1. Supporting Transition
Kent 18+ Leaving Care Service
Supporting Transition
Rachel Calver
Service Manager for Transition, 18+ Leaving Care Service
Debbie Taylor
Team Manager, 18+ Leaving Care Service and Transition Lead
25th June 2019

2. Workshop Objectives 18+ Leaving Care Transition Aim
To ensure young people are provided with a supported transitional journey into the Leaving Care 18+ Service
To ensure all key partners are aware of their role in the transitional journey and implemented in a successful and positive approach
To ensure excellent communication between partners
This training session will explore:
Understanding of the CIC and 18+ Leaving Care Service transition and structure
Understanding of the transition plans for young people moving from CIC to 18+
How can we improve further
Anything else to cover????

3. Current picture…. Kent CIC - 1650 end of May 2019
2018 KS4 results –Attainment % (Nat.Av 18.7%)
2018 KS4 P8 average score was -1.04, national average for CIC was -1.24
KS5
15/16 – 38% NEET (total cohort 1080)
16/17 – 17% NEET (927)
17/18 – 13% NEET (639)
18/19 – 21.6% NEET (591)
CIC (17.2% UASC)
591 are KS5 cohort (44.8% UASC)
Care Leavers – 1600 as of end of May 2019
59.62% EET
36.12% NEET

4. Current picture…. KS5 – Total cohort of 591, of which 265 are UASC
316 yr12, 275 yr13
This breaks down to:
241 FE Colleges
86 Sixth Form and Specialist Schools
31 Training Providers
45 Employed or in Apprenticeships
Custody
51 Out of County (OOC)
128 NEET Yr12 – 57 Yr

5. Current picture…. 18+ Leaving Care Service
Total cohort – 1600 as of May 2019
EET Data – total 59.62%
HE (Full and part time) – 5.75% of total
Education, not HE (Full and part time) %
Employed (Full and part time) – 26.68%
Total number in touch with who are NEET – 36.12% (increase since Feb meeting of 6%)
G4 illness or disability - 4.3% (of total cohort, not just NEET cohort) or 12%
G5 other – 26.25% (72%)
G6 pregnant or parent – 5.5% (15.2%)
Not recorded – 4.25%
Lots of work to do around the data collection and more detail to capture!

6. Current picture…. 18+ Leaving Care Service – Accommodation Data
Accommodation type
No.YP
With parents/relative/connected person
166
Not known/Not recorded
105
Community living or other type of residential 23
No fixed address/homeless 68
Semi-independent
123
Emergency 13
Supported lodgings (not former foster carer) 45
B&B 3
Gone abroad 1
Custody 38
Ordinary lodgings without support 10
Foyers 21
Independent living (shared accomm RH)
851
Other 33
Supported lodgings (Staying Put – Catch 22)
100

7. CIC teams transitioning into 18+ Service
Children in Care Service:
Covers young people aged 0-18yrs
Split into 4 areas – North, West, South, East
Each area has a Service Manager
Each Service Manager has Team Managers
Each Team Manager has Social Workers
Each young person will have an Independent Reviewing Officer
18+ Leaving Care Service:
Young person will move across to the 18+ Leaving Care Service around their 18th birthday
Young person is allocated a Personal Adviser
Young person can remain open to the service until they are 25yrs

8. 18+ Leaving Care Service Head of Service Service Manager - Transition
X2 EET Support Officers
X3 Homeless Team
CMF Project – Benefits and Accommodation Support
Service Manager – Asylum/UASC
CMF – Community Engagement posts and Custody
X2 Social Workers for HRA and x2 for MH support
X10 Team Managers
Each team has around 7/8 PAs and 1 Senior PA
Other posts:
CMF – Health & Well Being, Community & Engagement
Admin Support
18+ Leaving Care Service

9. 18+ Leaving Care Service New senior leadership team and structure:
Been in post for around a year as a new team
Confirmation of our Assistant Director and Directors – very supportive on service and investing in service
Current focus:
Transition – allocated PA to work with CIC SW when young person turns 17yrs
Consistency across the county and lead area focus (Transition, UASC, Custody, Parents, Accommodation, Foster Carers, Recruitment)
Care Leaver Offer
Accommodation support
Changes:
Supporting young people up until 25yrs (regardless of EET status)
Accommodation processes

10. Transition – our vision moving forward
Discussions with YP regarding changes when with 18+ Service - accommodation options, financial, health, EET
Referrals made to other services where appropriate
YP visit service at drop-ins and open days
15-17yrs
YP allocated 18+ PA to support and start transition into the service, SW still case holding
Approval for accommodation resolved
YP receives 18+ Information pack
YP starts UC application and meets with DWP SPOC at 17.11months
18yrs + YP is transferred to 18+ Service once case transfer approved
17-18yrs
YP works with PA on EET, accommodation, health, financial issues to develop independence whilst supported with accommodation (referrals to specialist teams where necessary)
Supported to source accommodation post 21yrs (social housing, private rented)
19-21yrs
YP agrees to support/contact from PA
YP supported to source accommodation
22-25yrs

11. Transition Transition policy in development, will include: Drop-ins
Task list for professionals, e.g. SW, IRO, PA, FC
Successful transition examples (Pathway plan examples, transition planning, file audits, transfer checklist, accommodation types, transfer summary sheet, benefits application process, risk screening tools
Once complete, will be signed off and launched across services
Drop-ins
2 established in Medway and Maidstone, 2 more in planning stages. Relaxed and welcoming setting
Open Days
2 held, more in development, good opportunity to introduce YP to service earlier to address any concerns

12. Transition - EET Pre-16yrs 16-18yrs 18-25yrs
Supported by VSK with allocated KS4 Support Officer
16-18yrs
Supported by VSK KS5 Team – new structure outlined earlier
Discussions between VSK KS5 team and 18+ EET Support Officers for those of concern re EET
18-25yrs
Supported by 18+ Personal Adviser
Can refer to the 2 EET Support Officers with 18+ Service to access EET
Developing links with other services to support young people with additional/complex needs
Designated Member of Staff Links in Kent and Medway College’s and Universities

13. Financial support Essential Living Allowance - £57.90 per week
Independent Accommodation and Setting Up Home Allowance
Up to max £2000
First months rent and deposit paid for ‘Former Relevant’ YP
Rent Guarantor Scheme pilot (and Council Tax exception discussions)
Education, Employment and Training
Travel cost support considered if not eligible for free bus pass for travel outside of Kent
Higher Education bursary
£1000 per academic year, up to £4000
Travel cost support back to Kent during holiday time and additional 3 times
Accommodation costs during holiday times for ‘former relevant’ YP
Clothing Allowance - £120 per annum
Travel for contact with family
Counselling therapeutic needs
£10 per week for ‘Former Relevant’ in Custody
TV Licence and Contents insurance for ‘Former Relevant’ YP

14. Things to be aware of……. Care Leaver Offer
KCC Apprenticeships/Employment/Work Experience
Young Person Inspectors Scheme
Risk of Homelessness
Parents
Café

15. Higher Education DMS role Financial Support HE Checklist
Link with each university in Kent and Medway, available to offer guidance, help with application, visits
Support when on course – any concerns, financial support, link to other University support services
Financial Support
Student Finance England – all loans now
Support from the Local Authority
HE Checklist
Developed in collaboration with 18+ Service to help with the transition of HE application and starting – under different SW teams
HE strategy in development
Summer Schools
CIC/CL specific – University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church University
Programme of support for Level 3 learners through VSK and 18+

16. Challenges Opportunities Earlier transition discussions needed
18+ = Adult - data sharing
PEPs
Data quality
UASC – lack of provision post 19yrs, immigration status implications
Accommodation challenges
Opportunities
Increase in support up to 25yrs - can track and support for longer
Specialist roles
New data/tracking systems in development

17. Over to you…… What can we do better?
How can we improve our links with you?
What works well?

18. Young Person view YAC! VSK_Participation@kent.gov.uk
The Young Adult Council (YAC for short) is for Young people and Care Leavers aged This is the progression from OCYPC
Meet monthly Interview panels
Having their say

19. Celebrating Success VSK Awards Ceremony – nominate now!
18+ Leaving Care Service – Bulletin and nominations of success
Recognising HE achievements

20. Anything to add?? Any other questions?
Thank you for participating………….
Rachel Calver and Debbie Taylor