3.10.5 Driving Lessons for Looked After Children and Care Leavers |
Contents
1. Introduction
This paper will provide guidance for the provision of driving lessons to looked after children and care leavers.
There is currently no provision in Hillingdon to provide driving lessons to care leavers except in exceptional cases which are then considered individually. Young people have said that they were very much at a disadvantage by not being able to drive. This has restricted them from applying for jobs or entering into a career that required a driving licence.
This guidance will set out the criteria and eligibility for care leavers who wish to learn to drive, which could improve their employability and training opportunities.
2. Background
Care Matters: Time for Change (2007) and more recently the Ministerial Stock take on Care Matters highlight the government's commitment to improving outcomes for looked after children and care leavers.
The development of the London Pledge to Children and Young People in Care is a commitment from all Children's Trusts and their partners to all our children and young people in and leaving our care and to care leavers. This pledge has been developed in partnership with young people, Lead Members and partners from the voluntary and community sectors.
Children's Trusts in each local authority are expected to identify priorities from the Pledge in consultation with children in their care. Hillingdon's Children in Care Council is working on prioritising the different strands of the Pledge for the looked after children and care leavers. One of the pledges refers to the provision of driving lessons.
London Pledge number 44 states - "Where appropriate, we will support you to learn to drive where this will help you get into training and the right job"
3. Criteria
All applicants will have to meet one of the following criteria:
- The young person (NEET) intends to apply for jobs that require a driving licence such as bus drivers, delivery couriers (recorded in the Pathway Plan)
- The young person will be undertaking a higher/further education course that requires a driving licence.
- The young person is living in a remote/rural location that has poor transportation.
In addition they must:
- Be at least 17 years of age. (This will change when the new rules on a raised age of eligibility comes into force)
- Agree to undertake an off the road preparatory course. Only those who have passed the preparatory course will be permitted to take on the road driving lessons. (This may be provided by in-house providers)
4. Funding
Funding for the driving lessons and tests will be from the respective team budgets and as such will be agreed by the Service Manager of the 16+ Leaving Care/Asylum /In the Spirit Teams.
Funding will pay for the costs of:
- Agreed number of lessons, not exceeding 30
- Driving tests including the theory and practical
- One re-sit of the test in the event of a failure of the practical test
- The driving licence once the person has passed.
Long-term foster carers (i.e. those who have been approved for long term placements) for young people will be asked to contribute 25% towards the costs for the lessons. This will come from the additional allowance element of payments to foster carers. Likewise the young person will be expected to contribute towards the cost of lessons. The amount contributed will be dependent on the young person's allowance/pocket money, but no more than 25% of the total costs.
5. Application Process
- The young person will complete the application form with their Social Worker/Personal Adviser.
- The application will be approved by the Team Manager before submission to the Service Manager for authorisation (except those care leavers who have social workers in the In the Spirit Team)
6. Application Form
Click here to view Application Form
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