of a bicycle and other transportation requirements. This will form part of and be recorded in your pathway plan.

We will actively support you to maintain and develop healthy and positive relationships with important and significant people in your life wherever appropriate

This might include providing support to enable family contact, developing social networks and advice / guidance as required.

Arrangements should be made with your personal advisor (PA) and agreed upon within your pathway plan.

The finances available will be assessed on an individual basis.

We will ensure that you have your own passport, we will ensure that you have a national insurance number, copies of birth certificates if required.

It's important that you have the essential ID as you make the transition into adulthood.

As an adult, you will be expected to take care of these very important items.

If you are an unaccompanied asylum seeker we will support you as your claim is being processed. This will include financial support until your decision has been made

You would be expected to keep your personal advisor (PA) informed of your asylum claim progress.

You would be expected to work with your PA to make sure that you have a bank account set up and in place by the time you reach 18.

Provision of a communication allowance so that young people can maintain a mobile contact number and email address

This helps to enable you to keep in contact with the service and also aims to reduce isolation.

You are expected to provide your PA with an up to date telephone number and also email address if you have one.

We will provide you with information about activities, events or volunteering opportunities available in your local area that you can get involved in.

To help with this we have Local Area Coordinators in Derby who can help you to feel a part of the community where you live

Your PA will also discuss these with you.

You may be introduced to a Local Area Coordinator. This is voluntary, but they may be able to provide additional advice and support.

We will support and encourage you to vote and take your full part in society

We want you to feel part of the community and society where you live and the right to vote we feel is very important and we will encourage and support you to do this.

Care leaver’s rights.

You have the right to be involved in all decisions about yourself when you leave care

We will make sure that you can let us know what you think of and how you feel about the services you receive

We will ask you individually how you feel about the services you are receiving or this might be by a questionnaire, consultation or event.

It’s important you are able to participate so that you can help to shape the service and suggest changes.

You have the right to an advocate at any time including if you want to challenge decisions about the care and support you are provided with by the local authority

Your personal advisor (PA) will support you to access relevant advocacy.

You have the right to see the information your local authority has about you, including the files kept about you when you were in care

Your PA will provide help and support with your rights to ask about the information held about you.

You can contact the Leaving Care Service, who will support you in who to contact about this.

You have the right to complain. Further information can be found on the care leaver complaints page

We would want you to have already raised your concerns with your social worker, PA or their managers initially.

Care Leavers forum

A place to join together with other care leavers and discuss issues that affect you and contribute to improving the service you have received.

The forum will be promoted to you by your PA and you will be encouraged to participate or make a contribution in a way that suits you.

The service wants to be able to offer care leavers a regular number of activities that they can attend which will help us to keep in touch, participate in an activity and receive feedback about the service. This might be, for example, trips out, sports activities or arts and crafts