Care Leaver Payment: consultation analysis

6 Application process and support (Q14 to Q17)

6.1 This chapter presents respondents’ views regarding the application process and the requirements applicants might have for support during the process.

6.2 The consultation paper explained that the Scottish Government is considering which body or organisation could best deliver the proposed Care Leaver Payment. To help inform this decision, consideration is being given to how the application process and receipt of payment will be experienced by the applicants. The Scottish Government is also considering what type of support may be needed by young people at the point at which they apply for the payment. There were four questions on these topics.

Question 14: What should the experience of applying for and receiving the proposed Care Leaver Payment look and feel like for applicants? Please share your views.

Question 15: Do you think young people should have support to apply for the payment? [Yes / No / Unsure]

Question 16: What support might a young person need when applying for the payment? Please share your views.

Question 17: How should this support be provided? Please share your views.

What should the application process look and feel like? (Q14)

6.3 Question 14 which asked what the experience of applying for and receiving the proposed Care Leaver Payment should look and feel like for applicants. This was an open question and altogether 63 respondents – 33 organisations and 30 individuals – provided comments. The views expressed are discussed below.

6.4 It should be noted that a range of respondents (both individuals and organisations) did not agree that there should be an ‘application process’ of any kind. Rather, they suggested that it was more appropriate that anyone who was eligible should simply receive this payment automatically at the point at which they were leaving care. It was thought that responsibility for identifying eligible recipients should lie with the local authority, and in particular with social workers, key workers or other professionals who were involved with the young person. Respondents suggested the Care Leaver Payment could be managed in a similar way to Section 29 payments and could form part of the pathway planning process which is undertaken for all young people leaving care.^[12]

6.5 The other comments at this question covered (i) involving diverse groups of young people in the design of the application process, (ii) the importance of a personalised approach, (iii) the requirements for the application process to be straightforward, non- stigmatising and based on a human rights approach, and (iv) learning from other schemes. Each of these aspects is described in further detail below.

6.6 Note that in their comments at Question 14, respondents also anticipated the questions which followed (Qs 15–17) which asked about the nature of any support required for those going through the application process. These comments are included in the analysis which follows (see paragraphs 6.13–6.28 below).

Involve diverse groups of young people in designing the application process

6.7 A range of respondents emphasised the importance of involving young people – particularly those with care experience and those who would be most likely to face barriers in applying (e.g. those in secure accommodation, those in conflict with the law, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, etc.) – in the design of the application process.

Adopt a personalised approach

6.8 It was common for both individual and organisational respondents to state that it was vital that the application process should be ‘person-centred’ and take into account the specific needs of the individual. This would mean ensuring that any vulnerabilities of the individual applicant were accommodated within the application process. Such vulnerabilities might relate to cognitive ability and literacy levels, health needs, past experience and any trauma-related issues, as well as any practical requirements (e.g. access to the internet and / or a laptop, whether the young person has a bank account, their requirement for a cash payment, etc.).

Establish a straightforward and non-stigmatising process

6.9 Both individual and organisational respondents repeatedly emphasised the need for the application process to be (i) straightforward and (ii) non-stigmatising. This meant that the application process:

• Should not use jargon, confusing words, or technical language
• Should involve minimal paperwork (no more than two sides of A4 was suggested), and should be easy to complete
• Should be available to complete either in paper or online
• Should not require the applicant to supply any detailed personal or intrusive information relating to their past experience or current circumstances, so as not to trigger any adverse (and potentially trauma-related) reaction
• Should be designed using ‘trauma-informed’ approaches and should emphasise the (human rights) principles of dignity and respect
• Should allow the applicant to feel in control of the process – and assure applicants that this payment is an entitlement
• Should identify a clear communication pathway (i.e. the application process should clearly identify the (email or postal) address to which application should be submitted and should alert the applicant to the way(s) in which further information would be sent / received throughout the application process, including information about receipt of the payment).

6.10 In addition, it should be made clear from the outset (i) how long it will take until the applicant will receive the payment, and (ii) how the payment will be made.

Learn from other schemes

6.11 Respondents noted a variety of other schemes which had been in operation for some time, which could provide learning in relation to the application process for the Care Leaver Payment. There was positive mention in this regard of the Care Experienced Bursary, and the basic income pilot in Wales. It was also suggested that lessons could be learned from the council tax exemption scheme for care leavers and from the Care Experienced Flexible Fund.^[13]

6.12 A small number of respondents noted that many care leavers did not access the Aftercare or Continuing Care services to which they were entitled. It was suggested that there may be lessons from the roll out of these schemes which could inform the development of the Care Leaver Payment application process to encourage greater take-up.

Should young people have support to apply? (Q15)

6.13 The consultation paper explained that the Scottish Government proposes that support is offered to those who need it when applying for the Care Leaver Payment. Question 15 asked respondents if they thought young people should have such support when applying. This was a closed question with no space for comments. However, two follow-up questions (Q16 and Q17) invited views about the type of support that should be made available, and how it should be provided.

6.14 Table 8.1 shows that there was virtually unanimous agreement that young people should have support to apply for the payment. Overall, 97% of respondents selected this option. Just two respondents (one organisation and one individual) said they were ‘unsure’ whether young people should be able to access such support.

Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

What support would be needed and how should it be provided? (Q16 and Q17)

6.15 As indicated in the answers to Question 15, it was almost universally agreed that young people should have support to apply for the payment. The kind of support which would be needed, and the means by which it would be provided are discussed in turn below.

6.16 Altogether, 64 respondents – 33 organisations and 31 individuals – provided comments on one or other of these questions.

What support would be needed?

6.17 Both individual and organisational respondents highlighted that the level of support needed would vary substantially – fairly limited support would be required for some individuals and intensive support for others.^[14] Respondents said it was likely that more intensive support would be required by those who had specific needs including those with literacy issues, those who lacked capacity, those with learning difficulties, those who were neurodivergent, and those for whom English was not their first language.

6.18 Both individual and organisational respondents identified three main aspects of the process for which support would be required, namely (i) accessing (potentially) an online portal, (ii) navigating the system, and (iii) completing the form / application including identifying and accessing any supplementary information required to support an application. Each of these is described further below.

6.19 Respondents said it should not be assumed that young people who were eligible for the payment would have access to a computer, laptop or other device or equipment from which they could access an online portal (note that respondents generally assumed that there would be an online application process). Thus, arrangements for access to an online portal would have to be put in place in some cases.

6.20 Young people who were eligible for the payment might require assistance to navigate an online system. This would involve support to ensure that the individual was able to login to the system, that each section of the application process was completed in full, that any additional documents required could be uploaded, and that the application was submitted in line with requirements.^[15]

6.21 Respondents repeatedly emphasised that support would be required in relation to the practicalities of completing the online form / application and identifying, accessing, and submitting any supplementary documents or information which might be required. Specific areas mentioned by respondents included support with (i) confirming their eligibility for the payment / confirming their status as a care leaver, (ii) providing ID details such as proof of address, or bank account details, (iii) providing any financial information required, and (iv) understanding any technical or legal terminology used in the application process.

6.22 Note that respondents also discussed at this question (Q16) the importance of having support available (i) in advance of the application process to help the young person plan what they intended to spend the payment on, (ii) to help understand the timescales involved in making the application and receiving the payment, (iii) for any applicants who were deemed – following their application – to be ineligible for the payment, and (iv) for wider issues relating to leaving care. The latter point (around support for wider issues relating to leaving care) is dealt with more fully in relation to Question 18 (Chapter 9) below.

6.23 Finally, one organisation suggested that the payment should be accessed by a professional on behalf of the young person (rather than by the young person themselves). In addition, one individual suggested that the application form should be in two parts with the first part completed by the young person, and the second part completed by their key worker.

How should support be provided?

6.24 In a small number of cases, respondents provided prescriptive views about who should be involved in providing support saying, for example, ‘support should be provided by the local authority’ or ‘government should not get involved in providing support’.

6.25 More commonly, however, respondents made more general statements, saying that support for those applying for the payment should be provided in the way which best suited the specific individual. Thus, in general, respondents focused on the importance of (i) choice for the individual applicant, (ii) flexibility in terms of the delivery of any support, and (iii) an individualised and person-centred approach to the provision of support. A small number of respondents said explicitly that all the support provided should be cost-free.

6.26 Given this focus on personalised support, respondents enumerated a wide range of individuals and organisations who might be involved in providing support in any individual case depending on the circumstances. These included:

• Individuals who are trusted by the young person, who offer ‘relationship-based support’, and who know and care about them, including key workers, advisors, support workers, mentors, pathways coordinators, family members, intandem coordinators, corporate parenting partners, foster carers, kinship carers, schoolteachers, etc.
• Designated groups and teams who have statutory responsibilities for looked after children and young people, including social work teams, welfare rights teams, poverty teams, corporate parents, Throughcare and Aftercare teams, etc.
• Local services including independent advocacy services, financial inclusion services, Citizens Advice Bureaux, Money Advice Scotland, banks, public libraries, schools, housing offices, job centres, youth organisations, community groups, etc.
• National agencies including Social Security Scotland and the Department of Work and Pensions
• The Care Leaver Payment administering / delivery body (as yet unknown).

6.27 Given the focus on flexibility and personalised support, respondents also mentioned a wide range of delivery options for support including:

• Written and verbal guidance and information delivered in an accessible format (i.e. easy to read, easy to understand, friendly, trauma-informed)
• Face-to-face (both one-to-one and workshops), telephone and online options (including chat box functions and a tailored app)
• Professional and educational materials.

6.28 Respondents emphasised that the delivery of the support should be undertaken within the context of a dedicated and fully resourced service, and that young people should be involved in decisions about how any support service is structured.