Education, employment and training
We will ensure you have all the information you need about education, employment and training opportunities as a care leaver.
We provide you with:
- your national insurance number
- one item of photo ID when you leave care
- support preparing a CV
- help to navigate web-based education or employment information
We have good links with local further education colleges and the council has bespoke trainee, apprenticeship and employment offers for care leavers.
Talk to your personal adviser to see what options are out there for you.
Our Employment Support Team offer support to care leavers up to the age of 25 who are looking for the next steps into employment, apprenticeships, training and volunteering. Your social worker or personal adviser can make the referral to the team.
Every Jobcentre Plus in Lancashire has a single point of contact (also known as SPOCS). These are advisers who offer support to care leavers, such as helping you find employment and help with any benefit problems.
Your personal adviser will have the contact details for the relevant SPOC.
Jobcentre Plus offers specific support to young adults seeking employment and can provide help with issues that make it difficult for you to get a job.
Lancashire County Council and local Jobcentre Plus have an agreement (called a joint protocol) to work together to best support you into employment.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), who are responsible for Jobcentre Plus have pledged to support care leavers as part of the Care Leaver Covenant. You can read about the pledge in the Department for Work and Pensions: Care Leaver Covenant offer on GOV.UK.
Lancashire County Council has signed the Care Leaver Covenant, pledging to support care leavers into education, employment and volunteering opportunities. This includes taking a ‘whole council approach’. The responsibility of being a corporate parent is shared across the entire council, not just specific departments.
Everyone in the council is here to support you and we can offer you job specific support to complete an application or prepare for an interview.
We can also find you shadowing, work experience, trainee, apprenticeship or employment opportunities at Lancashire County Council.
Speak with your personal advisor or email CareLeaverCovenant@lancashire.gov.uk if you want to join our career community.
Supported internships can help you to gain employability skills and hands-on experience in a work environment. They help to prepare you for the transition from education into employment.
To apply for a supported internship, you must:
- be aged 16-24 – for some courses there is a minimum age of 18
- have an education, health and care plan (EHC plan)
- be travel trained or willing to take part in travel training
- want to get into paid employment by the end of the programme
- behave and dress in a professional manner
Find out more on the supported internships page.
An apprenticeship is a great way to learn while working and getting paid. You'll learn practical skills through your job and go to college or a training provider one day a week to learn the theory behind your chosen subject area. Apprenticeships are available in lots of subjects and they last for at least 12 months. You can start at Level 2 and move all the way up to Level 7.
As an apprentice, you are an employee, getting paid and will have other employee rights, such as holiday pay.
Pay rates depend on your age and how far you are in your apprenticeship. A 16-18 year old apprentice, you will get at least the National Minimum Wage.
The SORTED website has more information about who offers apprenticeships in Lancashire.
You can also find an apprenticeship on GOV.UK.
Apprenticeship bursary
For apprentices who started their apprenticeships up to and including 31 July 2023, the bursary is a single payment of £1,000. It can only be received once by an individual care leaver.
For apprentices starting their apprenticeship on or after 1 August 2023, the bursary will be £3,000. It is payable in instalments over the first year of the apprenticeship.
This is an offer from The Department for Education not part of Lancashire County Councils local offer.
For more information see the apprenticeships care leavers’ bursary guidance on GOV.UK.
Volunteering can help you develop your skills and experience to help you get into work. Plus, we pay you an incentive of £25- for a minimum of 5 hours volunteering per week. Find out about becoming a volunteer and volunteer opportunities in Lancashire through the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership.
If you're interested in going to university find out what support care leavers can get before and during higher education:
Financial support
We will provide:
- Funding to re-sit GCSE's, A Levels or AS Levels
- Clothing allowance - for interview clothing, work wear or clothing for educational activities – based on need
- A Leaving Care Allowance Enhancement for voluntary work or if you are in education or training and are unable to access a bursary up to the age of 19.
If you are in education (but not at university), you can apply for a 16-19 Bursary Fund from your school, college or training provider to fund transport costs or equipment.
More information and advice
See the jobs, education and training section for information about apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and training, careers advice and help getting into work.
If you're over 19, visit the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub for organisations in Lancashire that support people into work through advice, training and projects.
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