HOUSING AND CHILDREN S SOCIAL CARE JOINT PROTOCOL FOR SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKED AFTER (CARE LEAVERS)

Transcription

1 HOUSING AND CHILDREN S SOCIAL CARE JOINT PROTOCOL FOR SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKED AFTER (CARE LEAVERS) This chapter is duplicated from Lewisham s existing document ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LEWISHAM HOUSING AND CHILDREN S SOCIAL CARE The London Borough of Lewisham as Corporate Parent The London Borough of Lewisham has a duty to act as 'corporate parent' towards all children in the care of the council. Under this duty, every councillor has the responsibility for the safety and welfare of all children in public care in their area, ensuring that these children's interests and needs are met across all the council's services. Responsibilities of Children s Social Care under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 With regard to support and accommodation for 'relevant children', S23B(8) The responsible local authority shall safeguard and promote the child's & (9) welfare and, unless they are satisfied that his welfare does not require it, support him by- (a) maintaining him; (b) providing him with or maintaining him in suitable accommodation; and (c) providing support of such other descriptions as may be prescribed. The support outlined above may be in cash, and where appropriate may be given regularly. The circumstances need not be exceptional. S23B(10) Suitable accommodation means accommodation (a) which so far as reasonably practicable is suitable for the child in light of his needs (including any health or disability needs) (b) where the responsible authority is satisfied as to the character and suitability of the landlord or provider (c) where the responsible authority has taken into account the wishes and feelings of the child and education, training or employment needs. Responsibilities of Lewisham Housing under the Housing Act 1996 including the Homelessness (Priority Need for Accommodation) (England) Order 2002 The Homelessness (Priority Need for Accommodation) Order extends priority need to: (a) Homeless 16 and 17 year olds who are not relevant children* or children in need and to whom a duty is owed by social services. (b) Homeless young people under the age of 21 who were looked after, accommodated or fostered between the ages of 16 and 18, and who are not relevant students.** Page 1 6 April 2003

2 Other homeless people to whom priority need has been extended include people who are vulnerable because of time spent in care, the armed forces, prison or custody, and people who are vulnerable because of violence. * Relevant children are children aged 16 or 17 on 1 October 2001 who have been looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and left care on or after 1 October Certain groups of children may be excluded, such as children who have been successfully rehabilitated and have returned home permanently, and children who were placed in respite care. ** Relevant students are young care leavers who are in full time further or higher education, and whose term time accommodation is not available during a vacation. PROGRESS OF 16 YEAR OLD FROM LEAVING CARE TO SEMI- INDEPENDENT/ INDEPENDENT LIVING 1.0 Young Person turns Young person (looked after) transferred to Leaving Care Service from other Childre s Social Care Services 1.2 Leaving Care Social Worker/Personal Advisor works with young person to assess young person's needs (within 3 months of turning 16) and to work out young person's Pathway Plan, including accommodation needs and support required. 1.3 LC Social Worker/PA helps young person complete Housing Application Form and Housing Priority Nomination. 1.4 Young person also to be made aware by the LC Social Worker/PA that the Rehousing Development Officer can also be approached for advice or guidance on housing application forms and Homesearch guide. 1.5 LC Social Worker/PA to check with young person if all information is in place: Does the Housing Application Cover Sheet have all details as requested on the application form Is the young person's LC Social Worker/PA named, with contact details outlined? Does the young person have medical requirements? If YES, is the medical form attached to the application form? Will the young person be requesting property through Homesearch or will they require the Rehousing Development Officer to do it for them? Page 2 6 April 2003

3 1.6 Application passed to Rehousing Development Officer and logged on Threshold register. The application is suspended if the young person is not yet 18 years and/or ready for re-housing LC Social Worker/PA must advise Rehousing Development Officer when the applicant turns 18 and/or is ready for re-housing 1.7 Leaving Care Service to receive a registration letter from Rehousing Development to be passed on to the applicant. NB: From February 2003 (till further notice), The named LC Social Worker/PA for all care leavers will be Cliff Piarroux, Team Manager, Leaving Care Service. Tel: (020) The Rehousing Development Officer is Jane Ferneyhough. Tel: (020) What happens between 16 to An ongoing needs assessment takes place within the young person's current placement, including independence preparation and training. It may be that for some young people, more in-depth preparation needs to take place. 2.2 This may result in the young person going into supported accommodation, e.g. training flats, floating support, Patchwork, Stopover, semi-independent or independent with support placement. 2.3 All young people are invited to attend preparation groups. These provide advice, information and support on the practical, emotional and financial aspects of leaving care and includes an in-depth look at independent living and housing issues. 2.4 Care & Pathway Plans are reviewed every 6 months to check, review progress and plan for the future 2.5 The Leaving Care Service continues to actively engage with young people and provide the following range of services: Personal Advisor/Social Worker Needs Assessment and Pathway Plan Freephone Preparation, Aftercare and other groups Drop-in service Specialist careers advice service Page 3 6 April 2003

4 Independent young people's rights worker Mailing list Housing support and advice Supported Housing Independent Housing Training Flats Shared Housing Permanent Housing Housing support workers Mother and babies support Aftercare support and advice Money advice and debt service Mentoring Mental health support worker Sexual health advice and support services Lifestyles - drug and alcohol advice/support service Free condom service 3.0 Young person turns LC Social Worker/PA to review young person's Housing Application 3.2 LC Social Worker/PA to advise Rehousing Development Officer to activate Housing Priority Nomination 3.3 LC Social Worker/PA and young person to look at available housing stock, or with the Rehousing Development Officer, where this was requested. 3.4 Rehousing Development Officer to request for properties on behalf of young person, where this has been requested. 3.5 LC Social Worker/PA to ensure that young person is aware of the following: They may request up to 5 properties each week. There is no limit to the number of offers they may get They do not have to accept an offer if the request is successful, but Housing will not be able to say when a further offer will be made. If 3 months has lapsed after the housing application activation and the young person has received and refused a number of offers, a management offer will be seriously considered by the Rehousing Development Officer and the Leaving Care Service. 3.6 If the property is a Housing Association property, the young person will be interviewed by the Housing Association. 3.7 Local Office or Housing Association to inform LC Social Worker/PA when an offer is made Page 4 6 April 2003

5 3.8 Young person to view the property with LC Social Worker/PA and the Housing Officer 3.9 Young person decides to accept/decline property If the young person declines the property, the young person may continue to request properties with the assistance of the Rehousing Development Officer If young person accepts the property: Young person is to sign-up for the property on the same day with the Senior Case Worker. * In the case of a pre-allocation, the sign-up can also take place on the same day but the date of tenancy will be at a later date. NB. The LC Social Worker/PA must ensure that the young person brings the following documents to sign-up. This includes: 1. Housing Benefit Form (Appendix 1) which form should be completed as fully as possible, with additional information to be forwarded via the Social Worker/PA. 2. Guarantor letter (Appendix 2) outlining young person and guarantor's responsibilities ( if needed). 3. Letter of Support (Appendix 3) from the Leaving Care Service informing the Housing Office of the young person's links to the Leaving Care Service together with the social worker's contact number/ . A copy of the letter should also be CC'ed to the Housing Association by the LC social worker/pa. 4. Personal ID which is appropriate for the purposes of identification, e.g. driving licence, birth certificate, passport 3.12 At sign-up, the Senior Case Worker will make an appointment with the young person for an Introductory Meeting to take place 3 weeks into the tenancy. The LC Social Worker/PA will also be in attendance at the meeting The Rehousing Development Officer will send the appropriate forms and documentation to the relevant Housing Office and Housing Association for their records Ongoing advice, information and support will be available to the young person until the age of 21 (24 if in full time higher education) by the Leaving Care Service Should any tenancy issues arise Housing must, in the first instance, try to resolve the issues with the young person. If this fails, they should then contact the LC Social Worker/PA. Page 5 6 April 2003

6 APPENDIX 2 Executive Director for Children & Young People: Frankie Sulke Leaving Care Service 43 Bromley Road Catford London SE6 2UA Date: Insert Date your ref: my ref: Telephone: Direct Line: Fax: Dear Sir / Madam Re: This letter is confirmation that this department agrees to act as guarantor in relation to payment of rent And will continue to provide ongoing support to in respect of the following property: This applies until the young person reaches the age of 18 where upon that person will become responsible for complying with the terms of their tenancy agreement. The Named Worker In relation to this is Yours Sincerely Signature and Name Of Worker (On behalf of Lewisham Children s Social Care ) Page 6 6 April 2003