Comparison site for care leaver offers launches
Derren Hayes
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
A website has been launched that enables users to compare and contrast the support offered to care leavers by local authorities in England.
The creators of the Care Leaver Local Offer website say it is the first comparison site showing what English councils are doing for care leavers.
They hope that compiling the information in one place will identify gaps in support and encourage councils to improve their offer for care leavers in health and wellbeing, relationship stability, education and training, employment, accommodation and civic participation.
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The website enables users to search information about 332 English authorities, including district councils, and by region.
Search results show whether a council’s local offer is in accordance with section 2 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, where it is available to view and if care leavers were involved in its production. There are also contact details listed for the person responsible for the local offer.
Other information listed is whether the council exempts care leavers aged up to 25 from paying council tax, if they are a priority group for housing support and what, if any, independent living flats are available to help young people’s transition out of the care system.
There is also information about the type of employment support offered to care leavers, including whether the council offers work experience and apprenticeship placements, travel expenses to work and training, and paying for clothes for interviews.
Information on support for participation in society, such as paying for a driving licence, lessons and test is included, as is whether there is any subsidised access to leisure facilities, is also included.
There are details about each area’s corporate parenting and children in care council arrangements, mentor schemes and what is done to mark special occasions such as birthdays.
The website includes headline data on the number of children in care, care leavers and proportion of care-experienced young people not in education, employment or training over a number of years.
The site has been created by Terry Galloway, a care leaver advocate and director of Galloway Homes, who is himself care experienced.
He said: “I grew up in care and lived in over 100 places; both my siblings lost their children to the care system. We planned on changing the care system so others did not have to go through what we went through, unfortunately my sister was murdered by her boyfriend, so I have to do this without her.
“The cycle keeps repeating, so this site is the start of systemic change where we hold every council to account for how they prepare our children in care and care leavers.”
In addition, the site includes blogs, resources and videos.