We are partners with Coram Voice, together with 7 other Local Authorities, to deliver the New Belongings programme. This has been developed from the successful Bright Spots programme and 35% of our care leaver population completed the “Your Life Beyond Care” survey in April 2020 which measures the subjective wellbeing of young care leavers.
We have also undertaken a detailed self-assessment of our services with our partners as part of New Belongings to identify priorities for action.
We are proud to achieve “bright spots of practice” in the following 4 areas:
1. Getting in touch with your leaving care worker
nearly all care leavers (96%) knew who their Personal Adviser was (more care leavers than in other local authorities), and had had the same worker (72%) in the last 12 months.
2. Trusting your leaving care worker
Dorset care leavers trusted their worker all or most of the time (92%) and found it easy to get in touch with their worker all or most of the time (88%). Care leavers reported that their friends, leaving care worker and partner were the top sources of support for them.
Most young people (92%) had someone who listened to them, although fewer (87%) felt they had someone who praised them when they had done something good. 84% felt they had someone who believed they’ll be a success.
Leaving care support
Had the same worker
Dorset care leavers = 72%
Care leavers nationally = 60%
Easy to get in touch with worker
Dorset care leavers = 88%
Care leavers nationally = 71%
Trust leaving care workers
Dorset care leavers = 92%
Care leavers nationally = 78%
3. Internet access
Care leavers in Dorset were more likely to have internet at home (96%) compared to the general population (93%). A similar proportion of care leavers (97%) had a smart phone compared to their peers (96%).
4. Pets
more care leavers (41%) had a pet in Dorset than in other local authorities (28%) and they were an important source of emotional support.
5. Projects
Through New Belongings, we also have opportunities to come together with other Local Authorities to peer and practice learning.
Building on the work already undertaken in Dorset to support our care leavers including the development of apprenticeships and council tax exemption, our Care Leaver Offer has been refreshed and our finance policy has been enhanced setting out the financial support available to care leavers as they leave care and beyond. The revised Finance Policy was implemented from April 2021 for all new care leavers and retrospectively applied for all care leavers age 18-21 already supported by us.
During the pandemic we distributed refurbished Dorset Council laptops, surface pros and provided phone and corporate contract sim cards for care leavers who did not have internet access. We also distributed laptops and mobile WIFI hubs from the DfE.
As a result of the success of using corporate contract sim cards we have now embedded the offer of a “daisy” corporate contract sim card for all care leavers over 18 as part of our care leaver local offer.
Work has been taking place to strengthen the approach to supporting vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness. Joint funding from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government has been secured and as a result a new Housing Officer post has been created and is based in the Care Leaver Team.
Part of the role is to work with young people before they leave care, working alongside Care Leaver Personal Advisers, to provide advice and support regarding housing options, including Staying Put and Supported Lodgings. When a care leaver who has been placed in B&B, under the Homelessness legislation.
Their Personal Adviser works closely with the Care Leaver Housing officer, District Housing officer and the young person to help them move on as quickly as possible into secure affordable and suitable housing.
We are developing a Housing Protocol for Care Leavers. This will ensure our Care Leavers access timely appropriate accommodation that will promote their independence and stability.
Work has begun to create additional independent living accommodation for care leavers. A report went to Cabinet in March 2020 recommending the creation of additional accommodation for care leavers. Dorset Council has purchased a property which will be converted to provide affordable accommodation to meet the needs of our care leavers, together with a Care Leaver Hub. It is anticipated that the project will be open December 2021.
Dorset Council is the first local authority in the country to adopt a unique initiative for care leavers. 24-hour emotional support and counselling to assist our care leavers.
With one in four people experiencing a mental health crisis after leaving care, national charity Rees Foundation has launched a scheme to give access to 24-hour emotional support and counselling.
‘Ask Jan’ gives care leavers access to services, including a same-day 24-hour telephone counselling service, and the opportunity to use a network of UK-wide counsellors for face-to-face counselling within five days of requesting an appointment.
The ‘Ask Jan’ membership package provides a much-needed lifeline for care leavers seeking support for their mental health, while avoiding long waiting times that can lead to a further deterioration of mental wellbeing.
We are really pleased to now be able to include a year’s ‘Ask Jan’ membership in our revised Care Leaver Local Offer for Dorset Care Leavers.
Dorset Strategic Alliance for Children and Young People plan priority, Young and Thriving, will support young people on the edge of care, to safely remain in their family home through the development of edge of care services. Dorset have created the Harbour to meet this aim. The impact of this project should reduce numbers of care leavers requiring care leaver services over time.
Dorset Council, led by the Corporate Parenting Board, has committed to adopting the Care Leaver Covenant, whole council approach. We are working with the Care Leaver Covenant to use best practice and as we continuously build on our care leaver offer across the Council, our partnerships, and the wider community.
This work sets out a clear commitment to our Care Leavers framed around what they can expect from us as they become young adults.