Issue - meetings

Rhys Davies.

Protocol available on-line

Rhys Davies and James McDonald brought the Joint Social Care and Housing Protocol for Care Leavers to the Board and explained that it was the responsibility of District Councils to sign off the protocol. Staff were already working towards the aims of the draft protocol and it was hoped that the Corporate Parenting Board would endorse the protocol and support its aims.

Various points were considered by members:

·       Members discussed whether the term 'homeless' should be applied to Care Leavers. Individuals may find it a shock to be referred to as homeless as they would not necessarily see themselves in those terms; they would feel that they were progressing to suitable accommodation rather than homeless

·       The grant given for transition to suitable accommodation could be given at various times dependent on the situation of the young person as some may be encouraged to stay with foster parents

·       Housing providers were not statutory bodies so were not required to sign up to the protocol but the District Councils worked closely with them

·       The evidence showed that young people did better with phased moves so training flats were a good idea. If a young person was successful in the training flat they would be able to stay there and a new training flat would be made available for use in the future

·       Pre tenancy training was made available for young people before they moved to their own property.

ACTIONS

1.     The Corporate Parenting Board was happy to endorse the Joint Social Care and Housing Protocol for Care Leavers;

2.     The Board supported the key aims of the protocol

·       To develop jointly commissioned training flats

·       To jointly commission emergency temporary accommodation for care leavers aged over 18 as a direct alternative to the use of B&Bs

·       To agree a robust 'Prevention of Eviction' process for Care Leavers, which would apply across Strategic Housing, Housing Providers and Children, Families and Communities; and

3.     Would welcome a further update on housing and transitions at a future meeting.