3.14.11 Young Care Leavers Protocol |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This Protocol is between: Salford Jobcentre Plus; Eccles Jobcentre Plus; Irlam Jobcentre Plus; Walkden Jobcentre Plus; Worsley Jobcentre Plus; Bolton Benefit Delivery Centre and Salford City Council Leaving Care Team.
RELATED CHAPTER
AMENDMENT
This chapter was updated in November 2018 to add updated Jobcentre Contact details (see Section 4, Contacts).
Contents
- Aim
- Benefit Claim Process
- Support for Employment
- Contacts
- Issue Resolution
Appendix 1: Letters of Referral to Jobcentre Plus Work Coach
1. Aim
To make it easier for young people leaving care within Salford applying for benefits prior to their 18th birthday. It is recognised that when care leavers first enter the benefit system; the complexity of the system combined with the complex issues faced by care leavers often resulted in lengthy payment delays for the young person and financial cost to the Local Authority in ‘holding payments’ paid to bridge the gap until benefits are in place.
2. Benefit Claim Process
The following process will be available to all care leavers:
- 3 Weeks prior to young persons 18th birthday; the Leaving Care Team’s social worker will ring the named contact at the appropriate Jobcentre to arrange for the appropriate clerical claim forms to be issued. Claim must be made 4 weeks before if young person does not have a National Insurance number;
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) Claims can be made on line via GOV.UK Website. Once a claim has been submitted please contact the named contact at the appropriate Jobcentre who will identify the date and time of the interview arranged by JSA On Line and notify the young persons social worker;
- The Leaving Care Team’s social worker will ensure that the young person has their National Insurance number, or acceptable identification or evidence if a National Insurance number interview will be required.
This includes:
- Valid passport (UK or foreign);
- National identity card (UK or foreign);
- Residence permit or residence card including biometric immigration residency documents;
- Full birth or adoption certificate;
- Full marriage or civil partnership certificate;
- Driving licence (UK or foreign).
Further information can be found at the GOV.UK Website.
Applying for a National Insurance number
See Get a National Insurance number
- The Leaving Care Team’s social worker will also ensure that the young person has a basic bank account/post office account to enable their benefit to be paid into;
- The Leaving Care Team’s social worker will ensure benefit claim forms are completed fully. The claim form will then be sent to named contact at the Benefit Delivery Centre along with a covering letter advising them that the young person is a care leaver and a mandate for disclosure of information. (Appendix 1: Letters of Referral to Jobcentre Plus Work Coach);
(Note: Each enquiry will be dealt with on an individual basis); - Claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA): 1 week before the young person's 18th birthday the Leaving Care Team social worker contacts the named contact at the appropriate Jobcentre to book a Work Focused Interview at the Jobcentre;
(Note: Work focused interviews may be required if claiming benefits other than JSA - this will be discussed when claim forms are requested); - Claiming JSA: The young person must attend their Work Focused Interview on time and must bring with them other evidence requested (nominated officer at the Benefit Delivery Centre will liaise) the JCP Personal Advisor completes a blank office use page of JSA1 with all relevant details and faxes to the nominated contact at the Benefit Delivery Centre to confirm attendance at the Work Focused Interview and signing details;
(Note: Any ID evidence e.g. birth certificate, passport must not be sent to Benefit Delivery Centre but taken to the local Jobcentre for the Work Coach to view and record.); - The Jobcentre Personal Work Coach will complete any relevant notifications in non-JSA claims if the young person was required to attend Work Focused Interview;
- The named contact at the Benefit Delivery Centre ensures that claims for JSA, Income Support or Employment and Support Allowance are assessed as priority, providing all evidence requirements and conditionality to entitlement are met;
- Any problems with processing entitlement or payments can be discussed between the Leaving Care Team’s social worker and appropriate named contacts at the Benefit Delivery Centre providing a disclosure mandate is held. (See Section 4, Contacts.)
3. Support for Employment
Jobcentre Plus and Salford’s Leaving Care Team will work together to maximise the opportunities for all care leavers.
Salford Leaving Care Team will:
- Ensure that all care leavers have an effective and up to date CV;
- Prepare young people to engage with their JCP Work Coach;
- Ensure that the appropriate data sharing form is completed in full and a copy is given to the JCP Young Persons Work Coach;
- Inform JCP Young Persons Work Coach when a young person makes a claim for benefit;
- Liaise with the named Young Persons Work Coach if the young person does not appear to be making progress;
- Ensure the young person has an email address.
See Appendix 1: Letters of Referral to Jobcentre Plus Work Coach.
Jobcentre Plus will:
- Check young person’s email address;
- Liaise with the young person’s social worker to obtain job goals and check an up to CV is available for matching against;
- Contact the young person to offer an interview. Also contact the young person’s social worker as they may need to support young person to this interview;
- Maintain a record of care leavers to prioritise access to opportunities;
- Liaise with the Leaving Care Team if any issues or concerns arise.
4. Contacts
To enable this process to work efficiently named contacts are vital. Named contacts are listed below.
Salford Job Centres
Salford Jobcentre
NAME | TEL NUMBER | |
Penny Cole | Penny.cole@DWP.gov.uk | 01612571120 |
Rachel Nield (SPOC) | Rachel.Nield@DWP.gov.uk | 01612571230 |
Manager Jo Lamont |
Joanne.lamont@dwp.gov.uk | 01612571271 |
Eccles Jobcentre
NAME | TEL NUMBER | |
Anthony Lawler | Anthony.lawler@dwp.gov.uk | 01619128637 |
Andrew Goodman | andrew.goodman@dwp.gov.uk | 01619128671 |
Alison Nelson (SPOC) |
Alison.nelson@dwp.gov.uk | 01619128642 |
Manager Carrie Cowsill | carrie.cowsill@dwp.gov.uk | 01619128689 |
Wesley Jobcentre
NAME | TEL NUMBER | |
Katherine Collier | Katherine.Collier@DWP.gov.uk | 0161 253 8456 |
Walkden Jobcentre
NAME | TEL NUMBER | |
Helen Bullough | helene.bullough@dwp.gov.uk | 01612538407 |
Manager Sara Pugh | HSara.pugh@dwp.gov.uk | 01612538438 |
Iralm Jobcentre
NAME | TEL NUMBER | |
Raegan Robinson | Raegan.robinson@dwp.gov.uk | 01619041703 |
Hyde Benefit Centre
Jobseekers Allowance
NAME | TEL NUMBER | |
Kelly Bardsley (new claims) | Kelly.Bardsley@dwp.gov.uk | 0161 253 8249 |
Caroline Wilmot (Maintenance) | Caroline.Wilmot@DWP.gov.uk | 0161 252 8440 |
St Helens Benefit Centre
Employment Support Allowance
NAME | TEL NUMBER | |
Rebecca Berry (new claims) | Rebecca.berry@DWP.gov.uk | 01744 698044 |
Stuart Turley (Maintenance) | Stuart.Turley@dwp.gov.uk | 01744 481002 |
Burkley Benefit Centre
Income Support
NAME | TEL NUMBER | |
Rachel Holt | Rachel.Holt@DWP.gov.uk | 01282 473305 |
Leaving Care Team, Salford City Council
NAME | TEL NUMBER | |
Phil Varghese | phil.varghese@salford.gov.uk | 0161 607 1888 |
Lynn Leonard | lynn.leonard@salford.gov.uk | 0161 607 1888 |
Peter Hughes | peter.hughes@salford.gov.uk | 0161 607 1888 |
Chris Purcell | christopher.purcell@salford.gov.uk | 0161 607 1888 |
In the event of being unable to contact the above managers, please ring Leaving Care Duty – 0161 607 1888.
5. Issue Resolution
In the event that an issue cannot be resolved by the named contacts, please contact:
Salford Jobcentre Plus
Jo Lamont
2 Paddington Close
Salford
M6 5PL
Tel: 0161 257 1271
Jade Chapman
2 Paddington Close
Salford
M6 5PL
Tel: 0161 257 1271
Worsley Jobcentre Plus
Sara Pugh
Worsley Jobcentre
5 Worsley Court
High Street
Worsley
M28 3AD
Tel:
0161 253 8438
Eccles Jobcentre Plus
Heather Bateman
Sentinel House
Monton Road
Eccles
M30 0NA
Tel: 0161 912 8694
Irlam Jobcentre Plus
Dave Taylor
Irlam Library
Liverpool Road
Irlam
M44 6FD
Tel: 0161 904 1704
Appendix 1: Letters of Referral to Jobcentre Plus Work Coach
Click here to view Appendix 1: Letters of Referral to Jobcentre Plus Work Coach.
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