Wakefield Council’s Offer to Care Leavers

We realise that everyone is different, and everyone has the right to a plan that is individual to them.

We are committed, as your ‘corporate parents’, to ensure that you get the right access to services and support that you may need. This will help you to be more independent as you approach adulthood.

The local offer explains how we are going to do this.

What is the local offer?

The local offer is what Wakefield Council will do to support you as a care leaver. It includes information about what support you can receive, who from and how to access this support.

A lot of this information is on the Care4Us website here in more detail, so please take a look at this.

We have gathered input from care leavers to understand their priorities and thoughts on our services. This feedback has guided us in creating a core offer tailored to your needs. We value your opinions and will continue to listen to you to ensure that the help we provide meets your requirements. We are committed to improving our services based on your feedback.

Corporate parents, what this means…

Wakefield Council are your corporate parents if you are a child in care, and when you are a care leaver. It is important we try to do the best we can for you. The Government has set out some guidance about how councils can do this, there are seven principles. These are:

• act in your best interests to promote your physical and mental health and wellbeing
• encourage you to express your views, wishes and feelings and take those into account when making decisions with you
• help you to gain access to, and make the best use of, services provided by the local authority and the organisations it works with
• have high aspirations for you and help you to achieve the best outcomes you can
• make sure you are safe, and to have stability in your home life, relationships, education, work and financially
• prepare you for adulthood and independent living

How do we do this?

Near your 16th birthday your Social Worker will meet with you to write your Pathway Plan with you. At around the same time you will be introduced to Next Steps, which is the leaving care service in Wakefield.

Next Steps

The next steps service will be available to provide you with support up until you are 25 years old. At around 16, you’ll have a named worker who will work with your Social Worker. They will do what they can to prepare you for independence.

After 18 they will also review your pathway plan with you to ensure you are receiving the support you need.

Whilst you are with Next Steps you will be invited to drop ins and other activities, and there may come a time, where you do not need a named worker because you are settled. We will still stay in contact with you, and you are welcome to contact us and visit for a cuppa.

The local offer includes areas where we must support you. This is alongside other areas where we have spoken to both young people and other departments in the council about what we would like to offer.

The offer!

Please use this navigation list by clicking any of the topics that interest you!

• Independence skills
• Education, training and employment
• Accommodation
• Health and Wellbeing
• Relationships
• Participation
• Finance

Independence skills

At the age of 16, you will receive a welcome pack from the Next Steps Leaving Care Service.

This pack aims to provide you with information about leaving care and ease any concerns you may have about the future. It contains useful resources like a leaflet on finance and a budget plan to help you practice managing your money.

You will also find a Skills Assessment called 'Know your Stuff' that you can complete with the support of people who know you well, such as foster carers or key workers

Your Social Worker, Personal Advisor and the people who support you at home will work together with you to develop your skills so you are ready for independence

Education, training and employment

Knowing what you want to do as a future career and making that decision can sometimes feel tough. Wakefield Council want to support you by ensuring you know what choices are available to you. You will have Personal Education Plan until you are 18 and will have continued support through your pathway plan.

Did you know?

• there is support to access work/apprenticeships or college through Connexions until you are 25
  • you can also visit the Employment Hub for careers guidance and information about what is available
• there are many opportunities for you as a care leaver at Wakefield Council including apprenticeships
• if you are planning to go to University or study a Higher Education course there is support available to enable you to do this
• Wakefield Council also have many opportunities to support you with your future career
  • this can be CV support and interview preparation, work experience or work placement, please see the leaflets about this

Accommodation

When you are 16, you will work with your Social Worker to write your Pathway Plan. In the plan you will begin to look at the different accommodation options and which is the best option for you.

• we have a range of 16+ accommodation to give you a taste of independence
  • we support you to live with your previous foster carers in a Staying Put arrangement, if this is possible
• we offer access to Intensive Support Advisors who are available to work with you in the semi supported accommodation
  • this is to develop independence skills, and out of hours support if needed
• your PA will provide you with housing advice about what kind of accommodation is available locally
  • they will support you in finding out more about what is available in other areas if you don’t live in the local area
• we have an agreement with WDH to support you to gain priority housing as a care leaver up to the age of 21*
  • if you are going to University, or you move into a private rented accommodation, we will act as ‘Guarantor’ where we can allow access to this accommodation
• when you do move into the accommodation you will be supported to understand how to set up your home
  • you will be given a starter moving in pack which includes items such as a torch and a sewing kit, things you might not think to buy but will come in handy

Health and Wellbeing

• when you turn 18 you will receive a health summary from CIC Health so you have a good understanding of your health history
• if you’re not registered with a doctors or other medical services, your PA will support you with this
• we will make sure you know what is available in your local area
• we will also provide you with a leisure card until you are 25 years old
  • this gives you free access to Wakefield Council Leisure facilities, you can take a friend with you too
• you can access Live Well Wakefield Service who provide support around health & well-being
• we link in with the Emotional Well-being team to ensure that we can support you to access the right services for you
• we will access support through CAMHS or other services to support you around your emotional well-being, including counselling

Relationships

We will organise opportunities for you to meet with other young people through drop-in sessions.

Your Personal Advisor will want to ensure you are safe and well. They will support you to establish and maintain safe and healthy relationships.

We will provide opportunities for Family Group Conferencing, the network of support around you, for you, by those who support you in everyday life.
​relationships

Participation

We want to ensure your voice is heard through the forum, consultations, the website, and other events.

• the website Care4Us has a lot of information about how you can get involved
  • please check the site for more information
  • there is also a section that where you can share what is important to you
• there is a 16+ Forum every month, where you can have a chat, help shape the Next Steps Service and discuss issues that are important to you
• we run meet ups at Warren Court most days, chosen by you to ensure you have the opportunity to socialise and share your views
• we are proud of you, and we provide opportunities for your achievements to be recognized and celebrated through Achievement Awards that are designed by you
• if you need advocacy support, CAP can provide this up to age 25
• we also have a Facebook page to ensure that you are up-to-date with what’s happening at Next Steps

Finance

​It is important that you know what money you can receive so we provide you with a leaflet about this in the initial welcome pack.

We will support you to open a bank account of you don’t have one already.

• we will ensure you have the ID you need that includes your photo and date of birth
• we will provide you with a money weekly to live on until you become 18 and we will ensure you know where to get money from if you are not working
  • we will support you to claim this through the Job Centre
• you will not need to pay Council Tax until your 25th birthday, if you live out of Wakefield
  • we will look at how we can support you with Council Tax in the place you live
• you will receive a birthday and festival money every year until you are 21
  • we will provide ‘setting up home’ allowance (SUHA) to enable you to have the things you need when you move into your own place
  • we can give you more information about the kind of items you will need to buy with your PA
• we know too how important it is for you to remain in contact with your support network
  • your PA will look at ways to support you with contact once you have turned 18
• you will have access to the ISA that the government set up on your behalf when you were a child in care
  • you can decide what you would prefer to do with the ISA once you are 18
• we will look at how we can support you with internet access.
• we will also pay for your driving licence, test, theory, and 50% of your lessons to a maximum of 20, if this is agreed in your pathway plan and you are EET, some conditions apply.*
• we will provide some financial support to you when you are doing volunteer work or work placement

Please check out the care4us website for more information.