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Contents

1. Introduction
2. Financial Support Available for Education, Training & Employment
3. Additional Financial Support
4. Related Personal Support
5. Review

1. Introduction

Brighton & Hove CYPT seeks to achieve improved outcomes for care leavers for whom it is responsible and to support them in the manner of a good parent.  This support should be of a similar level to that offered by most parents when their children prepare for and leave home and should be specific to the individual needs of the care leaver.

The level of support provided ensures that B&H CYPT meets its statutory duties under the Children Act 1989 and the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and is based upon a full assessment of the young person's needs as detailed in their Pathway Plan. 

Most care leavers should, like other 18-24 year olds receive their income from either employment, training or benefits and the CYPT will not therefore be their primary source of financial support.  Other forms of financial assistance such as Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), the Social Fund (Department of Work & Pensions) and Charitable Trusts (such as the Buttle Trust) should be maximised to the full.

Care leavers will be given targeted financial assistance from the CYPT as follows and these are effective from 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010.

2. Financial Support Available for Education, Training & Employment

Further Education & Training:  When engaged in full-time Further Education and eligibility to Income Support ceases at the age of 20 years (or 21 years if they start the course before reaching 19 years) a weekly living allowance of £51.00 pw (Income Support equivalent) will be paid from the start of Autumn Term to end of Summer Term (the expectation being the young person will find employment during the summer vacation)

Accommodation costs in full will be met by Housing Benefit on confirmation from the 16 Plus Support Team worker that the young person's weekly allowance is equivalent to the Income Support level.  

When engaged on a training course of more than 16 hours pw (ie "full-time") that does not attract Education Maintenance Allowance an Incentive Allowance that equates to the prevailing (highest) rate of EMA (currently £30.00 pw) will be paid.

When engaged on a training course of less than16 hours pw (ie "part-time") that does not attract Education Maintenance Allowance an Incentive Allowance of £20.00 pw for 10 weeks will be paid.  Beyond 10 weeks, as a further incentive, consideration can be given to increasing this to the EMA equivalent depending upon the number of hours pw worked.

No Incentive Allowance will be paid when engaged in voluntary work on the basis that voluntary work is voluntary and unpaid.  Any expenses connected with that work will however be reimbursed.

All Further Education and Training course related expenses are paid.  These can include books, equipment, special clothing, field trips, exam fees etc.

When engaged in Further Education and Training, a weekly bus pass or equivalent will be provided during term time.

Employment:   For a care leaver in employment the cost of interview clothes or work-related clothing will be covered.

Where a young person (18-21) in employment has an income based on the current minimum wage (development rate) for 18-21 year olds of £4.77 per hour they will receive a top up payment of 50p per hour as an incentive to remain engaged in that employment.

Where a young person in employment stays in supported lodgings they will be expected to contribute from their earnings towards their board & lodging (detail to follow)

Higher Education:  A comprehensive financial support package is available to enable care leavers to successfully complete Higher Education courses.  This package includes:

• Weekly living and incentive allowances of £51.00+£30.00 pw paid from the start of Autumn Term to end of Summer Term (the expectation being that temporary employment will be found during the summer vacation)
• Rent on a flat, shared house or hall of residence paid 52 weeks per year (a statutory duty exists that the local authority must pay this during the summer vacation).  NB if the young person returns to their previous Foster or Supported Lodgings carer during vacations, rent equivalent to the weekly Housing Benefit for a single room will be paid.  Fostering or Supported Lodgings rates will not be paid in these cases)
• All course related expenses.  This includes books, equipment, specially required clothing, field trips, exam fees etc
• Travel costs to/from University at start, mid and end of term.  Any removal costs.
• A laptop computer up to the value of £500 (including software)

NB if a care leaver takes out a student loan they are responsible for its repayment.

Care leavers are entitled to an annual maintenance grant of £2700.00 that along with a minimum bursary of £300.00 from the university covers the cost of tuition fees.

3.  Additional Financial Support

Minority ethnic, religious, cultural or linguistic needs.  Any additional expenses incurred to meet specific minority ethnic, religious, cultural or linguistic needs will be met.  These will usually apply to Asylum Seeking and Refugee care leavers (for example additional English tuition) but could also apply to indigenous care leavers.

Setting Up Allowance.  Care leavers are entitled to a Setting Up Allowance of up to a maximum of £1800 to equip them with the basic items they will need in setting up home. 

This allowance can also fund expenses that will further prepare and equip them for adulthood eg driving lessons.  Care leavers can access this allowance from the time they move into independent or semi-independent accommodation up to the age of 21 years.  The use of Setting Up Allowances for care leavers with disabilities who may not be able or ready to live independently or semi-independently will be used flexibly and appropriately on a case-by-case basis.

In addition separate payments are made for any necessary documents (passport, provisional driving licence etc) and removal expenses.  The cost of a TV licence and home contents insurance policy for first year when the care leaver moves into their own accommodation will be paid.

Care leavers in custody will receive a personal allowance of £10.00 pw.  If the custodial establishment demands more for basic and/or essential items or services (and this is evidenced) the additional weekly amount will be paid. 

4. Related Personal Support

Allocated Worker.  All care leavers will retain their allocated Social Worker or Leaving Care Worker up to the age of 21 (or to the age of 24 if engaged in continuing education).

Care leavers can also access specialist support with employment and training opportunities from the 16 Plus Support Team Connexions Personal Advisers and with all health matters from the 16 Plus Support Team Nurse.

Continuation of Care Placements.  In many cases foster placements are converted to supported lodgings placements and extended beyond the care leaver's 18th birthday.  This continued support either provides:

• continuity and stability while the care leaver is completing their Further Education
• continuity and stability where the care leaver has a mild to moderate learning disability and is in transition to Adult Services
• or when there is a short wait for the care leaver's own tenancy and the only alternative would be Housing Department temporary accommodation

Safe, Secure and Affordable Housing.  The Joint Protocol with the Housing Department aims to ensure that the corporate responsibility for meeting the accommodation needs of care leavers is met. 

When they move into their own accommodation, care leavers can also access support via the 16 Plus Support Team contract with Hove YMCA Tenancy Support Service, part of the Youth Advice Centre.  Additional support is available from Housing Support Workers in the Housing Department funded by Supporting People.

5.  Review

This document will be next reviewed in March 2010 in order to take account of inflationary increases

End