Care Leavers Local Offer - Young people in custody, leaving custody or linked with Youth Justice Service or the Probation Service

Support for care leavers in custody, leaving custody, or under supervision with Youth Justice or Probation services.

You can also download the full Local Offer for Care Leavers Custody Offer [PDF].

If you are a care leaver in custody

The Leaving Care Service can work with your care leaver champion in the prison, resettlement worker, or probation worker to make sure you get the right support during your time in custody and to help you prepare for release.

You can also contact:

Your personal adviser
The 21Plus Service
The Leaving Care Duty Service (see contact details at the end of this page).

Key support available while you are in custody

A personal adviser will visit you at least every 12 weeks if you are in custody before your 21st birthday. If you would like more frequent contact, this can be arranged.
If you are on remand and turning 18, it is important to stay in touch with your personal adviser so they can link in with Youth Justice or Probation Services.
Visits can be arranged during ‘legal visits’ time or as a ‘domestic visit’ if you prefer.
With your consent, the personal adviser will work with other professionals and support workers to create plans for while you are in custody and for your release. This will include a Pathway Plan so you know what is happening, when, and by whom.
Support to rebuild or maintain relationships with people important to you while you are in custody.
A copy of Nottinghamshire’s Local Offer for Care Leavers so you know what support is available on release.

Additional support includes

Exploring work and education options to build skills ready for release.
Identifying financial support needs, such as staying in touch with important people or items linked to your identity and physical care.
If you are unable to work while in custody, the personal adviser can discuss additional support with you.
Attending discharge planning meetings (if you want them to) to ensure clear resettlement plans are in place and everyone involved is working together.

For young people upon release from custody

The Leaving Care Service will support you with a detailed practical plan for the day of your release. This will make sure you know:

Where you are going.
What accommodation is in place.
How you will get there.

Your personal adviser can work with you and other professionals to update your Pathway Plan and include Youth Justice Service or Probation plans. This will create one clear, meaningful plan tailored to your needs.

Support available upon release

Help to identify any financial support you may need, such as staying in touch with people important to you or items linked to your identity and physical care.
A basic mobile phone with initial credit to help you keep in contact with support services and maintain appointments with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Youth Justice, and/or Probation Services.
A one-off clothing allowance to purchase suitable clothes. This will be agreed with your personal adviser.
If you need to claim benefits, the Leaving Care Service can provide short-term personal allowance (equivalent to Universal Credit rates) until your benefits are processed. You will be expected to work with all agencies involved, including the DWP, to avoid delays.

Planning for your future

Accommodation plans will form part of your Pathway Plan. Your personal adviser and homelessness prevention advisers can help explore housing options in Nottinghamshire, or outside the county if you prefer.
Your Pathway Plan will also include discussions about employment, education, and training. You will be linked with an achievement adviser to explore opportunities from the Achievement Offer and receive support in overcoming any barriers to finding work or training.

21Plus Service

If you are in custody before your 21st birthday, the 21Plus Service will arrange a joint visit with your personal adviser to introduce the service and explain how to access support until your 25th birthday.

Support in custody

The 21Plus Service will visit you face-to-face or via video link every three months if you would like them to.
They will also keep in touch monthly through email or letters if you wish.

Planning for release

Six months before your release, a 21Plus personal adviser will work with you, the Probation Service and prison resettlement staff to create a Resettlement Plan.
If you would like your Pathway Plan reviewed, the adviser can help with this too.

On release from custody

A 21Plus personal adviser will ensure there is a practical plan in place for your release day, covering where you are going, your accommodation, and how you will get there.
The adviser will work with you and other professionals, including Probation, to support your transition back into the community.

Ongoing support

You will have a named 21Plus personal adviser as your main contact for the first six months after release. If you are settled after this time, you can continue to access advice and guidance from the 21Plus Service until your 25th birthday.
If your release is after your 25th birthday, the 21Plus Service can still provide advice and signposting, and may help with appointments or financial support for housing if you have any Home Establishment Grant remaining.

Additional support available

Help to identify financial support for staying in touch with important people or for essential items related to your identity and physical care.
A basic mobile phone and £20 credit to help maintain contact with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Probation Service and others.
Short-term personal allowance (at Universal Credit rates) if your benefits claim is delayed. You are expected to work with all agencies, including the DWP, to process your claim quickly.
Support in planning future accommodation, either in Nottinghamshire or elsewhere.
Advice on employment, education, and training, with links to an achievement adviser to explore opportunities and navigate any barriers.

Contacting us

You can contact the Leaving Care Team by phone or email:

Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood

Telephone: 0115 804 4401
Email: LeavingCare.North@nottscc.gov.uk

Mansfield and Ashfield

Telephone: 0115 804 1236
Email: LeavingCare.Central@nottscc.gov.uk

Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe

Telephone: 0115 854 6318
Email: LeavingCare.South@nottscc.gov.uk

If you are aged 21 or over:

Telephone: 0115 804 4154
Email: 21Plus@nottscc.gov.uk

Achievement Service

Speak with your personal adviser or email: achievement@nottscc.gov.uk