Issue - meetings

Kirsten Hallett, Team Manager Care Leavers Services, to report.

Sarah-Jane Smedmor (Care Corporate Director) informed the board of the Dorset Council’s Care Leaver Strategy. She also explained that the next informal meeting will be dedicated to care leavers as it was care leaver week. Kirsten Hallett (Team management with care leaver) informed the board of the Your life beyond care survey. This was conducted to have a better understanding of children’s experience and the help and support they receive. The following discussion points were made:

·       Was there a target to ensure that every care leaver can read and write before progressing onto the next stages of their lives beyond care? How can a targeted mentoring scheme be monitored to help them into the world of life? The board was assured that officers were working with schools and the virtual school to ensure that all children could read, write, and have basic IT skills. They were also informed that some councillors had come forward to become mentors, whether this be for job interview practice or university applications. Through working with local businesses, they were also looking into different apprenticeship opportunities for young people.

·       Regarding contact, the board was assured that they were in contact with several care leavers. Some chose not to retain contact for personal reasons but those involved there was contact more frequently than every 8 weeks.

·       The board was also informed that the target for those in employment or within education was currently not being met. The level was currently at 60% but officers assured the board that they would be working hard to increase this percentage. Several care leavers were not able to work due to illness, criminal records, or personal life choices, so this also needed to be included within these statistics. What can be done to open the doors to employment?

·       Due to living in a more rural area, transport was an issue. The board asked how the council could help either financially or by offering transport? In answer to this question Kirsten Hallett (team management with care leavers) informed the board of the guaranteed bursary that was offered to 16-19-year olds within care. This could contribute to books, trips, and transport. In addition to this the council could offer further payments and bespoke packages based on their personal needs.

·       Reports were currently produced on 18-21-year olds however the care system looked after young people until the age of 25. For those who wanted contact after the age of 21, they could be contacted on an 8-weekly basis. It was their choice, and bespoke packages could be made between the care leaver and their PA.

·       A suggestion was made that schools offer mock interviews which would be useful. It would be good to do marketing with councillors within the different fields to mentor young people.