The Children and Social Work Act (2017) was implemented on 1st April 2018 and extends the Corporate Parenting responsibility for a Local Authority to provide support to Care Leavers up until the age of 25 years (formerly 21 years). Local Authorities are required to publish a Local Offer for Care Leavers by December 2018 which sets out the services and support available and their entitlements. To meet the requirements of the Local Offer the 18plus Care Leavers Service undertook a service review in July 2018, to review the staffing capacity of the service and to plan for the increase in demand.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 19/10/2018
Decision due: Not before 5th Dec 2018 by Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements, and to allow for Cabinet Committee consideration.
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Lead director: Sarah Hammond
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Caroline Smith, Assistant Director, Corporate Parenting, Integrated Children's Services 03000 415091 Email: caroline.smith@kent.gov.uk Tel: 03000 415091.
Consultees
The Care Leavers Service have completed a consultation with young people through the Young Adult Council (YAC) to seek their views and input into the offer. Care Leavers have been fundamental to the process, to drive the design and ensure a service user voice in the design and commissioning of our 18plus Care Leavers service. A Care Leavers Survey is due to sent to all young people in August 2018, to establish their views on the service.
Members have been regularly updated on the Local Authorities duties under the Children and Social Work Act (2017) through the Corporate Parenting Panel. The review of the Care Leavers Service will be presented to the Corporate Parenting Panel on 19th September 2018.
The Local Offer for Kent Care Leavers was considered at the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on 29 November 2018.
Financial implications: The total gross budget for the care leavers staffing in 2018-19 is £3.1m, of which £0.9m is funded from KCC base Budget. The remainder of the budget is funded from the Home Office Grant for asylum care leavers. Staffing capacity has been reviewed and increased to meet the current demand for personal advisor support. The total cost of the structure is now £3.9m (to support 1,845 cases), of which £1.6m will need to be met from the KCC base budget (an increase of £0.7m compared to current net budget). The structure required by the end of March 2020 will be £4.2m (to support 2,130 cases) of which £1.9m will need to be funded from the KCC base budget (an increase of £1.0m compared to current budget). It is important to note, the increase in KCC budget requirement is subject to agreement at County Council in February 2019 as part of the 2019-22 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).
Legal implications: It is a statutory requirement to publish the Local Offer under The Children and Social Worker Act (2017).
Equalities implications: An Equality and Impact Assessment has been completed. The Local Offer is open to all eligible KCC Care Leavers.