The Surrey Care Leavers' Service (CLS) does lots of things for young people. The aim of the service is to support young people as they prepare and move into independence. We have outlined below some of the support is that is available.
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What does the Care Leavers Service do?
The commitment from the CLS to you, as a care leaver is that we will:
- listen to you and hear what your ambitions are for your future. We will advise and support you in how these can be achieved
- offer you the chance to shape the service you access by becoming a member of the Care Council and the Care Leavers' Forum, giving us your views through surveys and focus groups
- support your Personal Adviser to have a long-term professional relationship with you
- support you in improving your physical and emotional health and wellbeing
- support you in feeling safe and secure in your accommodation
- support you to access mental health support, this could be through CLS workers within the county
- support you to stay in touch with the people who are important to you and have your well-being at heart
- work with other agencies to improve their understanding of your views, wishes and needs
- work with the eleven housing districts and boroughs in Surrey to support you to find suitable accommodation and support you in keeping your accommodation. If you live outside of Surrey, your PA can speak to the district or borough you live in to offer this support.
- do everything we can to support you to access education, training and employment and work closely with the 16+ specialist in the Surrey Virtual School
- keep in touch with you until you are 21, or 25 should you wish.
How we can support you?
The Care Leavers' Service (CLS) is currently divided into seven teams covering the following areas:
- North West: covering the boroughs of Runnymede, Surrey Heath and Woking
- South West: covering the boroughs of Guildford and Waverley
- North East: covering the boroughs of Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell and Spelthorne
- South East: covering the boroughs of Reigate and Banstead, Tandridge and Mole Valley
- Three asylum teams: these teams work across Surrey with young people 18+ who have claimed or are awaiting asylum decisions. The teams are based in the South West, North East and North West areas.
Each team is made up of a Service Manager, Team Manager, Senior Practitioner and several PA's, all working to ensure care leavers get all the support they need. You will normally be matched with the team closest to where you lived before entering care.
The work of the service is based on the care leaver's service plan which in turn is influenced by the priorities of the Corporate Parenting Board and the Corporate Parenting Operational Group. Both groups work to promote the Corporate Parenting Principles within Surrey in the work we undertake with care leavers. If you want to learn more about the Corporate Parenting Board, you can read about what it is and the 2023-2025 strategy.
Your personal adviser (PA) can support and advise you with:
- your housing options
- education, employment and training
- getting health services (this is things like going to the GP)
- helping you with finances (money to help you with what you need)
Your PA can also be a shoulder to lean on, when needed. Your PA will play a vital role in supporting you.
Tailored support within the service
As part of the Care Leavers Service your PA is there to help you prepare to live independently and to offer advice and support after you leave care.
Emotional wellbeing and mental health
The Children and Young People's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Care Leavers Service, which is provided as part of Mindworks Surrey, offers mental health support to young people aged 16-25. This service aims to prevent long term emotional and mental health related issues for care leavers. It provides a primary mental health service which offers additional support but does not replace existing services for this age group, including under 18s or the Community Mental Health Recovery Services (CMHRS) for over 18s. Find out more about the mental health support available to care leavers. We have dedicated mental health practitioners who work with care leavers and asylum experienced care leavers.
The Surrey Virtual School
The Surrey Virtual School have a dedicated Education and Employment Adviser, providing tailored career information advice and guidance to care leavers aged 18-25. You can speak to your PA for more information.
Support with homelessness
Two Homelessness Prevention Officers work with PAs and care leavers to prevent and relieve homelessness. The officers meet regularly with care leavers, landlords, housing teams and PAs and any other professionals identified in the pathway plan to ensure each care leaver has a safe and secure place to stay.
We work with the districts and borough housing departments in and outside of Surrey to support care leavers with any housing issues that arise and our work is supported by the Joint Housing Protocol for Care Leavers. We ask that referrals are completed by PAs at an early stage so we can help you to find or maintain your accommodation. For more information please email homelessprevention.duty@surreycc.gov.uk.
You can contact duty.deskleavingcare@surreycc.gov.uk for more information.
