After Care Support 21 -25
If when you contact us you have a multiple , complex issues to deal with and you need extra support , we will carry out a pathway plan needs assessment and you may be allocated a Social Worker or Leaving Care Worker until things have resolved for you and you can be supported via the After Care Service again .
You might , for example , need extra support because :
» You have special educational needs , a disability or mental health issue .
» You are an unaccompanied asylum seeker and your immigration status is unclear .
» You are in or leaving custody or you have had contact with the criminal justice system ;
» You are a young parent ; » You are at risk of becoming homeless .
I thought at my age it might be too late to come back into education and have the support of the Leaving Care Service but when I contacted the After Care Team , I was allocated a Personal Adviser in the 20 + team . I was told I would have a Personal Adviser in that team until my course finishes . I have also been able to meet with the Post 16 teacher and got support in claiming for bursaries and grants / loans .’
- MT aged 23
Your rights to be heard
We will provide opportunities and help so that you get your views heard . We will listen carefully to your wishes for the future and take these seriously as we plan with you for leaving care . If you feel you are not being heard or taken seriously , you can raise this issue in the following ways :
• You can talk to your Personal Adviser
• You can contact our Customer Care Team . The team can listen to your concerns and try to help sort these out if they can . They can help you access independent advocacy and assist you through the formal Complaints process if you wish to complain . Email : complaints _ childrens _ services @ ealing . gov . uk Tel : 020 8825 8100
• You have the right to support from an independent advocate . Independent advocates can inform you about your rights and help you to be heard in meetings . Ealing has an arrangement in place with ‘ Coram Voice ’ a voluntary agency , who can link you up with an independent advocate . You can contact Coram Voice Advocacy service directly if there is something important to you that you are not happy about : Freephone : 0808 800 5792 Email : help @ coramvoice . org . uk Web : www . coramvoice . org . uk
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN GET YOUR VOICE HEARD
Ealing always wants to hear from you . There are all sorts of ways you can get your views across and help us develop our services to better meet children and
young people ’ s needs . One way is by taking part in our surveys for Looked after Children and Care Leavers . Another way is by joining one of our Children in Care Councils .
The HORIZONS SHOUTOUT COUNCIL ( HSC ) is for Care Leavers ( 16 +). The HSC meets online as well as in person so you can join wherever you are living .
We really want to keep growing the numbers in the HSC as it makes such a difference to how we deliver services and campaign actively to change the way things are done to benefit looked after children and care leavers .
Areas that the the HSC have worked on that have improved outcomes for care leavers have been : securing the Council Tax Exemption for ages 18-25 years , the Savings at source for Looked After Children and the Education Grant . Please contact Horizons for more information . They will be delighted to hear from you !
Corporate Parent Committee
The HSC presents to Ealing ’ s Corporate Parent Committee four times a year . This is a meeting of Councillors , chaired by the Leader of Ealing Council , as well as senior managers . The Committee receives reports on how various services are doing e . g . education , health , social care . It is a great way for the voices of our care leavers to be heard at the highest levels and help improve things .
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