Care leavers local offer

What support and guidance is available to you if you've left or about to leave care.

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Introduction

Leaving care is a big step and we want to make sure you feel supported. Just because you are leaving care, or have already left care, we haven’t stopped caring about you. Here we explain the support and guidance available to you.

The Care Leaver Local Offer is reviewed every year with the help of The Children in Care Council and The Oxfordshire Care Leavers Association.

To be eligible for support, you must have been in care for a total of at least 13 weeks, which began after you turned 14 and included some time after your 16th birthday.

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

  • your social worker
  • independent reviewing officer (IRO)
  • personal adviser (PA)

Vist Am I a care leaver? - Coram Voice for an explanation of your basic entitlement.

Relevant, eligible and qualifying care leavers

However, certain categories of care leavers are more complicated, and it is important to check with your social worker, IRO or PA to establish your individual status and entitlements.

For example:

'Relevant' care leavers

You are a 'relevant' care leaver if you are both:

  • no longer cared for, but you have been 'eligible'
  • 16 or 17 years old

Note that some young people aged 16 or 17 who are detained in hospital or custody may also be 'relevant', but may not have been eligible.

'Eligible' care leavers

You are an 'eligible' care leaver if you are both:

  • currently in care and have been for at least 13 weeks, between the ages of 14 and 18 
  • in care for at least 24 hours, aged 16 or 17

'Qualifying' care leavers

You are a 'qualifying' care leaver if you have both:

  • been in care for less than 13 weeks, but with at least 24 hours aged 16 or 17
  • parts of the local offer can apply, depending on an assessment of need

You are a 'qualifying' care leaver if one of these conditions applies:

  • you were looked after immediately prior to being made subject to a special guardianship order (no time limit)
  • you are a child looked after under Section 20 receiving planned short breaks, and you return to your parent, and none of these periods amounts to more than 4 weeks

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Advice and support from a personal adviser (PA)

Most young people will be supported by a social worker while in care until they are 18. By the time you are 17 and a half, you will have been introduced to your PA, who will support you between the ages of 18 and 21, and up to 25 if you choose.

Your PA will provide advice, support, and a pathway plan. You can talk to them about anything – if you're having problems, or are worried about something, or if you just fancy a chat. If you are under 21, they will visit or contact you at least once every 8 weeks or more frequently if needed.

The pathway plan

The pathway plan is your document and is a continuation of your care plan. The plan sets out the support and skills you will need when you leave care and as an adult.

If you are over 16 and under 21 years, you will have a copy of your pathway plan. Your pathway plan will reflect your input and views and will include:

  • where you will live or are living
  • any education or training you might want to be involved in
  • jobs
  • money (including financial support from us)
  • financial management support, such as opening a bank account
  • applying for a National Insurance number and identification documents
  • cultural or identity needs
  • your health and your lifestyle

No two people are the same, so any other support we can offer will be personal to you and based on your needs, plans and engagement with your pathway plan.

We are also committed to ensuring our care leavers are well prepared for the opportunities and challenges that adulthood brings. Your care and pathway plans will also focus on making sure you have the necessary information, understanding, and skills for adult life, and that you feel confident and supported to gradually move towards successful independence.

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Other services the local authority must provide

As a minimum, we must help with:

  • expenses associated with an agreed programme of employment, education or training
  • a higher education bursary of £2,000 if you go into higher education (for the period of the course)
  • suitable accommodation or the means to secure this, during vacations, if you are in higher education or in residential further education

Talk to your social worker or PA about the range of specific support we provide to those undertaking higher or further education courses, depending on your circumstances.

We also offer a Leaving Care Allowance, sometimes called a 'setting up home allowance', if needed. The total amount depends on the financial year in which you first start using it. 

From 2023 to 2034, the total amount to claim is £3000 and is accessible until you are 25. Talk to your PA to find out more details about how you can access it. 

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General finance offer for care leavers 18 years upwards

Becoming an adult and living independently can be complicated, so between the ages of 18 and 21, we offer additional financial support if assessed as needed. The offer can include:

  • leaving care personal allowance matching current universal credit (UC) levels if unable to claim benefits or work
  • for former unaccompanied care leavers unable to claim benefits, we will provide financial support, subject to your immigration status and Human Rights Assessment
  • a UC equivalent payment allowance for up to five weeks whilst you await your first UC payment, avoiding the need to apply for a UC advance
  • help to undertake advanced claims for benefits, applications for student finance and any other grants or bursaries that you can access
  • if your first payment has not arrived within five weeks, we will consider how we can support you while you wait
  • we will ensure the provision of a suitable and appropriate home up to your 18th birthday and support you to access supported accommodation or independent 'move-on schemes' to secure housing as it becomes available
  • before you turn 18, we will ensure you have key documents such as birth certificates, passports, a bank account and that you can access your savings
  • if you choose, we will support you to learn to drive by paying for a provisional driving licence, theory and practical tests and support towards driving lessons
  • in addition to the financial support we provide, Oxfordshire County Council has designated care leavers as a priority group in its distribution of the Household Support Fund to relieve financial pressure in the current cost of living crisis
  • Oxfordshire County Council are also signatory to the National Youth Advisory Service (NYAS) My Things Matter pledge and promises to make sure you have suitable personal luggage items to help you keep your belongings safe

Read the Leaving Care Financial Policy (pdf format, 729KB) for 16-24 year old care leavers living in supported accommodation or independently. Ask your social worker or PA if you need more information.

Council Tax

All care leavers aged 18 until their 21st birthday, who are the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Council and who are living within the Oxfordshire area, will be exempt from any Council Tax liability.

For young people living in Oxfordshire, the Leaving Care team will write to the relevant council tax authority to confirm your eligibility for the council tax exemption.

If you are solely liable for Council Tax on your property, you will be entitled to 100% discount after all statutory discounts, exemptions and before Council Tax Support have been applied.

If you are jointly liable for Council Tax on your property, a proportionate award will be made. For example, if there are two occupiers, a 50% award will be made.

For care leavers aged 21 to 25, you can apply to the district or city council for a discretionary reduction. You can request support from the Leaving Care team to do that.

Care leavers who are living outside of Oxfordshire will be assisted to claim any local Council Tax exemption or Council Tax support available. If no reduction is available, Oxfordshire County Council will pay the Council Tax until your 21st birthday.

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Accommodation

Oxford House Project

We are proud to have our own House Project in Oxford, providing shared accommodation and indefinite support as well as membership of an exciting and dynamic national community of care leavers.

We accept referrals for:

  • children we care for
  • care leavers aged 16 and 17
  • 15-year-olds nearing the end of their GCSE courses

Ask your social worker or PA for more information, and visit The National House Project.

Staying put and Shared Lives

If you and your foster carers are happy to continue living together, we will support you to stay with them until you are 21.

Planning to confirm this arrangement should start as early as possible and be completed by the time you are 17 and a half years old.

Supported accommodation

There is a range of supported accommodation options available to our care leavers, whether you are living in Oxfordshire or further afield. From 16 years of age, your social worker and other people who care about you will think about this with you. Together you will decide:

  • what will meet your needs
  • how you will achieve that
  • when is the right time for you

If you are already living in supported housing, we will help you remain there for as long as you need support, up to age 25 if necessary. We will then support you in accessing independent move-on accommodation.

Independent move on housing

By the time you turn 17 and a half, we will help you to understand your housing options and what you need to do to achieve these.

If you have additional needs and are working well to achieve your goals, you may be helped to obtain an extra priority status to move into social housing when the time is right for you.

Your PA will support you to take the next steps towards independent housing. This may be shared accommodation in the private rented sector or, in some cases, social housing. 

If you are living in supported accommodation

Your PA will help you understand how much money you need to earn from employment or claim in benefits to pay your rent and support charges. This is especially important in case your rent or support charges increase, due to tenancy changes or housing benefit allowance changes when you turn 25.

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Education, employment and training (EET)

We want you to succeed in your education, training and employment, and we will support you as much as we can with each of these. We will ask you how you are doing and be ready to celebrate your achievements with you.

We can offer you career information and advice, such as:

  • help to develop your CV
  • advice about courses
  • preparing for job interviews

Working for us

Oxfordshire County Council employs a large workforce. We cover an extensive range of different roles, professions, and occupations. We are a good employer and will help you to develop your career.

Our human resources department can organise short-term work experience and one to one guidance on applying for jobs at the council, including our apprenticeship schemes. Your PA and Virtual School staff can make this contact for you. All care leavers are guaranteed an interview for Oxfordshire County Council roles for which they apply, providing they meet at least the essential criteria.

Financial help for finding a job

We recognise there are costs to finding a job. There are various grants available to care leavers, and we can help you to access a range of funding depending on your age and circumstances.

We will help you to access all resources available to you, including those from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and charitable organisations.

Your PA will be pleased to discuss your own circumstances with you so that we can help you to achieve your goals.

Examples of what you might need financial support for to secure employment, education or training include:

  • suitable interview/work/ college clothes
  • a haircut for an interview
  • equipment for work
  • equipment/ trips/ uniform for college
  • contribution towards stationery for the start of an education course
  • contribution towards, or purchase of, a school/ college/ work bag
  • additional EET-related activity, such as tickets to end-of-year celebrations or excursions (dependent on attendance)
  • travel support for appointments and interviews - either a bus pass or bicycle package for those in low-paid work
  • full-time work 'bridging grant' of Universal Credit equivalent per week, for a maximum of five weeks, while waiting for the first salary payment
  • support to access childcare costs through the Care to Learn fund, DWP or childcare vouchers

We believe the more you do, the better off you will be in the long term. Therefore, to maximise your income, we will offer you:

  • as a minimum, an EET incentive to the equivalent of the 16 to 19 bursary for learning, working and/or volunteering that does not already attract a bursary or maintenance grant. This can include financial support to top up low-paid apprenticeships. The grant will be provided if the activity is deemed full time, such as at least 12 hours of contact time or direct work
  • your PA will also support you to apply for Universal Credit, which is still available for those in low-paid employment, training or apprenticeship
  • we will work with the DWP to ensure you are getting your full entitlement. Your PA will check your eligibility for UC when you provide the level of rent and take-home salary/wage

Studying, learning, and career progression take time, hard work and commitment. To recognise this and to give you encouragement, we also offer:

  • a grant of £1000 on successful completion of a university or apprenticeship level 5 to 6
  • a grant of £750 for successful completion of a level 3 to 4 HE/ FE/ apprenticeship
  • a grant of up to £500 for level 2 FE/ apprenticeship completion for specific support to take the next step into employment, such as tools, uniforms, and travel expenses
  • a graduation or course completion celebration meal

Support if you go to university

If you are considering going to university, our Virtual School can provide you with specialist career advice to help you make the best choices to achieve your goals. We will financially support you with the following:

  • a local authority bursary - £250 per payment to make a total of £2000 over the duration of your course
  • a 'setting up home allowance', if needed. The total amount depends on the financial year in which you first start using it. Before 2023/24 the total amount to claim was £2000, from 2023/34, this has increased to £3000. This is accessible until you are 25.
  • moving to university grant of up to £300 at the start of the course
  • One-off £500 contribution towards buying a computer
  • funding for up to 6 return journeys each year, using public transport and booked in advance. Funding is also available to cover visiting universities during the application process, and moving costs
  • additional travel grants can be applied for from care leaver charities and UCAS
  • a term-time bus pass if needed and if not provided by the university/ HEI, and/or a bicycle package worth up to £300 to include a bike, a helmet, lights, jacket, and padlock
  • essential books, equipment and educational visits
  • vacation accommodation costs, as agreed with your PA
  • up to £35 per month to access university leisure facilities
  • graduation grant of up to £250 for photos, gown hire, contribution to ball ticket and celebratory meal with PA
  • £1000 degree course completion grant
  • we will consider providing financial support for essential overseas vocational course placement costs and travel

Open University courses

  • a local authority bursary of £2000 (made up of eight £250 payments) and a £1000 completion grant will support any agreed programme of study via the Open University. To mirror an undergraduate degree, you'll need to achieve 360 points to receive the £1000 completion grant. You'll need to achieve 40 points to receive each £250 payment
  • you must begin the course before you are 25. Support will be provided to help you access other grants to aid your studies. As these courses are online, it is expected that you will be employed to supplement your income

All our care leaver allowances are subject to an assessment of your needs, and with the agreement of your PA and/or their managers.

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Health and wellbeing

We want to help you to look after your health and get any support you need to stay healthy. To do this we will support you to access support for your health needs and identify specialist referrals where required.

We offer:

  • a ‘16+ Health Summary’
  • signposting to where you can get help to pay for prescription costs, if needed, and help to complete HC1 Health forms
  • support to register at health services when you move home
  • support to move from CAMHS to adult services, if required
  • public transport costs when attending hospital or doctors' appointments
  • free or subsidised access to the local authority's leisure centres
  • support towards the costs of essential dental work. If you are not in receipt of benefits, we will pay for an annual dental check
  • a £60 annual contribution to prescription glasses/contact lenses
  • a double appointment with your Oxfordshire GP if/when you let them know you are a care leaver
  • support to download the NHS app and help so you can access online health services and your health history information
  • if you are a smoker and would like to stop, you can get free patches and gum and an advisor who is trained to help you stop smoking. You are four times more likely to quit with this support than if you do it on your own. For more information visit the Smokefreelife Oxfordshire website
  • you can get online access to your medical record held by your doctor, if your doctor is in Oxfordshire
  • if you are worried about being overweight and would like some advice or access to a free weight loss programme contact Achieve Healthy Weight Loss Oxfordshire
  • if you have diabetes there is extra help to get you moving more, which can help manage your diabetes. For more information, visit the Go Active website
  • support and advice if drugs or alcohol are causing a problem in your life. Contact Turning Point if you are 18 or over, or Cranstoun Here4YOUth if you are under 18
  • you can access free self-sampling sexual health testing kits and condoms on the Sexual Health Service Oxfordshire website. You can also get advice on contraception, such as the pill or the morning-after pill (up to 72 hours), from local clinics across Oxfordshire

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Independent advocacy, mentoring and lifelong links

We work closely with our partners, the National Youth Advocacy Service. Together, we can provide you with:

  • independent advocacy to help you resolve specific issues
  • an independent visitor while you are still in care

Independent Visitors are adult volunteers whom you can trust and rely on while you are still in care. You will spend time together doing fun activities of your choice, creating special memories.  

Learn about your rights

NYAS advocates can help if you: 

  • feel you're not being heard
  • want to know more about your rights
  • want to speak to someone independent

NYAS advocates can listen and help you communicate the problem you want to resolve. 

You can contact them via:

  • the helpline
  • online chat
  • WhatsApp
  • text messaging
  • email

Refer yourself or ask your social worker or PA for help. 

The NYAS Side by Side Programme aims to provide additional support and reduce social isolation for Oxfordshire care leavers.

Mind of My Own digital advocacy

The children we care for, and our care leavers, can also use Mind of My Own digital advocacy apps to keep in touch and share their views, wishes and feelings with the team of professionals supporting them. Find out how you can fully participate in your care and pathway planning. Visit the Mind of My Own website or ask your social worker, IRO, or PA.

Lifelong links

Our Lifelong Links programme provides opportunities for young people in care to explore the possibility of reconnecting with any significant family member or friends who have had a positive involvement in their lives. 

The intention is for this reconnection to endure beyond your time in care, to adulthood and beyond. Ask your social worker, IRO or PA for more information. 

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Accessing your care records

Whether you are still in contact with us or not, you have the right to access information we hold about you, including:

  • the circumstances that brought you into care
  • the decisions that were made
  • contact you've had with us

This can be a positive experience for you, but we recommend you ask your social worker, IRO or PA to discuss the process with you. It can also be an emotional experience, so you should be fully informed, supported and prepared. 

If you are no longer in touch with us, our duty PAs can signpost you as needed and may direct you to support from charitable organisations such as the Rees Foundation.

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Parenting

Oxfordshire County Council and partner agencies recognise and value the additional strengths that care-experienced parents often have. We take a 'think family' approach as corporate parents and grandparents and will work with you to ensure your contact with any of our services is joined-up and supportive.

We will make sure you are supported to be the best parent you can be by:

  • preparing you well for adulthood
  • helping you plan and prepare for parenthood 
  • helping you access all universal and early help services available to you

Our service will include making sure you can access the:

We will ensure you can access a range of parenting support options from all partner agencies, such as ante- and postnatal parenting groups.

We will also offer you support to access any specialist parenting resources you may need, such as:

Visit our you and your family pages for more parenting advice.

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Living in the community

We want you to be an active member of society with good connections with your local community. We can help in the following ways:

  • providing information on groups and clubs you may wish to join. We run fun and exciting activities programmes for our care leavers to reduce isolation and build positive relationships
  • informing you about awards, schemes, and competitions you can enter, in line with your talents and interests
  • helping you to enrol on the electoral register, so you can vote in elections
  • informing you about voluntary work that we think you may be interested in
  • helping with some costs of leisure activities, such as free access to leisure centres for care leavers in West Oxfordshire
  • offering you advice and helping you to challenge any discrimination

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Unaccompanied asylum-seeking young adults

Oxfordshire is proud to welcome and care for unaccompanied children within inclusive, caring communities. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking young adults who turn 18 can continue to access support from the county council if they are:

  • former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC)
  • care leavers aged 18 and above who have received a positive immigration decision, are awaiting a decision, or have submitted fresh applications. You will be supported based on your needs assessment within the pathway planning process, and supported under the former relevant finance policy
  • lone parents - paid at the standard adult universal credit rate with healthy start vouchers. The equivalent of healthy start vouchers will also be paid while awaiting a determination. This is to be spent on milk, plain fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables (fruit and vegetables with nothing added), or infant formula milk
  • former unaccompanied pregnant women receive the equivalent of one Healthy Start voucher a week
  • babies under the age of one receive the equivalent of two vouchers a week
  • children aged over one and under four receive the equivalent of one voucher

Former unaccompanied children and young adults who become appeal rights exhausted (ARE)

  • young people who become ARE and are human rights assessed as having a barrier to return to their country of origin will receive support. This support can be granted while an assisted/voluntary return package is arranged, until the barrier to return is removed, until 21 years or until returned to their country of origin, whichever comes first
  • we will provide an allowance matched to NASS S4 levels for all appeal rights exhausted asylum seekers, where determined needed by Human Rights Assessment. This money pays for essential toiletries, food, entertainment and some clothing
  • former unaccompanied pregnant mothers will receive an extra payment of £3 per week, and we will match the Sure Start Maternity grant of £500 available from eight weeks before the 'due date'
  • former unaccompanied parents with child(ren) under three years will receive an extra £5 per week
  • ARE young people are encouraged to attend leisure activities that are provided by Asylum Welcome and other free community activities

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Support for care leavers aged 21 to 25 years of age

Our door is open for advice and assistance until age 25, even if you have not been in contact with us for a while. You can use our duty telephone lines to contact us. This assistance is different to the package you would receive under 18 or 21 years of age, as you are a more independent adult.

We can:

  • give you advice
  • help you access other services 
  • help you apply for grants and bursaries if available to you

You don't normally need a full pathway plan; however, we may undertake a formal needs assessment and action plan to help work out what we are working on together. We will host drop-in sessions with EET advice workers, benefits workers, and health workers.

If you are a former unaccompanied young person and still awaiting a decision from the UKBA, we can support you to apply for Section 95 support, which will help with accommodation and allowance. Our door will remain open for advice and guidance until the age of 25.

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Continuing education, employment and training over the age of 21

You will have a pathway plan mapping out:

  • your goals 
  • our support
  • regular contact with your leaving care personal advisor 

During your pathway planning, we will determine the assistance we will provide for employment, education or training over the age of 21. Your pathway plan will help you know exactly what help you can get from us and others while you study. We will be in contact with you at least twice a month. 

We understand that your goals and aspirations can change as you grow. You can come back and talk to us about your ideas about employment, education and training until you are 25. We can help you to decide the best option for you.

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More support available to you

Health support

Other places you can go for help

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Emergency food provision

Contact your personal adviser if you feel you are really struggling with basics such as food. As a short-term safety net, there are food banks across the county.

  • West Oxfordshire Food Bank - 07557 979 384
  • North Oxfordshire Community Food Bank - 07929721172
  • Community Emergency Food Bank (CEF Oxford city) - 01993 810 622
  • Banbury Food Bank - 01295 661 304
  • Bicester Food Bank - 01869 357 181

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