5.5.3 Housing Protocol Guidance |
Contents
1. Initial Contact
All young people who present with housing problems will be referred to one of the local hostels for young people. This can be done via contacting the Young Person’s Housing Coordinator or a member of the Housing Options Team (contact the Housingline number on 0207 361 3008). A team member can also be accessed each Wednesday afternoon at a drop-in from 2pm to 4.30pm at Connexions 125 Freston Road W10. An appointment can be made for the Connexions housing advice session via 0207 938 8008 if the young person prefers.
All the hostels used for young single people are located within the borough and operate a supportive key-work system. Anyone who is pregnant will be referred to a mother and baby house wherever possible.
All the hostels the HPU can refer clients to have waiting lists so it is unlikely that someone will gain a placement immediately. The young person will need to know where they can stay for at least the next two months, possibly longer. If the young person has housing difficulties but is able to remain at home or with their extended family etc. for the foreseeable future it will not always be necessary to place them onto the protocol. Being a protocol client is not a prerequisite for a hostel placement.
The protocol process is only for those young people who have complex needs (e.g. they are already known to have, or are identified as having personal or family problems that will necessitate a move from home imminently) or who are already homeless and have nowhere appropriate to stay whilst they wait for a hostel vacancy to become available.
2. Assessment
The initial assessment will be undertaken by a social worker. Staff should check to see whether the young person is already known to Family Services.
The protocol process should be explained to the young person and they should be made aware that they have to agree to take part in the full assessment and support package in order to proceed further. It is important to check that they have somewhere safe to stay whilst they are being assessed, and that they have a source of income to cover their living expenses. Advice on benefits can be accessed via Connexions.
There is no longer any requirement to make an appointment with the mediation worker as HPU are no longer funding this service.
Once the young person’s accommodation is confirmed (with friends/family/B+B) the social worker will carry out a full Needs Assessment of their housing and support needs.
The young person needs to be aware that they have to accept and take part in the full assessment and any support package as part of agreeing to be temporarily accommodated (as appropriate).
If the young person is not staying with their family or friends during the assessment period their accommodation is paid for direct from social services to the hotel or hostel establishment.
The full assessment must include checking every possible option in relation to accommodation with family and friends. The assessment will inform the longer term plans and consider not only the accommodation needs of the young person, but also the wider social care needs that the young person may have, and who will provide for these.
The support package offered could include regular visits from the social worker, advice and information, involvement of a mentor, counselling, or attention to specific issues, e.g. Health, self-harm, anti-social behaviour, literacy etc.
Agreements about accommodation offered and support packages will be sent down in writing with the young person.
During the assessment period the social worker needs to verify that the young person is capable of managing independently. They must confirm the young person’s eligibility for assistance by seeing the young person’s ID. This can be their passport, birth certificate or home office document confirming their status in the country.
The young person must have his or her own national insurance number (NINO). If the details have been issued but are now lost the young person must be assisted to obtain them again prior to their referral to HPU, or moving into a hostel.
The young person must have proof of an income. This can be wages, a training allowance, benefits etc. If the young person is being referred to HPU prior to their benefit claim being in payment they can be issued with a letter from Family Services confirming how much they receive in subsistence payments each week. This is needed so that the young person can make an immediate claim for Housing Benefit when they are placed by HPU.
3. Referrals to HPU
The referral should be sent to the Housing Needs Department for the attention of the Young Person’s Housing Coordinator. It should comprise of the following:
- Copy of ICS Needs Assessment, including risk assessment
- Cover Sheet with basic details
- Details of offending history (if applicable – you are expected to check with the Youth Offending Team)
- Copy of subsistence payment confirmation letter on headed paper (if applicable)
Once all of the above has been received the young person will be contacted by the Young Person’s Housing Coordinator to arrange an appointment. This will be done via phone or letter depending on how the young person can be contacted. The social worker will be notified of the appointment.
Once the young person has been interviewed and an application is taken under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 they will be provided with temporary accommodation via the HPU.
If they are already in a B+B the HPU Temporary Accommodation Team may attempt to take over the booking so that the young person does not have to move. Social services will be notified of the date the booking will be taken over.
If the young person is not already being provided with accommodation by Family Services they will be booked into temporary accommodation sourced by the HPU Temporary Accommodation Team. Family Services will be notified of the placement address.
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