Care leavers local offer - your accommodation

If you are an Eligible, Relevant or Former Relevant young person we have an Accommodation Officer who will work directly with you, your Social Worker, your Personal Adviser and if necessary, with Housing to identify the best accommodation option for you. When you're ready, we'll support you to make an application to Housing for suitable independent social housing. If you decide not to live in the Stockton-on-Tees area, then we will support you to apply to the local social housing provider where you want to live. This support is available if you need it until you reach the age of 25.

Staying put 

This is when you stay with your foster carers past your 18^th birthday and possibly up to your 21^st birthday. You can move at any point during that time if that's what you want.

Your Social Worker and Personal Adviser can help and will be happy to talk to you and your foster carer together or individually about this option. We'll need to start planning for this around your 17^th birthday to make sure it all goes smoothly.

If you're in a fostering placement when you're 16 or 17 and you want to go away to university or college, then you can come back to your foster carers during the holidays under a Staying Put arrangement.

Please talk to your Personal Adviser about this and they will help you to sort this out if that's what you want.

Supported lodgings 

This is when you live with an adult in their home. We call this person a Host. The Host has been assessed as a Supported Lodgings Provider. Checks have been done to make sure that they are a suitable person to provide this service to young people. The Host is not a foster carer, but it's a bit like being in a fostering placement. You would have your own bedroom and share the other parts of the house such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom. It's an option for young people from the age of 16 who have left school and are at college, in training or are employed. If you think this could be right for you and want to talk about this option, ask your Social Worker or Personal Adviser about it. We would always want you to visit the house and meet the host before you make a decision about whether this could work for you. We'll sort that out and go with you for the visit.

Supported accommodation 

This is having your own space. It could be a one-bedroom flat or a shared house with support staff on site or popping in to give you the help you need. This is to help you develop the skills to live independently. The support staff will work with you to build your independent living skills and help you to understand the responsibility of managing your own tenancy.

Some of the things you could work on with staff are:

• budgeting 
• keeping your flat clean 
• paying your rent
• shopping
• cooking

Social housing and privately renting 

If you are a Former Relevant, Eligible or Relevant young person, then when you're ready to live in your own property, we can help you to secure a tenancy in the local area. First, you will need to register with Tees Valley Home Finder to be able to view and bid on properties you are interested in. You will be awarded a Priority Banding because you're a care experienced young person. Having Priority Banding means not having to wait in a long queue to access social housing. 

If you're a Qualifying young person, then depending on your assessed needs you may be entitled to Priority Banding. Please ask your Personal Adviser about it, if you have one. If not please ring the Duty Officer on 01642 527860 or email us at lookedafterchildrenadmin@stockton.gov.uk.

Your Personal Adviser will work with you and the Accommodation Officer from our Housing Solutions Team to help you find a property that is in the right location for you and is affordable.

Young people who are Former Relevant Care Leavers who live in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees will not be charged Council Tax until their 25^th birthday. If you live in another local authority area, it's very likely that you'll have to pay council tax there. We'll talk to that local authority to see if they have a similar scheme for Care Experienced young people in their area. This may result in you not being charged for council tax, but we can not promise that you will not have to pay it.

You may also be able to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment. This is money that's managed by the Housing Department. It can help people to pay a deposit for a privately rented home or cover a rent shortfall for example. If this is something that you think could help you, then please speak to your Personal Adviser, if you have one. If not please contact the Duty Personal Adviser on 01642 527860 or email us at lookedafterchildrenadmin@stockton.gov.uk.

Accommodation at university 

If you are an Eligible, Relevant or Former Relevant young person then whilst in higher education we'll help you with accommodation where you are studying. This can be for up to 52 weeks of the year. We'll help you to identify the most suitable accommodation that is of reasonable cost, depending on which university you go to. We'll also support you in returning to Stockton-on-Tees during non-term time periods if you'd like to visit family and friends. 

If you're a Qualifying young person, and you'll be staying in university accommodation during term time because you're studying outside the local area, then you need to let us know before you start your course. This is so that we can assess your needs, understand your situation, and think with you about where you can stay during non-term time and how we can support you with that.

For accommodation during term time, you will need to apply for student loans and grants.

Speak to your Personal Adviser for more information.

Care Leavers not living in Stockton-on-Tees 

You may have spent some of your time living outside of the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees and don't want to return. If you want to stay in a local area where you have been cared for, and this is the best option for you, then we'll do what we can to make that happen. We'll speak to other organisations or local councils about long term housing options available to you in that area. 

If you want more information, please speak to your Personal Adviser. 

Visit the Stockton Information Directory for external organisations to help with accommodation.