Care leavers protocol

an illustration of a contract and a handshake

This is a joint protocol between Jobcentre Plus and Devon County Council Care Leavers Team.

The aim of this protocol is to support a young people leaving care to apply for Universal Credit (UC) prior to their 18th birthday. It is recognised that when care leavers first enter the benefit system, the complexity of the system combined with the complex issues faced by care leavers often result in lengthy payment delays for the young person and financial cost to the Local Authority in ‘holding payments’ paid to bridge the gap until benefits are in place.

Background

Care leavers are one of the most vulnerable groups of young people in society. Young people who enter local authority care can, if not adequately supported, leave care with poor educational attainment and low aspirations which can result in long term unemployment. We believe that every young person should be encouraged and supported to plan their future careers and achieve their potential through learning new skills and having a wide range of practical experiences. Across Devon we are committed to raising young people’s aspirations by providing on-going support to help them make positive decision s about their future.

Aims of the Protocol

Jobcentre Plus (JCP) and Devon County Council (DCC) will work together to provide an enhanced service to support young people leaving care into education, employment and training. This will ensure:

  • Co-ordinated support to engage young people into Education, Employment or Training
  • An early entry system and a smooth transition for those young people leaving care and needing to claim benefit
  • Prompt and accurate payment of benefits where these are required
  • Young people are empowered and enabled to gain sustainable paid employment through individual route ways

Consent to Share

Under Universal Credit Full Service (UCFS) there is no implicit consent, so Care Workers (CW) can only talk to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on a Care Leavers (CL) behalf if:

  • They have the CL with them and attend the JCP.
  • They phone when they have the CL with them so they can answer the security questions posed and give verbal consent for DWP to speak to the CW.
  • The CL goes into their UC account and updates their journal with a message giving:
    • The name of the 3rd party (CW), organisation and their role.
    • What the query is about – it has to be specific e.g. housing costs for December 2017
    • Why the information is required
    • You should then be able to phone the Service Centre/ Jobcentre and DWP will discuss the issue.

Jobcentre Plus

Jobcentre Plus will:

  • Provide the Leaving Care Team with up to date contact details for Work Coaches supporting care leavers
  • Provide an early entry system for care leavers (processing forms in readiness for 18th birthday)
  • Ensure a warm handover – a three-way diagnostic interview between the young person, Work Coach and Leaving Care Team.
  • Work Coaches will ensure that the young person is aware of all assistance available to them, including any support through the Flexible Support Fund.
  • The first time a care leaver fails to attend an appointment with Jobcentre Plus, the Work Coach will try to contact the young person to explain the procedures, or refer back to the Leaving Care Team.
  • When required a three way case conference will be arranged with young person, Leaving Care Team and Work Coach.
  • Jobcentre Plus will incorporate this protocol into operational policies

The Leaving Care Teams

The Leaving Care Teams will:

  • Provide DWP with up to date contact details for the Leaving Care Teams
  • Must notify the local Jobcentre Single Point of Contact (JC SPOC) of a young person who is leaving care
  • Ensure that young people are aware of the enhanced service they will receive from DWP
  • Must attend a 3 way diagnostic interview at start of the claim for DWP benefits
  • Will re-iterate conditionality with care leaver if/when the first infringement occurs
  • Will ensure the key worker to attends case conferencing to support the young person on their recommended pathway, where appropriate
  • Provide on-going support to the care leaver and liaise with JCP, ensuring that JCP are notified of any changes in the young person’s circumstances, e.g. finishing education, a change of address or returning to parental home.
  • Will incorporate this protocol into operational policies

Summary 

Devon County Council and DWP aim to support young people leaving care to access an enhanced service. It is hoped that working together supporting these young people, outcomes and aspirations will increase, enabling and empowering them to gain sustainable employment.

Full details of the Universal Credit claim process are available here.

 

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