PILLAR ONE.

Student

 Please detail the full life-cycle support you have in place for care leavers.

When detailing a response to this “pillar” we ask you to bear in mind (and where appropriate make reference to):

• The DfE Principles for Supporting Care Leavers in HE – which applies in part to FEC
• That all appropriate and relevant information is kept up to date (and regularly checked) on the Propel Site
• The CSJ and First Star’s pledge of supporting 12×24
• The outcomes of NNECL’s Quality Mark Pilot, with the long-term consideration of signing up.
• Reviewing and improving this provision every year, or as new advice is published – whichever comes first.

Please use this section to detail the full life-cycle support you offer to care leavers / experienced students.

Care Experienced-This term refers to anyone who has been, or is currently, in care. This care may have been provided in many different settings, including living with foster carers; living in a residential children’s home; being looked after at home under a supervision order; living with friends or relatives in kinship care.(NNECL)

At Burnley College it is the responsibility of the Safeguarding Team to liaise with Local Authorities to identify Care Leavers prior to starting their 16-19 education. The Safeguarding Team work through a transition process with the learner to ensure support is provided for their next steps. This includes initial meetings with the Care Leaver and their support team to assess needs and to provide reassurance of support that will be provided in Further Education. Support strategies are communicated with relevant staff.

For Higher Education learners 18-24, all Care Leavers are identified at enrolment stage, learners are asked to tick a box if they are classified as a Care Leaver. The Care Leaver will receive 1:1 guidance and support on financial and academic queries.  Burnley College will also help to forge relationships between the Care Leaver and the Personal Assistant at the Local Authority.

With respect to on course support all 16-19 and Higher Education Care Leavers have access to a bursary.  Additionally, the College offers a Burnley College Bursary, Access to Learning Fund and Advanced Payments.

On course Care Leavers are offered a Designated Teacher who will liaise with academic staff to monitor progress, attendance, behaviour and wellbeing.  Should any issues be Identified then the Designated Teacher will work with Academic Staff to provide support and Interventions as required.

All Care Leavers have access to careers advice and guidance per term to discuss future aspiration and employment. Care Leavers have access to support with CV writing, interview and presentation skills.

PILLAR TWO.

A robust employment offer

From application support, or adapted application processes and mentoring, to specific internships, work experience, apprenticeships or traineeships. 

This is very much open for institutional specific responses, but we believe that every institution is in a position through supporting care leavers as students to translate aspects of this to supporting and offering opportunities to current and potential employees.

Burnley College are to formulate a working group to develop an Employment Offer.  The team will consist of the Widening Participation Officer, Designated Teacher and Safeguarding Team, as well as Staff Development and recruitment teams.

PILLAR THREE.

Community

 How does the institution build relationships and engage with the local community?

Consider student clinics – medical or law for example. Health and beauty treatments, culinary schools or sports coaching in colleges, or information on talk series and open events etc.

Consideration should be given to the advertising and access and / or discounted opportunities, which could be hosted on the Care Leaver Covenant app.

Consider how this information is publicised, how this might be augmented to enhance the reach to a care leaving audience?

As a College we operate events throughout the year to engage with the local community. These events are advertised and shared with the care community teams.  Events such as:

• Winter Wonderland;
• Science Festival;
• Dedicated Advice and Guidance drop in sessions (held monthly for Adult and Higher Education);
• Promotion of Education in the town centre.

We are currently working to develop Higher Education Social Prescribing and working with AoC and partners to develop a management system to assist both for current learners and the wider community.  For 16-19 learners, we are trialing social prescribing.