Aberdeen City Council Tenancy support Garry Brown Supporting People Co-ordinator Aberdeen City Council

Aberdeen City Council Tenancy Support What is tenancy or housing support How is it accessed Role of Tenancy Support Officer and Tenancy Support Panel Do I have to pay for it Who provides it

Aberdeen City Council What is Tenancy or Housing Support? Definition contained within the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001· Section 91(8) - “ “housing support services” includes any service which provides support, assistance advice or counseling to an individual with particular needs with a view to enabling that individual to occupy, or continue to occupy, as the person’s sole or main residence, residential accommodation other than excepted accommodation”

Aberdeen City Council What is Tenancy Support? Practical support which an individual requires to help or assist them to sustain their tenancy Budgeting Keeping appointments Neighbour issues Literacy issues – mail Tenancy responsibilities Teaching life skills – cooking, reporting repairs, household maintenance

Aberdeen City Council What it ’ s not Not domestic care Not personal care Provided by Social Work depending on assessment under eligibility criteria

Aberdeen City Council How is it accessed? Existing tenant Identification of support – trigger Tenancy Support Officer Assessment Tenancy Support Panel (if appropriate) Support commissioned or not Monitoring and reviewing

Aberdeen City Council Tenancy Support Officer 4 posts Based in Marsichal College, but City wide remit Assess, liaise with other Housing staff and also SW/NHS and other professionals Review and monitor support

Aberdeen City Council Tenancy Support Panel Membership – Housing Manager, Selections Co-ordinator, Supporting People Co-ordinator and 4 TSO’s Considers applications for housing where support has been/has not been indicated, determining appropriate tenancy to be offered based on information available

Aberdeen City Council How is it accessed? New applicant Housing Needs Assessment Team or HAAS Tenancy Support Officer Assessment Tenancy Support Panel Support commissioned or not Monitoring and reviewing of support

Aberdeen City Council Do I have to pay for housing support? Yes, it’s a chargeable service Separate from rent charges – not eligible for Housing Benefit Financial assessment Invoiced 4 weekly based on actual service delivery Annual re-assessment or upon request – change of circumstances

Aberdeen City Council Who provides it? Contracts in place with 12 different organisations, various services across the City Varying needs – specialisms Referral process Limited resources – prioritisation, waiting list Regulation and monitoring