LAC and Care leavers Coordinator

Cambridge Regional college has a dedicated LAC coordinator who works exclusively with looked after young people who attend CRC. Their role includes:

• Monitoring the progress, attainment and attendance of care leavers
• Provides welfare support. They are mental health first aid trained, have a MSc in child and adolescent mental health, trauma and attachment aware and is a safeguarding support officer
• They work closely with the care leavers tutor and team lead to collaborate and communicate effectively when there are concerns, to help support the young person and raise attainment
• Works closely with carers, social workers and personal advisors. Initiating contact prior to the start of the academic year to begin transition work with the care leaver
• Care leavers advocate
• PEP planning – Ensures the young person’s voice is heard
• Help with planning next steps
• Raises awareness of the issues care leavers often face and how to support them
• Arranging IT support, including issuing care leavers with a Chromebook and wi-fi dongle
• Liaises with outside organisations who provide support to care leavers, including, LGBTQ+ youth in care, Propel and Become

Transitions

• Dedicated transitions team who work closely with the LAC coordinator
• Close links to schools
• Tours offered throughout summer to care leavers
• Care leavers identified at recruitment, with a dedicated box on applications and during further discussions during interviews. These are then referred to the LAC coordinator who will initiate transition support

Bursary

• NEW care leavers 19-22 bursary, which is an extension of the 16-19 bursary– Roll out hopefully 21.22
• 16-19 bursary
• Dedicated bursary student advisor team, who works closely with the LAC coordinator to ensure care leavers bursary applications are prioritised

Careers guidance, preparation for work and course progression

• All care leavers are provided with a career’s guidance leaflet tailored for care leavers
• All care leavers receive careers guidance with a career’s advisor several times a year – They can help with, looking for jobs, applying, interviewing, CV writing and figuring out the right path
• Dedicated traineeship team – They liaise closely will the LAC coordinator to identify LAC learners and ensure support is put in place quickly. Care leavers are also referred to the traineeship if disengaged with their main vocational course, to avoid becoming NEET
• Work experience and apprenticeship team – They work closely with our care leavers and employers to find suitable work experience and apprenticeship opportunities
• We support care leavers with UCAS application costs and visits to university open days to remove barriers in applying for higher education

Enrichment

CRC has a range of clubs and societies for young people to join during their time at college. This is supported by the student engagement team and LAC coordinator to increase care leaver participation.

Internal support

Staff in our student advise hub have had trauma and attachment training, delivered by the local virtual school. Several members of staff are also mental health first aid trained. Care leavers have access to a range of different support services at CRC including:

• Progression coaches
• Student advisors – Who support with welfare and bursary issues
• Safeguarding
• Student liaison officers
• Student engagement team
• Attendance monitors
• College counsellor
• Chaplaincy

External agencies

Here at CRC we work with a range of external agencies to support our care leavers, including:

• Having close links with virtual schools
• Care leavers mentoring scheme ran in collaboration with the virtual school
• Refugee education mentor programme for UASC learners
• EMHP – Mental health support
• Centre 33 – Counselling service

Here at CRC we are continually reviewing the provision we provide and seeing where improvements can be made to ensure that care leavers are fully supported and have a voice in the provisions we provide. More information regarding the services we provide can be found on our website.

A LAC policy is also currently being discussed and written.

Community engagement and further student opportunities

At CRC we have a variety of different services available for care leavers in the community to enjoy. As well as our care leaver students.

• Gym and sports centre – Discussions have been held regarding wavering the £20 induction fee for care leavers
• Hair and beauty salons with reduced fees and discounts to students
• Park restaurant and café – Ran by our catering department offering high quality food at low prices
• Totum student union discount card

Information regarding our services is available on our college website and advertised on our social media platforms. Current students are also informed of this via our weekly information T-mails.