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NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL STAYING PUT POLICY

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL STAYING PUT POLICY. Wendy Rylands Team Manager 18+ South Team. History of extended placements. Nottinghamshire have always been ahead in promoting extended placements Pre 2003 Culture of extending placements (case by case basis)

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NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL STAYING PUT POLICY

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  1. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL STAYING PUT POLICY Wendy Rylands Team Manager 18+ South Team

  2. History of extended placements • Nottinghamshire have always been ahead in promoting extended placements • Pre 2003 Culture of extending placements (case by case basis) • 2003-2010 Supported Lodgings Scheme Introduced • 2010-Sept 2013 Stonham Supported Lodgings Scheme

  3. Legal framework • Care Matters, Children and Young Persons Act 2008 and the Planning Transitions to Adulthood for Care leavers 2010 Regulations and Guidance (Volume 3) • Pilot Schemes were set up across 11 Local Authorities in 2011 • Govt Guidance 2013, Staying Put to be available to all young people who are fostered. • Future Guidance- Staying Close for young people in residential care.

  4. Outcomes of the Pilot Schemes • EET activity maintained • Clear and direct pathway to independence • Young people not penalised for their care status • Young people allowed to mature and develop • Less young people experiencing complex pathways to independence • High quality final placements can be therapeutic and assist young people to achieve their potential • Motivation to offer Staying Put/willingness to stay is strongly influenced by the quality of the relationship

  5. NCC response to National Pilots • Sept 2013 Nottinghamshire Staying Put Policy introduced • Guiding principles • The discussion around staying put begins at 16 • Open to everyone • Financial consistency and clarity • Maximised entitlements to benefits • Culture of independence • At 18 young people are adults • Department facilitates arrangements • Change in terminology – change in relationship

  6. Planning for Staying Put • Staying Put meeting is held • Living Together Agreement – replaces Placement Plan • Preparation for independence tasks • Finance • Income • Friends/Partner staying • Staying away for nights/weekends • EET • Health care • Moving on arrangements • Issues related to younger children in placement

  7. Funding • The total amount received by the provider is made up of 3 amounts • Accommodation • Food and Utilities • Staying put allowance • 2018 Rates • Rent - £73.00 • Food and Utilities - £30.00 • Staying put allowance - £85.00 Paid under S23(C) of the Children Act 1989

  8. Additional Funding Where Fostering Income needs to be maintained at a certain level consideration of additional funding will be put to LAC/Leaving care CSM for approval.

  9. Special Education Extension Funding • Where YP turns 18, in full time education, allowances remain the same until the end of that academic year • Leaving Care Team – fund basic fostering rate for 16/17 year olds. • Additional allowances – paid on approval from the Fostering Service Manager • Any extension – ends last Friday in July • Young people make benefits claims etc. at end of extension period.

  10. HIGHER EDUCATION Where a young person is planning to leave home to go to university fostering allowances continue for a further period until the young person leaves for university. If a young person chooses to stay at home and attend a local university staying put policy will apply costs rent/support will be paid by LC team as per HE policy.

  11. HIGHER EDUCATION • Vacation accommodation-funding currently in Notts HE policy, young people returning to carers for vacation accommodation, rent payable is £70 per week.

  12. Financial Issues for Staying Put Providers • Providers in receipt of benefits • Staying put payments made under S23(C) of the Children Act 1989 are disregarded when calculating providers entitlement to means tested benefits • Tax Implications • The Qualifying Care Relief System covers Staying Put providers where they provide a placement for a young person who was looked after immediately before their 18th birthday. • Council Tax • Should Council Tax benefit be effected by offering a Staying Put arrangement, Children’s Social Care will reimburse the deficit

  13. Financial Issues for Young People • Young people will be expected to finance food and utilities and rent through their own income • If young people are employed a benefit check should be done to maximise income • There should be no disincentive to work – Children’s Social Care will pay any deficit in housing benefit paid to employed young people

  14. Other Issues • All Staying Put providers to have access to The named worker for the young person/Personal Adviser who will be the first port of call for any concerns about the placement. Any concerns about payments etc.

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