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Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Supported Lodgings Scheme
3. Recruitment and Approval Process
4. The Assessment Process
5. The Approval Process
6. Role of the Supported Lodgings Coordinator
7. Referral and Matching Process
8. Dealing with Emergency Requests
9. The Young Person in Placement
10. House Meetings

1. Introduction

Young People leave care placements at different times between their 16th and 18th Birthday. Some will return home; some will remain with their existing carers and some will go to University.

The majority of Looked After young people will move from care placements  to supported accommodation before moving into their own tenancy.

We recognise that most young people leaving care are likely to require supported accommodation of some kind as a step towards living independently.

2. The Supported Lodgings Scheme

The Supported Lodgings Scheme recruits, prepares and supports families in the community who are prepared to offer lodgings to young people.  The scheme aims to bridge the gap between care placement and independent living for young people and care leavers aged 16 to 21 years, aimed at giving care leavers the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour to live independently. 

The  Supported Lodgings Provider will offer a room to a young person and give them the support, encouragement and guidance they need to develop the skills and confidence to live independently. 

Supported Lodgings Providers work in partnership with the young person and the Leaving Care Team to provide a programme of support that meets the young person's individual needs.  The young people gradually take on more responsibility for looking after themselves until they reach the point where they feel confident about their ability to cope on their own.

Supported Lodgings Providers are an integral part of the services provided by the Children and Young People Service and as such, are expected to be aware of and comply with the Safeguarding Procedures in respect of a young person placed within their home and any child/young person within the family they come into contact with.

The Service is based within the Leaving Care Team, co-ordinated by the Supported Lodgings Co-ordinator and managed by the Team Manager. The Team is based at Dryfield House, Healey Lane, Batley WF 17 7HN.

3. Recruitment and Approval Process

The providers are recruited from both North and South Kirklees. The process of assessment and approval of Supported Lodgings Providers aims to achieve a balance between ensuring that placements are safe and thoroughly vetted whilst not being excessive to a level which deters applicants, and that it is in accordance with the level of input which is requested of them.

4. The Assessment Process

1. Upon initial contact with or enquiry from a prospective provider the Supported Lodgings Coordinator or Admin will arrange for an Enquiry Form to be completed and sent along with information about the scheme to the prospective provider, together with an Application Form.
2. The Supported Lodgings Coordinator will make arrangements to visit the prospective provider at his/her home. During this visit, written consent to pursue the necessary enquires will be requested
3. During this visit, the Supported Lodgings Coordinator will make an initial assessment of the viability of the placement and the prospective  provider will be provided with basic information about the scheme to assist him/her to decide whether he/she wishes to proceed.
4. This initial assessment will address with the prospective provider his/her safeguarding responsibilities in line with the Safeguarding Procedures should they be approved
5. This initial assessment will also address the training that prospective providers are expected to participate in including accessing Safeguarding Training within the first six months of their approval.
6. If the prospective provider wishes to proceed, the Supported Lodgings Coordinator considers this appropriate, a CRB Form will be completed and sent off.
7. The prospective provider will be asked to complete an Application Form, a Self Assessment Form and Reference Request Forms. The prospective providers will be advised that the personal reference forms will not be shared with them.
8. Should there be any medical issues, written consent should be obtained from the prospective provider to obtain a report from the General Practitioner.
9. On receipt of the checks and references including a medical report if appropriate, the Supported Lodgings Coordinator will complete the Assessor's Summary Report. This is a descriptive document which allows the assessor to provide a pen picture of the prospective provider building on the information contained within the Self Assessment Form and Application Form. This report will comment on the prospective provider's understanding of and ability to comply with their safeguarding responsibilities.
10. Completing this report will take between 4 to 5 visits to the prospective provider.
11. During these visits, the Supported Lodgings Coordinator will ensure that the prospective provider is aware that (a) if approved, he/she will be paid an agreed percentage of the foster carer rate. Young people in placement will receive their own income in line with the Financial Policy; (b) if approved, training is mandatory including Safeguarding Training which must be completed within six months of the approval date and updated at a minimum of every three years; (c) Support is available via regular individual sessions with the Supported Lodgings Coordinator as well as opportunities to meet with other providers; (d) he/she must comply with the Safeguarding Procedures; (e) an annual review of his/her approval will take place; (e) CRB checks will be renewed every 3 years and (f) Home Safety Certificates will be required for prior to approval and will need to be updated as required.
12. The prospective provider must also be advised of the need to maintain confidentiality with regard to information shared by the Children and Young People Service.
13. Once the Assessor's Summary Report is prepared, the Team Manager will undertake a management audit of the prospective provider's file, reading and signing the Assessor's Summary Report prior to presentation for approval.

5. The  Approval Process

1. Once the Team Manager has signed off the Assessor's Summary Report and read the supporting documentation, the Supported Lodgings Coordinator will send the following documents papers to the Unit Manager for Family Placement for final approval :
   1. Self Assessment Form
   2. CRB Check
   3. Assessor's Summary Report
   4. References
   5. Household Safety Check Certificates
   6. Reports and submissions from all other relevant agencies/teams such as Medical Reports, Local Authority social care records etc
2. If the prospective provider is approved, the provider will receive a letter from the Team Manager and should be informed of the decision by visit or telephone by the Supported Lodgings Coordinator.  The written notice of approval will specify the terms of approval e.g. number of young people, types of placements and other circumstances.
3. If the prospective provider is not approved, the prospective provider will be seen by the Supported Lodgings Coordinator who will advise them of the reasons for non approval. The Team Manager will write to the prospective provider to confirm the decision and the reasons behind this.

6. Role of the Supported Lodgings Coordinator

1. To undertake initial viability assessments of prospective providers
2. To ensure that checks and references in respect of prospective providers and members of the household are undertaken
3. To undertake the assessment of prospective providers preparing an Assessor's Summary Report
4. To ensure that all prospective providers are aware of and understand the need to comply with Safeguarding Procedures
5. To ensure that all providers access relevant training including Safeguarding Training within six months of their approval which should be updated at a minimum of every three years
6. To ensure that CRB Checks are updated every three years
7. To ensure that Reviews are held annually
8. To be involved in the Referral and Matching Process as outlined in Section 7, Referral and Matching Process.

7. Referral and Matching Process

1. The Personal Advisor or Social Worker will make an application in writing to the Supported Lodgings Coordinator using the relevant Referral Form. 
2. In addition, the Personal Advisor or Social Worker will need to demonstrate that the Pathway Plan for the young person recommends a move to Supported Lodgings. 
3. The Supported Lodgings Coordinator will commence the matching of the young person to a placement using the referral and the approved providers profiles.
4.  The Supported Lodgings Coordinator will meet with identified providers and share as much information as is available about the young person. A copy of the Referral Form will be given.
5. If a decision is made to proceed with this placement based on matching the young person's needs and the provider's profile, the  Supported Lodgings Coordinator will arrange meetings between the Young Person, the Provider, and the Personal Advisor and/or Social Worker to achieve a positive introduction at a pace that the young person and the provider consider appropriate.
6. The Supported Lodgings Coordinator will arrange for a Contract Meeting to be held either on the day of moving in or as soon as possible afterwards. A Placement Plan will be agreed and recorded at this meeting. The young person will be required to sign a Licence Agreement.  It is the role of the young person's Personal Advisor and/or Social Worker and the Supported Lodgings Coordinator to explain and reinforce the contents of this agreement.

8. Dealing with Emergency Requests

When a young person requires an emergency placement, the Referral Form is still required. As much information as is available should be shared with the provider at the point of placement with more detailed information being provided at the earliest opportunity.    

9. The Young Person in Placement                            

When a young person is the subject of a Care Order or Accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989, it is the duty of their allocated Social Worker to conduct the statutory visits and be responsible for the arrangement of statutory reviews.

If they are not the subject of a Care Order or accommodated under Section 20, the Social Worker or Personal Advisor will ensure the the plan for the young person is reviewed and that the young person receives sufficient support.

It is the duty of the Supported Lodgings Coordinator to support the provider and to monitor the services provided. This includes ensuring that the providers comply with the policies and procedures of the Children and Young People's Service and the Safeguarding Board and drawing up a Training Plan for each provider to be reviewed at their Annual Review. The Supported Lodgings Coordinator is responsible for bringing any concerns to the attention of the Team Manager.

10. House Meetings

A House Meeting will take place approximately 4 weeks after placement. The young person, the Supported Lodgings Coordinator, the Supported Lodgings Provider and the Social Worker and/or Personal Advisor, attends this. The purpose of the meeting is to assess progress to date, discuss the support plan and agree future goals. Subsequent reviews are scheduled at agreed intervals.

The Social Worker and/or Personal Advisor  will also be responsible for seeing  that the young person is  financially supported including  applying for relevant allowances.

End