A report on the Care Leavers’ Offer which combines all the services on offer to Care Leavers, inclusive of financial support, in one document. 

The Committee received a report on the updated Care Leavers Offer which set out the services available to Care Leavers in one document.  The Care Leavers information pack was available at Appendix 1 to the report.

The report explained that the Local Authority had a duty to provide a clear published offer for Care Leavers.  Reading (Brighter Futures for Children’s) Care Leavers’ Offer had been updated, following a review in March 2023, undertaken by Mark Riddell MBE, the National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers and a subsequent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.  The Care Leavers’ Offer combined all the services on offer to Care Leavers, inclusive of financial support, in one document.

The Care leavers’ Offer sets out the eligibility for services and the detailed offer to Care leavers.  The offer covered several domains, inclusive of: Health, education, training & employment, living arrangements (accommodation), money and finances, practical and life skills, culture and identity, leisure activities and emotional development and wellbeing.  It also detailed services available to support with any legal or immigration issues.

The Committee noted that the Care Leavers information was provided as a version for young people and a version for officers who were directly involved in the care and planning for young people. An advocacy service was available for the young people to represent their views if required.  It was also noted that the offer was available to support Care Leavers up to age 25.

Resolved – That the Care Leavers’ Offer be noted.