Agenda item

Southwark Care leavers, working collaboratively to achieve our goals

Preparing for independent living and housing presentation

The committee heard a presentation from officers from children’s and adults department, housing and modernisation, partner organisations and users of the service covering the following issues:

Ø  Care leaver (18+) accommodation options

Ø  The local offer for Southwark care leavers

Ø  Stories from the service

Ø  Feedback from young people

Ø  Story of a young person

Ø  16+ Support and Resettlement Services

Ø  Issues

Ø  Solution and providers: The Salvation Army and Depaul - Oasis Community Housing

Ø  Outline of the new services

Ø  Next steps.

Summary of contributions:

·  The committee heard from an experienced practitioner (housing), children's and adults' services and her work with young people and care leavers. The officer outlined the work that was taken to flag up young people who were care leavers and work undertaken with those who were on probation. Officers seek to establish the release dates and work with relevant partner organisations to put in place the necessary support providing examples of success stories

·  A care leaver (now working in housing solutions) was able to provide an insight to some of the practical and financial challenges faced by young people leaving care and the overwhelming sense of responsibility when moving to your own independent accommodation. Other issues that might present themselves like mental health, alcohol issues and drugs add to this responsibility and may impact the management of their tenancy. He felt that greater awareness was required to understand care leavers and the challenges they face and asked that they were not pre-judged. The care leaver expressed his support from the corporate parenting committee and councillors

·  Housing and modernisation officers expressed the progress and work being made to date, stating that there was always room for improvement, outlining details of the two new providers: The Salvation Army and Oasis Community Housing

·  The Salvation Army outlined their work and some success stories of young people that have turned their lives around with support. The officer outlined the different demands that are faced by the service

·  Oasis Community Housing also provided an insight to their work to the committee, expressing the view that homelessness has no place in society. The organisation outlined some of the practical measures and support in place to aid the transition to independent living with all the necessary skills.

Workshop and discussion - summary of issues raised:

·  Peer mentoring groups and if used to helped young people sustain their tenancies

·  Young people in custody and query about support and whether this was ongoing. Officers responded and confirmed that part of the support is directed by their own feedback and needs, so that support offer is co-designed. Also explained that young people have advisors. Reference to Brightspots  and the intention to revisit the outreach offer in March/April 2020

·  The committee acknowledged the inspirational stories of care leavers and the first hand experiences of their transition to independent living

·  Reference to county lines. Officers advised that this would probably warrant a separate slot

·  Query as to whether care leavers have been checked properly to live alone and provided with support (also addressing lifestyles issues).  Reference to the work undertaken by the experienced practitioner (housing), children's and adults' services  to mitigate negative factors. Officers will continue to develop ways of improving this support

·  Head of housing solutions explained that officers from children and adults services are co-located with housing so that joint assessments can be undertaken. The preference for looked after children leaving care would be to get a band 2 assessment to safeguard their future

·  Query raised in respect of ‘pocket living’ accommodation on the Old Kent Road. The officer explained that this has to be set against the current £95.18 per week housing benefit payment for accommodation and the severe housing shortage

·  Concern that young people are helped with cooking skills and other practical issues for day-to-day living. Oasis Community Housing were able to provide examples of good practice that operate to assist young people, including onsite cooking classes

·  Mental health issues and what support and care offered in this regard for care leavers. Reference to work undertaken by the designated doctor and nurse for looked after children

·  Helping young care leavers into employment and commending the young person who addressed the meeting about his experience. He now works in housing services and how this can be translated to other organisations/employers for care leavers

·  Duality of role and how can avoid gaps and duplication in the provision of services and ways of common assessment. This was seen as a real opportunity to increase contracts for those who bridge the gap in supported housing. The identification of one key worker could play some part in this process, so that the young people can build their trust in this relationship, which will pay dividends in the provision of services and support. In essence a  representative confirmed it would be advantageous to cut down on the number of people involved in the process and for solid relationships to be built

·  Raised when discussing annual fostering care report, but applicable to this part of the meeting “issue raised by foster carer and difficulties raised by accommodation and the number of children can be fostered. It was explained that regardless of tenure (in this case housing association) work can be done to liaise with the housing provider to look at what the council can do to help by providing an additional room by modifications via capital monies.”