Contents

1. Aim
2. Benefit Claim Process
3. Support for Employment
4. Contacts
5. 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	EMAIL	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	EMAIL	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	EMAIL	TEL NUMBER
Katherine Collier	Katherine.Collier@DWP.gov.uk	0161 253 8456

Walkden Jobcentre

NAME	EMAIL	TEL NUMBER
Helen Bullough	helene.bullough@dwp.gov.uk	01612538407
Manager Sara Pugh	HSara.pugh@dwp.gov.uk	01612538438

Iralm Jobcentre

NAME	EMAIL	TEL NUMBER
Raegan Robinson	Raegan.robinson@dwp.gov.uk	01619041703

Hyde Benefit Centre

Jobseekers Allowance

NAME	EMAIL	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	EMAIL	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	EMAIL	TEL NUMBER
Rachel Holt	Rachel.Holt@DWP.gov.uk	01282 473305

Leaving Care Team, Salford City Council

NAME	EMAIL	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 see, Letters of Referral to Jobcentre Plus Work Coach.

End