CYP Now - Council decision to stop student's university funding unless they stayed with foster family ruled unlawful

A council that refused funding for a care leaver’s university accommodation unless they remained living with their estranged foster family did not fulfil its lawful duties, an investigation has found.

The council must pay for the student's university accommodation, the ombudsman said. Picture: Adobe Stock

A report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman describes the “distress” and “injustice” caused by West Sussex County Council to the care leaver, known as Ms C, by informing her payment would be withdrawn for her accommodation after her Staying Put arrangement broke down.

It details how Ms C, who arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied minor in 2002, brought the complaint against the council after claiming it had gone back on its agreement to fund her accommodation for the duration of her time at university.

The student said she was told by the council in 2018, two years into her six-year medicine degree course, that payment would be withdrawn for her accommodation within 28 days after she made it clear she no longer wanted to live at her former foster family’s home.

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