Care Leavers Local Offer

We will encourage you to stay in care until you are age 18.  Most young people live at home with their families at this age. If you choose to leave care before age 18, the law says we must provide you with suitable accommodation.

When moving into different accommodation your PA will make sure that it is somewhere safe for you to live and fits in with your needs that will be found in your Pathway Plan.

We can give you a setting up home grant, to help you buy essentials for your new home, your PA, will help you find out how much you can get.

You should get help with your housing until you are 21, either from the local authority or through the benefits system.  If you are in full time education, you can get help until you are age 25.

If you and your foster carers decide you want to remain with them, we can support you through a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement which can last until you are age 21.  Your PA can help you with this.

When you first move into your own place you are entitled to a setting up home grant of £2000, this will help to get stsarted with furniture and decorating.  Things you require to help to make your house feel like a home. The grant can be used for:

Housing Associations and PropertyPool Plus information can be found on the Housing and Adaptations page

If you are aged over 18, your PA will help you to think about finding suitable accommodation, which might include:

• Lead tenancy – own house/flat, you will have a tenancy agreement which is a contract between you and the landlord of the property, which gives you and your landlord certain rights. You are responsible for paying the rent to your landlord and paying utility bills, such as gas, electric, water, TV license and food.
• Residential care – living in a house with other young people in care, there will be a team of professional staff that work shifts within the house to care and support you.
• Supported accommodation –  this might be if you’re not ready to have your own ‘lead tenancy’, you’d be living in a flat or house with other young people with the support of adults.

If you are a Halton Care Leaver and remain living within Halton you will be exempt from Halton Borough Council Tax until your 25th birthday.

Your PA will help you to claim Housing Benefit/Universal Credit and to get your National Insurance Number.

Easy Read Guide about a TV Licence

Shelter

In a medical emergency (e.g. self-harm or suicide attempt) always ring 999 or go to a hospital Accident & Emergency

For non-medical emergencies, contact the NHS on 111 for advice about your health

To contact the local Police in a non-emergency you can ring 101

Health is more than being healthy, eating healthy or doing regular exercise.

It’s your physical, mental and sexual health, including problems with alcohol or drug/substance misuse.

The Health section has lots of information, support and advice.

Halton’s Health Improvement Team have a useful Mental Health Information Point for you to access lots of different support

Search for a service 

Don’t forget you can get free prescriptions, glasses and dental treatment until the age of 18.

• Talk to FRANK (Friendly, Confidential Drug Advice)
• TeensHealth

u-explore

Discounted rate to Halton schools, colleges and education providers via [email protected]

Free for young people aged 16 to 18 who are not in education, training or employment – contact a local Career Connect Connexions Adviser or email [email protected] for the access registration code to view resources e.g. job profiles, employer video tours, interviews with employers and lots more to help you decide on your career

National Careers Service

Independent, professional and high quality careers and skills advice, available from age 13+ online or over the telephone.  Adults have additional access to community-based face-to-face advice.

Post 16 Directory

This directory is to support professionals working with young people to move on to Education, Employment or Training

Provides lots of information to help find a job e.g. Becoming an Ap prentice, Help with moving from Benefits to Work

Riverside Housing and Generation Medics are providing a fully-funded online programme for eligible Halton residents interested in exploring and pursuing a career in healthcare.

See flyer for more details Halton programme delivered by Generation Medics-Riverside Housing

Provides help and advice on moving from benefits to work, work experience/volunteering, starting your own business and support available when you start working.

• NEW DWP Benefit Checker provides a quick idea of what you may be able to claim
• Benefit Calculator gives a more detailed picture of what you may be entitled to
• Understanding Universal Credit – making a new claim is another way to access the Benefit Checker

• Princes Trust
• Apprenticeships
• National Minimum Wage
• V-Inspired

When you are 18, you will be responsible for paying your own bills, how much you pay depends on whether you are in education, employment or looking for work. These are some organisations that can help advice you:

• Contact for families with disabled children – benefits and money
• Access To Work Fund
• Benefits and Welfare Advice
• Carers Allowance
• Council Tax and Benefits
• GOV.uk
• Family Fund
• Money Saving Expert
• Entitled To
• From Child to Adult
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Christians Against Poverty
• Money Advice Service
• (PIP) Personal Independence Payment
• Runcorn Debt Centre 
• Universal Credit 
• NEW DWP Benefit Checker provides a quick idea of what you may be able to claim
• Benefit Calculator gives a more detailed picture of what you may be entitled to
• Understanding Universal Credit – making a new claim is another way to access the Benefit Checker

We will try to help you financially, in a similar way to how parents support their own children for things like:

• If you live in Halton – you will be exempt from paying Halton Borough Council Tax;
• Tell you about money management training;
• How to access your Junior ISA, if you have one (this is a fund of money set aside by the Government and the Council);
• Support to set up a bank account, gain important identification documents e.g. Passport, provisional Driving Licence before your 18th birthday;
• Support to get your National Insurance Number;
• Provide you with a financial gift on your Birthday, at Christmas or other celebrations.

Everyday Banking Easy Read Guide

• MyBNK – financial education for young people
• National Debt Line
• Money Saving Expert
• Turn2us