Bury Council: Care Leavers Ready to Transition to Independent Living

Under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, Children and Social Work Act 2017, and Housing Act 1996, local authorities have a statutory duty to support care leavers in their transition to independent living. They must:

• Ensure care leavers have access to suitable, safe, and stable accommodation.
• Avoid placing care leavers in inappropriate or unsafe housing, such as B&Bs.
• Work jointly with housing departments to prevent homelessness and provide priority access to social housing.

An Ofsted inspection of Children's Services in 2021, highlighted delays in securing appropriate accommodation for care leavers, which sometimes led to young people living in temporary or less stable environments. 

Consequently, the Council has strengthened its approach to providing suitable quality accommodation for care leavers up to age 21 (or 25 if in education or training) who are ready to transition to independent living, through the Housing Growth Subgroup.

A joint working protocol has been established between Children’s Services, Housing Services and the Housing Growth & Development Team, to ensure that care leavers have access to safe, suitable and sustainable accommodation. The purpose of the collaboration is to:

• Identify and secure suitable quality accommodation for care leavers who are ready to transition to independent living.
• Ensure care leavers are prioritised and allocated modern and high-quality housing as part of the Council’s housing development programme.
• Share information on care leaver accommodation needs, including via the Council’s Registered Provider Partnership Framework, to ensure partner organisations are aware of the Council’s priorities.
• Undertake joint forward planning.
• Co-ordinate referrals.

Early Planning

Housing needs are assessed and planned for before a young person turns 18, with clear steps outlined in their Pathway Plan.

Allocations & Banding

The Housing Allocation Policy places care leavers in Band 1 (urgent housing need) if they are homeless and in priority need, to help reduce and prevent homelessness amongst care experienced young people. They may also qualify for Band 2 if they are leaving supported accommodation and assessed as ready for independent living. In addition:

• Care leavers are exempt from disqualification under the Housing Allocation Policy, even if they have a history of behaviour that would normally exclude other applicants.
• All care leavers automatically qualify for entry onto the Housing Register.
• Care leavers may be offered direct lets in cases of safeguarding, complex needs, or where standard bidding processes are unsuitable. Offers may include conditions to support tenancy success, such as tailored support packages.

New Builds 

The Council’s Affordable Housing Development Programme is on track to deliver over 400 new affordable homes within the next 2 to 3 years. Where appropriate, circa 10% of the new dwellings within each housing scheme (owned/managed by registered providers with nomination rights to the Council) will be allocated to care leavers who are ready to transition to independent living. 

To date, up to 50 new build properties in the programme have been identified for care leavers. These properties will be allocated via direct let (no bids required), to enable a move to be made quickly and therefore accelerating the transition into independent living.