We provide the same support which other looked after children receive: accommodation, maintenance, and support and encouragement in education, training and employment, advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Accommodation:
Based on a needs assessment, accommodation for looked after young people can be:
With foster carers
Supported lodgings
Semi-independent
Independent shared accommodations
Subsistence
Financial support is given to all young people until they are eligible to apply for benefits. If the young person attends full time education, they qualify for education incentive money. The team can also provide an educational grant for those in university education. Pathways is supported in part by grants from the Home Office, Department for Education and Skills (DfES), and the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).
Education
We support and encourage young people to enroll in schools and colleges. We have two Connexions workers and another Education Officer within the team. We arrange a variety of programs to support young people’s future employability, such as Teenagers to Work, an annual work experience scheme. Young people who are new to the UK often start in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and then progress to academic and practical courses for their future employability. Support classes are arranged for some young people who have difficulties understanding English.
Leaving care
We have a duty to adequately prepare young people to live independently. We provide leading support, advice and assistance to young people until the age of 21, or if in an agreed programme of education, until age 24.
The support given to young people turning 18 years old depends on whether they have been supported under Section 17 or Section 20 of the Children Act 1989 and on their immigration status.
Services for post 18 clients include:
·Personal Advisor to provide guidance and support
Pathway Plan to help young person plan future
Assistance with applying for support from benefit agencies or NASS
Immigration status
Social workers and personal advisors also work with young people around their immigration status if they are not British citizens. Young people can have the following immigration statuses:
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)/ Humanitarian Protection (HP)
Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR)
Asylum Pending (waiting for an answer from Home Office)
Out of Time applicants (turned in application too late to file an asylum claim)
Exhausted all appeals (no longer eligible for support and likely to be deported)