Your

OFFER

www.blackpool.gov.uk

Find out about all th

e support that

Blackpool offers to ou

r Care leavers

We will care about you and support you to

be happy and healthy.

We will always listen to you and will make sure

we understand what it is that you want to happen.

we will make sure you know who is there to help

and support you and how to contact them.

we will be ambitious for you and encourage you to achie

ve

your best.We will do everything we can

do to keep you

safe, help you to make a happy home, have good

relationships and be successful in the future.

We will help you to prepare for

adulthood and living independently

These are our principles:

This booklet will tell you all about the

support and advice that we offer to our

Care Leavers.

• We will respect you

• We will listen to you

• We will Care for you

• We will Support a quality Education Offer for you

• We will help you to prepare for the Future

• We will continue to support you throughout

your journey into independence and adulthood.

• We recognise that we all need help at different

times in our lives and no-one gets it right the

first time.

And this is

ourPLEDGE

toYOU:

Introduction

We know that it is a big step when you

move out of care and start living on your

own or with friends.

Just because you are leaving care, or have already left care, we haven’t

stopped caring about you. We want to make sure that you feel safe and

supported and know where and who to go to for advice and help.

We have spoken to Care leavers who have told us how they wanted

The Offer to look like, we hope you like it too?

We will continue listen to you so we make sure that we are giving you

the right support and can find what else you might need.

To be able to get the support set out in this leaflet, you must have

been in care for:

• at least 13 weeks between the ages of 14 and 16

(including your 16th birthday) or,

• 13 weeks after your 16th birthday.

If you are not sure whether you qualify for support, ask your

Personal Adviser. You can get in touch with your Personal Adviser by

calling 754840 and they will talk with you about the information in this

leaflet.

This leaflet is available online at

www.justuzblackpool.com

The Support We Must Give You By Law

When you are fifteen and three quarters, YOU, your social worker and your personal advisor will make a plan called a Pathway plan to see what support you think you will need to prepare for your independence and find out who the important people are in your life.

Your Pathway Plan will set out your needs, views and future goals, and exactly what support you may need.

Your Personal Adviser, along with the other adults in your life, are there to help you to prepare to live independently and to offer advice and support after you leave care. They will review your pathway plan with you regularly so that it is kept up-to date and accurate.

We will continue to support you with advice and guidance up to the age of 25, if you want us to.

Care Leavers told us that it works best if you can build long term relationships with the same Personal Adviser. Although some people leave our service for other jobs, we will do our best to try to let you keep the same Personal Adviser, if possible.

They will visit you at home to see how you’re getting on and will keep in touch at least every 3 months – more often if you need it. The amount of support that you receive from your Personal Adviser will depend on what you need and want.

We know that you may need extra help if you:• Have special educational needs or a disability• Are a young parent• Are going through a difficult time in your personal life• Are an unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child (UASC) and your

immigration status is unclear• Are in or leaving custody or you have had contact with the

criminal justice system.

Your Personal Adviser

The Right To Be HearD

And Taken Seriously

You have a right to be involved in all decisions about your plans for leaving care.

If you would like to question the decisions we make about the care

we give you, you have a right to get support from an independent advocate.

Independent advocates can inform you about your rights and help you get your voice

heard in meetings. They are independent from Blackpool Children’s services and are

their just for you.

They are there to help to make sure that the voices of children and young people are

heard and to help you raise any concerns you might have about your care, with the

right people.

An advocate will:

• Help you express your views to make sure you have been heard

and taken into account in decisions that affect you

• Help you understand the decisions that have been made about you

or need to be made with you

• Understand your circumstances and help to clarify your view of the situation

• Make you aware of your rights

• Support you at meetings or Reviews and / or write letters

• Attend meetings for you if you don’t want to go yourself

• Advise you about all the different ways of dealing with

problems, and what the consequences might be

• Be there to listen, explain, and present the wishes and

feelings to Blackpool Children’s Services on your behalf.

You can request an advocate from Blackpool Advocacy HUB

Their website explains how they can support you in more

detail and contains their contact information

Website: www.blackpooladvocacyhub.org.uk

Freephone: 0300 323 0251Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

You also have a right to see the

information we keep about you, including the files

and records written about you when you were in care. You can ask your Personal

Adviser to help you with this.

We will… You will need to…“Staying Put.” We will support you to remain with your foster carers if this is what you and your foster carers want. This arrangement will allow you to remain there until the age of 21, unless you are in higher education then you can stay until you are 25.

Remember: Staying Put will help you maintain a supportive relationship with your carers. If you decide to ‘Stay Put’ we will still help you apply for independent accommodation after you are 21. Do not be in a rush to get your own flat! Living Independently is hard Make sure you make the right choice for you!

Work with Housing Services to find suitable accommodation for you, including supported accommodation.

Support you to access different housing options including social housing (this is accommodation managed by us or a housing association)

Remember: Talk with your Social Worker and Personal Adviser, they will help you to find yournew home.

If you have any problems with settling in, your workers will help you.

If you do not use your accommodation, then you may be at risk of losing it.

Give you advice about holding down a tenancy, including avoiding rent or Council Tax arrears, paying bills and budgeting.

We know it can be very hard having your own place for the first time and we can support you with this.

Remember: • to attend Tenancy Training• to keep on top of your bills • to abide by your tenancy agreement

Help you to claim any benefits you may be entitled to.

Remember: You must attend your job centre appointments and turn up on time. If you don’t attend you can risk your claim being suspended or stopped!

You will need an email address in order to claim Universal credits – ask your Personal Advisor if you need support with your Google account.

Give you practical and financial support with moving into and furnishing your new home. See our Money Matters Guides for more information.

Remember: To ask for help if you are struggling or unsure what to do

Support you if you have a housing crisis, including helping if you are threatened with or lose a tenancy

Remember: It really important to keep in touch with your worker so they can support you through this. Don’t ignore the problem it is really important that you keep your home.

AccommodationYour

We will… You will need to…Give you Careers information and advice.

Run sessions on how to get into education, training and employment.

Give you lots of opportunities for work experience, apprenticeships and jobs with the council.

Make sure you have your unique email so you can apply for Council jobs at internal stage.

Support you to access iPool learning. Blackpool council’s online training

Remember: Speak to your social worker/ personal advisor about what you are interested in doing.

Be ambitious; maybe try some work experience to see what it is you want to do in the future.

Remember: Check out The Core Community online page to keep updated on what’s on offer.

Log in with your unique email address.

Remember: If you forget or haven’t received your email, just let your worker know

Remember: Ask your Social Worker or Personal Advisor to find out what’s on offer.

We will help prepare you to live independently and support you to complete independent living skills training as part of an ASDAN award.

Be Committed to completing your award

• Give you a bursary to help with the cost of books and materials if you attend University

• Support you to claim from the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund that is administered by FE colleges.

• Support you to meet your transport costs when travelling to training, school/college or job interviews.

• Support you to buy tools, equipment... See our Money Matters Guides for more information.

Remember: to ask your worker aboutthe support you will receive if you are in education and how we can support you to go back if you feel ready.

Your Education Training and Employment

BURSARY

We will… You will need to…Support you if you choose to go to university, such as helping you obtain tuition fees and maintenance loans, travel costs at the start and end of term, and making sure you have somewhere to live during the holidays.

Remember: To ask your worker for a copy of the Money Matters Guide so you understand what financial support you can get.

Help you to apply to the “Care to Learn” scheme, which funds childcare costs if you have a child and want to return to education or training.

Remember: to apply in good time for your course and ask your worker for help if you need it.

Give you the chance to attend celebration events so we can celebrate your successes.

Remember: The Celebration of Achievement Awards takes place every March.. Look out for you invite in the post!

We will… You will need to…Support you to get involved with the Justuz Care Leavers forum so you get a say in how our services are run.

Remember: To find out more about joining the Care leavers Forum check out the justuz website.www.justuzblackpool.co.uk

Provide information on groups and clubs you may wish to join.

Encourage and help you to enrol on the Electoral Register, so you can vote in elections

Offer work experience, volunteering opportunities and apprenticeships within our council departments

Let you know about leisure activities and make sure you have your passport to leisure card.

Give you advice and help you to challenge any discrimination you face as a Care Leaver.

Remember: talk to your Personal advisor about what hobbies and interests and if you need support or advice on how to get involved.

Get Involved

We will… You will need to…Your Personal Adviser will support you to stay healthy and look after your physical and mental health with support of the looked after

Remember: if you are struggling with anything, speak to someone about it – don’t bottle it up!

Give you information about healthy living.

Give you information on getting help to pay for prescriptions.

Support with eye tests, glasses and dental treatment.

Work with you to make a ‘health passport’ containing key information from your childhood (for example, when and if you have had immunisations) and your current health needs, including allergies significant health problems, current medication and provide you with a health card you can show to other health services.

Remember: there are special health workers/nurses who are there just for you.

Support you if you are pregnant or your partner is expecting a baby we will offer you additional help such as the Family Nurse Partnership.

Make sure you get your Passport to Leisure card. The Passport to Leisure scheme provides free and reduced access to activities at Blackpool Leisure Centres.

Remember :Check out the sports centre website for an up to date list of activities on offer www.sportblackpool.co.uk

Give you information about health drop-in centres.

Help you to maintain or regain contact with your family, people special to you or people who cared for you in the past, like former foster carers or social workers.

Well-beingYour

We will… You will need to…Provide you with your leaving care allowance to help you buy essential things when moving into your own home.See our Money Matters Guides for more information.

Remember: You only get this allowance once, so your worker will help you to spend it wisely!

Help you to apply in advance if you are going to need to claim benefits from your 18th birthday, so that your claim is made in good time and we can work together with Job Centre Plus to help you avoid getting into difficulty with your money.

Remember: You will need to spend your money on day-to-day essentials. You should budget this money and pay for your food and bills first. Clothes and credit can wait!

Help you to learn how to manage your money your Personal Advisor will help you with a budgeting Plan

Give you Information on how to access your Junior ISA. The government opens these accounts with £200 for all young people who have been continuously looked after for at least one year. The Share Foundation runs this account for you and tries to boost its value which you can access at 18. Your Personal Advisor will arrange for this money to be paid to you after your 18th Birthday.

Help you to open a bank account.

Remember: If you don’t know how to budget and spend your money wisely you will really struggle when you live on your own. Stick to your Budget!

Help you to gain important identification documents and replacements if you lose them, such as a Passport and Provisional driving licence.

Remember: Do not lose it.

We can keep your documents safe for you.

If you lose it you will not be allowed to leave the country for travel.

Keep copies of all of your documents safe for you. You will keep the original documents.

Remember: You cannot learn to drive without a Provisional Licence. Let us know if you want us to look after your documents for you.

Help you to get your National Insurance number you should receive this automatically around you around your16th Birthday

Give you a present for your birthday and at Christmas or other celebrations

Remember: Remind your social worker if you do not receive this.

MoneyYour

Other places you can go to for help:

Care Leavers’ Foundation. www.thecareleaversfoundation.orgOffer advice and support to Care Leavers they can also offer small grants to care leavers aged 18 to 29 who are in crisis or want to developnew skills.

Coram Voicewww.coramvoice.org.uk Offer help (called advocacy) to young people who are living in care or have recently left care.

Freephone 0808 800 5792 WhatsApp +44 (0)7758 670369 contact us using WhatsApp (add us to your contacts and send us a message free with WiFi)Text 07758 670369 (you can send a text to this number and ask for someone to call you back, texts to this number are at your standard rate for sending texts, calls to this number cannot be answered

NEST LancashireHelping you if you’ve been affected by crime, bullying or harassmentnestlancashire.org Call: 0300 111 0323Text: NEST and your number to 60777Email: info@nestlancashire.org

Catch 22 www.catch22.orgthey provide support for looked after children and care leavers.

Rights4childrenwww.rights4children.org.ukThey make sure you know your rights and who can help.

The Children’s Commissionerwww.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/help-at-handFree support and advice for looked after children and care leavers.Freephone on 0800 528 0731

J122824 0818

WhoCanHelp:

Personal Advisers: Blackpool Young People’s Service2 Market StreetFY1 1ETContact no: 01253 754840

Your Social Workers:The Permanence Team Children’s ServicesBickerstaffe SquareContact No: 01253 477610

Housing advice: Housing OptionsSouth King StreetBlackpoolFY1 4TRContact no: 01253 477760

Care Leavers Forum JustuzContact them on 01253 477536Email justuz@blackpool.gov.uk Website www.justuzblackpool.co.uk

Doctors/nurses especially there to support you: Contact No: 01253 953 771Email: dutynurse.cla@bfwhospitals.nhs.uk