FOI Request - Care Leavers Data (16-25)

Request 101003017573

1. How many care leavers currently live in your local authority area?
2. How many care leavers are in semi-independent or independent living? Such as supported housing, rented accommodation.
3. How many care leavers ceased receiving support from the local authority?
4. Does your local authority provide care leavers with any kind of help to manage their personal finances? Yes or No.
If “Yes”, please go to 4.1
If “No”, please go to 5.
4.1 In the last financial year, how did your local authority support care leavers to manage their personal finances and how many care leavers received this type of support?
From a local authority employee: ____
Such as: Personal Adviser, case worker, social worker, LA employed youth worker
From an outside organisation: ____
Such as: specialist charity, Jobcentre Plus, non-LA employed youth worker
Both the above: ____
4.2 If support is provided by a local authority employee, what training and support do they get for helping care leavers manage their personal finances?
4.3 If support is provided by an outside organisation, do you commission this work? If yes, what commissioning framework do you use to outsource the work?
4.4 If support is provided by an outside organisation, which organisation(s) do you use?
4.5 If support is provided by an outside organisation, how much money did your local authority ring-fence for commissioning this work in the last financial year?
4.6 Which of the following topics does your local authority and/or outside organisation(s) cover when helping care leavers manage their personal finances?
Select ALL that applies
• Junior ISAs or Child Trust Funds
• Tenancy agreements: Rights & Responsibilities
• Cost of moving in
• Avoiding eviction
• Paying household bills
• Choosing utility providers
• Banking – Accounts & Savings
• Borrowing safely
• Budgeting – Weekly & Monthly
• Spending habits – Good & Bad
• Shopping – Offers, consumer rights
• Benefits – Entitlements & Universal Credit
• Online safety and spotting scams
• Risks of money-muling
• What’s next – Planning for the future?
• Getting identification (NINO, passport)
• Other, please state ___________________________________________
4.7 Is it mandatory for care leavers to complete a course in managing personal finances?
Select ONE that applies
• Yes, for all
• Yes, for some
• No
4.8 Of care leavers who were mandated to complete a course on managing personal finances, how many completed the course?
5. What other support and entitlements can care leavers apply for from their local authority?
Such as: care grants, exceptional financial support in emergencies, free bus pass
6.Which care leavers are exempt from paying council tax?
If any care leavers pay council tax, please go to 6.1
If all care leavers are exempt, please go to 7.
6.1 How many care leavers accrued council tax arrears in the last financial year?
6.2 What was the average amount of council tax arrears that care leavers accrued in the last financial year?
7. How many care leavers accrued rent or service charge arrears in the last financial year?
7.1 Of those who accrued rent or service charge arrears in the last financial year, what was the average amount accrued?
8. How many care leavers were served an eviction notice in the last financial year?
9. How many care leavers were evicted from their (LA provided) accommodation since mid-June 2021?
10. How many care leavers were evicted from their (LA provided) accommodation in the financial year 2018-2019?
11. What implications does eviction have for a care leaver when applying for social future housing?

Response 04-04-2022

1. 115 within Moray and 40 out with

2. 115

3. 57

4.Yes.

4.1. All young people are supported to budget as a part of their ongoing support, this is reviewed on a regular basis by the Through Care Aftercare Team as well as the organisations listed below, we also if required access the Financial maximisation Team.  

4.2. As adults and professional with many years’ experience they are able to share experiences and support and advise our young people, they are also supported by their respective line managers.

4.3. We do not commission this work, this is provided to all care Experienced Young People if required.

4.4. As mentioned, Financial maximisation team, as well as others listed above.

4.5. Unable to answer this question

4.6. applies  Our team and the team around our young people will focus on the below,
•       Junior ISAs or Child Trust Funds
•       Tenancy agreements: Rights & Responsibilities
•       Cost of moving in
•       Avoiding eviction
•       Paying household bills
•       Choosing utility providers
•       Banking – Accounts & Savings
•       Budgeting – Weekly & Monthly
•       Spending habits – Good & Bad
•       Shopping – Offers, consumer rights
•       Benefits – Entitlements & Universal Credit
•       Online safety and spotting scams
•       Risks of money-muling
•       What's next – Planning for the future?
•       Getting identification (NINO, passport)

4.7. No

4.8. N/A

5. NONE

6. Council tax exemptions, formal ID e.g. passports/provisional Driving Licence.  They also are supported to access young scot cards for free bus travel.  Some young people at time struggle financially and the team would then support them with access to the Moray Food bank.  We are currently negotiating access to free wifi SIM cards.  

6.1. NONE

6.2. Care Leavers are Council tax exempted until aged 26.

7. Some young people do accrue rent arrears/service charge related issues, however I am unable to provide an exact number as do not automatically hold this information.  

7.1. Unable to provide this information.

8. None that I am aware of.

9. None that I am aware of.

10. Unable to answer this question - although if any, the numbers would be very low as this is something all organisations look to prevent.  

11. Unable to answer.