Housing of Looked after Children and Care Leavers Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel 4 February 2019 Cllr Tom Bruce – Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Youth Services Cllr Lily Bath – Cabinet Member for Housing and Social Inclusion
Background Scrutiny Panel February 2018: Care Leavers prioritised for housing allocations Housing allocations take place within the context of significant housing shortages Heavy reliance on the private rented sector to maintain housing supply Support for care leavers Corporate Parenting Panel March 2018 & October 2018: Service redesign to improve early advice and support Fundamental change to Housing Panel arrangements for Care Leavers Strengthen joint work between Housing and Children’s services Young Persons transition worker Increasing housing supply
Update for scrutiny 2019 Housing Supply and allocations Support for Care Leavers Joint working across Housing and Children’s Services
Housing signed up to the Young People in care pledge Housing offer
Defining the housing offer for Care Leavers:
a real seat at the table within the Community Safety Partnership Board to have a say about community safety matters across the borough providing opportunities to enrol in the Housing Apprenticeship scheme or opportunities for stepping into employment Building and delivering our housing pledge 5000 homes
Housing Supply and Allocations Additional supply enables offers to Council and Housing Association properties Housing Allocations Policy amended from April 2018 to identify Care Leavers as a priority group Redesigned and streamlined Care Leavers Housing Panel – registration at age 16+ to enable better planning of future housing needs Affordability Assessments carried out to make sure rents are affordable
“A Hounslow Housing support offer for Care Leavers preparing for independence”
Supported Housing LIFE Young People and Young Parents’ Supported Accommodation Service Specialist provider since October 2017 – Look Ahead Care and Support Focus on assessment, emergency placements, parent and baby and vulnerable young people 72 units across 6 sites 24/7 schemes for highest needs individuals / medium support for those with more stable needs Improved service model to better meet the needs of Care Leavers who have experienced trauma with a range of specialist workers: Complex Needs, ETE/Wellbeing Worker, Therapist and Group Facilitator Funded Activity Programme linked to the Life Skills Programme: focus on core life skills and move on outcomes mapped to the Care Leavers Strategy Opportunities for further growth: currently developing 3 additional units via reconfiguration of building
Leaving Care Transitions Project Officer This newly created role by the council was put in place from July 2018 and sits within the Joint Commissioning team to: Promote integrated working across Children’s Social Care and Housing within Hounslow. Create a fluid transitional pathway towards independent living for our care leavers. Ensure that care leavers individual housing needs are met in an appropriate way.
Additional Support for Care Leavers Money Management: training prior to Care Leavers moving into independent housing Transition Support: for 6 weeks when Care Leavers are moving on from supported housing Floating Support: when needed and referrals back to floating support at any age via My Independence Advice and guidance: from Personal Advisers up to age 25
Progress and Outcomes Database created by Leaving Care Transitions Officer which holds detailed information about Looked After Children and Care Leavers to inform future housing needs Enhanced information sharing via corporate software Streamlined panel arrangements – 19 Care Leavers housed into permanent accommodation in the last 6 months No Care Leavers have had to move into temporary accommodation in the last 6 months – they have all moved straight into permanent housing
Questions ?
Recommend
More recommend
