Lib Dems Win Fight For More Help For Care Leavers

At last night's Full Council, a Liberal Democrat motion calling for more help for care leavers with their housing options was passed unanimously.

The Cabinet will now make sure looked after children and care leavers are given real opportunities to consider their housing options in detail, and ensure training and mentoring as they become increasingly independent.

The Cabinet will also review how looked after children and care leavers move into their next stage of accommodation, and investigate whether care leavers would be entitled to bonds to help them with rent deposits.

Councillor Marie Bradburn, Chair of the Corporate Parenting Panel, moved the motion:

"I am so pleased that this motion was successful."

Living independently and running a household is no easy task, and many parents help their children with this transition, and provide financial, practical and emotional support along this journey."

As corporate parents, we have the same responsibility to prepare our children in care and care leavers for the next stage of their life."

The Council and councillors have not only a duty, but a moral obligation to provide this support for our looked after children."

The motion can be read on Milton Keynes Council's website.

Edit 27 October 2021; this has now been delivered by Milton Keynes Council, follow this link to read more: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/pressreleases/2021/oct/council-launches-70-000-package-of-additional-support-for-young-people-leaving-care

The text of the council motion is below:

Helping Care Leavers in Their Next Steps

Councillor M Bradburn

1. That this Council notes that:

• (a) looked after young people travel a difficult path in their time in local authority care;
• (b) there is no common age at which young people are ready to leave the structure of care; this is never more apparent than when considering accommodation, and the access to it;
• (c) as the Corporate Parent to looked after children and care leavers, this Council has a duty to prepare young people for the reality of housing options;
• (d) most young people cannot afford rent deposits when they first leave home; and
• (e) around 25% of all our households in temporary accommodation are headed by people under the age of 25, often following a failure to transfer successfully to independent living, demonstrating that young people, whether or not they are in care, can sometimes struggle with accommodation.

2. That this Council resolves to request Cabinet to:

• (a) ensure looked after children and care leavers are given the opportunity to consider their housing options in detail, including information about the housing market and entitlement to housing, which comprises:
• (i) the deposits required for all types of rented housing;
• (ii) how to access waiting lists for Registered Provider and Council housing; and
• (iii) support to engage with any Choice Based Letting (CBL) scheme, when it is introduced.
• (b) ensure when young people are ready to leave care, they are supported to choose the accommodation that will best suit them (given the constraints on local provision), and that they are given as much notice as possible;
• (c) ensure thorough training and mentoring for looked after children and care leavers, so that they are supported to gain the skills for increasing independence, including managing a household and budgeting/finance skills;
• (d) encourage schools to include this information and training for all children; and
• (e) consider providing an information pack to young people as they register to vote at 18, or via the schools, and parents educating at home, at 16.

3. That to achieve these aims, this Council also resolves to request Cabinet to:

• (a) accelerate the planned review into the current process of how looked after children and care leavers move into their next stage of accommodation, and involve the Care Leavers Housing Champion, the Chair and Vice Chairs of the Community and Housing Scrutiny Committee, and the Corporate Parenting Panel in reviewing any proposals;
• (b) investigate whether care leavers would be entitled to bonds for rent deposits in the private or social housing sectors, and consider plugging any gaps in entitlement, while still helping with the selection of alternative accommodation, often more suitable, such as shared occupancy and supported accommodation; and
• (c) consider whether more supported accommodation is needed.