What is the Care Leavers Local Offer?
It’s the support Peterborough City Council can offer to care leavers to help with housing, money, education, work, health and day-to-day life.
Who is the Care Leavers Local Offer for?
This offer is for young people aged 16 to 25 who are (or were) in care and are entitled to leaving care support from Peterborough City Council.
Who is eligible?
If Peterborough City Council looked after you, you will usually be eligible if you were in care for at least 13 weeks from age 14 and some of that time was after your 16th birthday. Some people may also qualify for advice and help in other situations. If you’re not sure, contact us and we will check your leaving care status.
Which council is responsible?
The council that looked after you, in this case Peterborough City Council, is responsible for your leaving care support and Local Offer, even if you now live somewhere else.
How to access support (and apply for extra help)
Some support is your legal entitlement (like a Personal Advisor and Pathway Plan). Other parts are extra help that you may need to request.
How to make applications or requests
Please contact one of the following if you wish to apply or request help or support through the Local Offer:
- Your Personal Advisor (PA)
- Leaving Care Team
- Your Social Worker
- Your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
You can also apply yourself. We are introducing a direct route for Care Leavers to request parts of the offer. If you want to apply for any of the offers, please email leavingcare@peterborough.gov.uk or call 07773 576469 and we’ll guide you.
What happens after you apply
We will check what you’re asking for, confirm you’re eligible, and tell you what we can offer and what we need from you. For example: a quote, invoice, or proof of your costs.
Have your say on the Local Offer
You can get involved, meet other Care Leavers, and help improve services.
- Peterborough Care Leaders (Care Leavers Forum)
- Young Recruiters / Young Trainers / Young Inspectors
To get involved, please contact the Participation Team: participation@peterborough.gov.uk.
How we share updates on the Local Offer
We update this Local Offer when support changes. The quickest way to hear about changes, drop-ins and opportunities is through our Care Leavers WhatsApp community.
Care Leavers WhatsApp community
We have a WhatsApp community to share updates and help Care Leavers connect. Within the community, there are different WhatsApp groups you can choose to join, for example:
- Staying Connected (general group)
- Together as Parents (care leavers who are parents)
- We are also interested in creating other groups - tell us what would be helpful
We also post the monthly Care Leavers' newsletter in the WhatsApp community.
How to join: If you are aged 18 to 25 and are one of our Care Leavers, you can request to join. Email leavingcare@peterborough.gov.uk and we'll help you to join.
Monthly Care Leavers newsletter
We share a monthly newsletter with job opportunities, activities, events, and updates about what support is available. This is shared with Personal Advisors and in our WhatsApp community. Please look out for it. If you can’t find it, ask your Personal Advisor or contact the Leaving Care Team.
Annual Care Leavers survey
Every year from July to August, we run an annual survey for our Care Leavers. This is your chance to tell us what has worked well and what needs to improve about the support and services you’ve received. We use your feedback to update the Local Offer and improve services for Care Leavers.
How to access: information on how to complete the survey will be shared by your Social Worker, Personal Advisor, the Leaving Care Team or your Independent Reviewing Officer, and it will also be shared in the WhatsApp community. Please consider completing it. Your feedback helps us improve support for other young people too.
Your rights and what we must provide (by law)
The law says we must publish this Local Offer
Under the Children and Social Work Act 2017, every council must publish a Local Offer for Care Leavers. It must explain the support you have a right to and any extra support the council chooses to provide.
You can ask for this Local Offer in other formats (for example, a translation). If you need help to understand it, contact the Leaving Care Team.
The Local Offer must cover: health and wellbeing, relationships, education and training, employment, accommodation, and participation in society.
Support you have a right to
- A Personal Advisor (PA) and leaving care support (usually up to age 21, but up to age 25 if you want it).
- A Pathway Plan that is written with you and reviewed to help you plan your future.
- Help with housing (including planning, practical support and help to keep your home).
- Help with education and training - including advice and support to reach your goals.
- Help with finding employment
- Help with your health - including support to register with health services and access extra help if needed.
- A setting-up-home grant when you move into your first independent home (national guidance recommends this should be at least £3,000).
- Support even if you move out of area: the council that looked after you remains responsible for your leaving care support and Local Offer.
Our promise as your corporate parent
Everyone in the council should act like a good parent would: listen to you, take your wishes seriously, help you get access to services, and support you to be safe, well and ready for adult life.
If you’re not getting the support you think you should
- Talk to your Personal Advisor first (or the Leaving Care Team if you do not have a Personal Advisor).
- Ask your Social Worker or Independent Reviewing Officer to help if you need extra support.
- Use an advocate (independent support). You can contact NYAS: 0808 808 1001.
- Make a complaint if you need to. Contac the Peterborough City Council Complaints Team at complaints@peterborough.gov.uk or 01733 296 331.
What you can expect from us
- Help with housing and setting up home
- Support with education, training and work
- Support with health and wellbeing
- Help with money, budgeting and benefits
- Support to stay connected and take part in your community
Need help using this offer?
If you need help using the Care Leavers Local Offer, please contact the Leaving Care Team in the first instance:
Phone: 07773 576469
Email: leavingcare@peterborough.gov.uk
To discuss the development of the Care Leavers Local Offer, please contact:
Elle Johnson
Care Leaver Local Offer Lead and Child Friendly Peterborough Lead
Email: Elle.Johnson@peterborough.gov.uk