Making plans for the future

More young people in Wandsworth reported feeling positive about their futures than in other local authorities.

Why?

Young people who helped to develop the Your Life Beyond Care survey
identified that having and achieving goals was key to their well being.
Wandsworth have focused on making young people feel supported and able
to make plans for their future.

What did they do?

Young people leaving care in Wandsworth are supported by a multi-disciplinary team based in a separate building – ‘The Hub’. It is centrally positioned with good transport links across the borough.

There are 4 main strands of support which complement the work of personal advisers – the Virtual School, Employment workers, a participation specialist and
a housing worker. All these workers are based in The Hub.

• The Virtual School worker sets a high level of aspiration for young people
and has supported 15% of care leavers to enter Higher Education.

• 3 employment workers – with links to and supported through a specialist
employment project Bright Lights.

• The participation worker has engaged young people in a range of activities
since coming into post and set up different social media apps. 56 care leavers
attended their on-line awards event in care leavers week.

• Housing Manager- who can offer practical advice with all care leavers in
Wandsworth receive a guaranteed offer of social housing.

• Detached youth worker to engage with young people who are involved in
gang related activity

Impact

94% of care leavers in Wandsworth agreed they had plans and goals for their future compared to 87% of care leavers elsewhere. 38% felt very positive about their futures compared to 27% in other local authorities.

Having specialist workers in the team allows the Personal Advisors to focus on building relationships with young people, knowing they can easily access specialist advise and support.