Use this page to learn about the Local Offer for Care Experienced young people in Bath and North East Somerset.
You can call our team on 01225 395200 or email us at care_experiencedteam@bathnes.gov.uk
Our priority is for every young person to:
- Know their rights and entitlements
- Feel cared for, loved, understood and supported
- Know that just because you are leaving or have left care, our support does not stop
It is important that you know what to expect as a care-experienced young person and this document sets out our offer to you.
Select a topic from the list below to learn more:
The term 'care-experienced' refers to someone who, during their childhood, was looked after away from their parent(s).
There are different things you have a right to based on legal definitions, relating to your care experience. The table below helps you understand which legal definition you fit under and what this means for you:
Type | Description | Entitlement |
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Eligible |
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Relevant |
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Former relevant |
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Qualifying |
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Our Care Experienced Team will be the people you will have most contact with. The whole of the council have shared responsibility as your corporate parent.
Social Worker
Before turning 18 you will have a Social Worker in the Children in Care Team.
Your Social Worker will complete a Needs Assessment and a Pathway Plan (from 16 years of age), which will highlight all of the options available to you and the support you may need to develop your skills over the coming couple of years in preparation for turning 18. Your Pathway Plan should be reviewed at least every 6 months to make sure your goals and actions are still right for you, and progress is being made.
Personal Advisor (PA)
You will be introduced to your Personal Advisor before turning 18 so you can get to know one another, and they will support you after you turn 18.
Your Personal Advisor will stay in touch and see you regularly to support you around all areas of your life.
What you need to do
- Share your views and opinions about what is going on for you and what matters to you
- Be there when we visit and respond to calls
- Be open to other support and taking on advice and guidance
Our identity and sense of belonging is shaped by our background and experiences in life.
Having a clear and strong sense of identity and belonging helps us feel safe, confident, and comfortable in being ourselves.
Your care experience is a significant part of who you are and your identity. We will always promote equality for you across different aspects of your identity.
Find out more about how we will support you and your identity
- We will encourage and care for you and celebrate your goals and aspirations
- We will make sure you are asked about the important decisions which affect your life
- We can help you understand your journey through and after care
- We will make sure you have your identification (ID) documents; we will pay for your first adult passport, provisional driving license and make sure you have a birth certificate and National Insurance Number. We will also ensure you have a bank account open.
- If you are seeking asylum, we will support you through this process. When granted asylum we will ensure you have an ARC/Biometrics Card.
- We will support you to change your name by deed poll if you wish.
- You will be invited to join our Care Experience Council. This is run by Off The Record and is a space to join other care-experienced young people to influence changes across the service.
- You have access to independent advocacy (provided by Off the Record). We can help you to get in touch with them or you can contact them yourself.
We want to hear from you about the service and how we can be better. If you would like to contribute you can become a Young Ambassador. If you would like to provide feedback, which may be a compliment or a compliant, then you can contact our team about this.