Early Intervention Joint Protocol Service for Young People

What is the Joint Protocol? Agreement between agencies on how they will work together to meet the needs of 16/17 year olds experiencing or at risk of homelessness Involves: Housing Solutions CYPS Young People’s Service One Point Service Youth Offending Service Foundation Night Stop

The aims of the joint protocol Increase joint working to meet the needs of homeless 16/17 year olds Assisting Young People too return home where appropriate Improve communication between agencies Prevent homelessness amongst 16/17 year olds Ensure homeless 16/17 year olds get the support they need Ensure homeless 16/17 year olds access appropriate and suitable accommodation where necessary

The key principles of the protocol Most 16/17 year olds are better off at home unless at risk of harm Young people should not be passed between agencies To assist young people to access appropriate accommodation when they are unable to return home Only providing accommodation to a homeless 16/17 year old, is unlikely to resolve their homelessness in the long term as additional support likely to be needed Support for 16/17 year olds can and does come from a variety of agencies

Why do we need a Joint Protocol? Prior to the Joint Protocol, more than /17 year olds presented to local housing authorities in County Durham each year 16/17 year olds are much more vulnerable than other homeless households owing to their age and relative lack of life skills The Joint Protocol has brought agencies together to help prevent homelessness amongst 16/17 years olds by taking a more pro active and preventative approach Early intervention and support can ensure that young people are aware of their options and the move on to independent living is a gradual process rather than in an emergency situation Both housing and CYPS have statutory duties towards homeless 16/17 year olds A recent judgment (G v Southwark) clarified roles further

CYPS – Young People’s Service Young People’s Service (YPS) is a service for Young People Age 16+ and includes those considered to be Children in Need and those who are either Looked After or Care Leavers Safeguarding & support for these client groups Statutory duties set out in Children Acts 1989 & 2004 Duties to Children in Need include: –Section 17 places a general duty on social services authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need, by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those children’s needs.

CYPS Young People’s Service cont… Who are ‘children in need’ Children “in need” are defined in law as children who are aged under 18 and:- need local authority services to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development need local authority services to prevent significant or further harm to health or development are disabled

CYPS – Young People’s Service –Section 20(1) states that every local authority shall provide accommodation for any child in need within their area who requires accommodation as a result of: there being no person who has parental responsibility for him being lost or having been abandoned the person who has been caring for him/her being prevented from providing suitable accommodation or care –Section 20(3) states that accommodation shall be provided for any child in need who has reached the age of 16 and whose welfare the authority considers is likely to be seriously prejudiced if they do not provide her or him with accommodation.

Housing Solutions Assist with prevention of homelessness and referrals to prevention services where possible Provide information on all housing options available such as Housing Applications, supported accommodation Signposting and provide advice Complete homelessness application if necessary Homeless assessments do not have to be made the same day

Emergency Accommodation Options Set process in place to access emergency accommodation Following options need to be considered: –Wider family and friends network –Night Stop (cut off 4pm) –Stonham Emergency Bed ( Shotton) –Stonham Emergency Bed (Consett) –Churchill Square (DASH) referrals through HS only -Supported Lodgings – Via CYPS – (only considered if receive referral form & risk assessment) –Bed & Breakfast as a last resort Bed and Breakfast is only used as a last resort – needs to be approved by locality managers from Housing Solutions and team managers from Young People’s Service

Crash Pad Service 7 Crash Pads in place throughout Durham Managed by Foundation as part of the Joint Protocol contract Self contained furnished flats Support provided by Foundation Crash Pad Workers Referrals for the crash pads are identified at the Panel Meeting Accommodation provided for 8 weeks(with support) Step Forward Service – 14, 2 bed properties with support to move on from supported housing to free up bed spaces

Outcomes April & May 2012 figures 50 Young people (16&17 yr old) presented to Housing Solutions 43 New cases referred 63 panel meetings held to include review meetings 40 outcomes recorded; returned home living with friends/family accessed emergency accommodation own tenancy (private/social housing)

All agencies’ responsibilities Partnership working Agree and adhere to actions set within the young person’s action plan Keep the young person at the forefront of everything Attend panel meetings when requested Ensure that the paper work is forwarded to the voluntary agency (Foundation)

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