1. Working with Homeless 16 and 17 year olds
Sharon Willis – Strategic Service Manager
Andrea Solomon – Team Manager Next Steps
Joshua Barr – Assistant Team Manager Next Steps

2. Aims and Objectives
To provide an overview of the model within Together for Children (TfC)
To discuss best practice identified by Homelessness Advice and Support Team (HAST)
To improve partnerships and joint protocols

3. The TfC Model - Overview
The history
The creation of TfC in April 2017
The transfer of responsibilities to Next Steps

4. The Model
Single pathway into homelessness assessment and accommodation for year olds
Homeless CIN assessment will explore whether reunification with family or connected person is achievable.
If emergency or temporary accommodation is the outcome, a discussion will be held with the young person and where appropriate parents in respect of becoming looked after under Section 20 of the Children’s Act 1989.

5. We Offer
Expertise and knowledge of rights, entitlements and challenges associated with adolescence.
Home visits, as part of assessment process
Referral to appropriate support services
Temporary or emergency “suitable” accommodation if deemed necessary
Discussion around Section 20 accommodation
Individual Support package based on assessed needs
Mediation with family members

6. Allocation and Pathways Panel
Weekly multi agency panel- identified as good practice by HAST visit July 2018.
Chaired by TfC Strategic Service Manager and attended by accommodation providers and partners
Function is to:
plan and risk assess new supported housing allocations
review the progress of young people currently in supported accommodation; those ready to move on.
risk manage, trouble shoot and move young people flexibly to support them to step down or move on when ready.

7. Homelessness Advice and Support Team (HAST) 5th July 2018
What is working well:
Processes are robust and compliant with the new joint statutory guidance
Scripts used by Customer Services are useful and help to quickly establish risk of homelessness
Teams are clear on the homelessness threshold to ensure young people were referred quickly to Next Steps
Next Steps duty officers respond to young people in need of emergency support

8. What is working well continued…
Weekly TfC Multi-Agency Pathway Panel
Young people engagement
YOS / Early Help services
Accommodation options for 16/17 year olds and care leavers
Strategic planning
Workforce

9. Improving partnership and joint protocols
Understanding demand
Universal information and Early Help services for young people and their families
Accessing help, preventing homelessness and assessments
Commissioned accommodation and flexible help and support for young people in housing need

10. Recommendations
Provide a single integrated gateway for all young people at risk of homelessness
Increase capacity for on the day home visits in every case.
Build more prevention into the response to youth homelessness.
Commission a housing related floating support service, targeted at supporting vulnerable young people
Consult, review, and re launch the Sunderland Youth homelessness protocol.
Hold regular operational partnership meetings, to improve cohesiveness, information sharing, updates and training across TFC and Housing Options and commissioners )

11. Useful Links
The statutory Code of Guidance and secondary legislation have been published following a period of consultation:
Updated joint statutory guidance on 16/17 year olds: