A Message from the London Borough of Sutton regarding the Local Offer for Care Leavers

Welcome to Sutton's Local Offer for Care Leavers

I hope you will take a moment to read this and understand why this is an important document. The Local Offer is a resource that lays out the support and services available to you as you start your journey towards adulthood and independence. It's designed to help you on your journey to a positive and successful future. All local authorities are required to publish their Local Offer under the Children and Social Work Act 2017. As your Corporate Parent, we have the shared responsibility of ensuring that your needs are met as far as possible. We have to act in your best interest and ensure we provide the best support possible as any parent would do. This Local Offer is our commitment to you and shows how much we take this responsibility seriously. 

Our staff will support you.  They will  make sure everyone around you is doing what they should be doing to improve your opportunities. They will make sure those people provide the care and support that allows you to reach your potential. This includes regular visits, and face to face meetings with you, and your carers. Other people who are important to you and are involved in supporting your plan can come to those meetings. It is not easy living away from family so it is important that the care and support we provide makes you feel valued, listened to, cared for and loved. Your pathway plan should be completed with you.  It is important that you know who is responsible for supporting you in every aspect of your care, education, health, employment, training, education and positive engagement opportunities. 

At 18 you will officially be an adult. However, we know that everyone is different. Different people need different support. We will support you to make sure you continue to have the right support as an adult. Your pathway plan will be used to decide the visits and support that you need to keep you safe and connected with the community you live in. Our support will not cease simply because you become an adult. We will support you until you are 25 years old. If you need additional support after you are 25, you will know how any ongoing needs will be supported and by whom, such as Adult Social Care. You will know this before your 25th birthday. Support will be tailored to your needs and will take into account your wishes, feelings, and assessed needs, alongside any other support you might require.

The Care leavers’ offer is really important. Some young people and young adults have helped us to look at different aspects of this local offer. We have included information about the agencies that support us to make sure your needs are met, such as Housing, Education, Health, DWP. 

This Local Offer will help you to understand:

1. Support in place

2. The services that provide support 

3. How you can  get support from these services. 

If you have any further queries, or questions you can do one of the following:

• Attend the Senior Leaders’ catch up every third Wednesday of the month at the Quad from 3pm to 4pm. 

• Liaise with the Participation officer, 

• Liaise with your PA (Personal Advisor) or 

• Liaise with your IRO/ Advocate

Our commitment and support to you is clear. I hope you can count on us to be there for you in your journey ahead.

Wish you the best 

Councillor Marion James, Chair for People Committee, Lead Member for Children

Jonathan Williams, Director of Children's Services, London Borough of Sutton