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Care Leavers - Housing
Housing
We realise how important it is to improve accommodation options for young people leaving care. We are working on several projects which aim to improve the choices for young people.
Pathway Project
This is a Housing scheme provided in partnership with the Bromford Housing Group.
The project consists of one, two bedroomed flat, in the Chelmsley Wood area of Solihull.
The flat has been decorated and fitted with new kitchens. Each young person will have their own bedroom, which they will have a key for and they will share a living room, kitchen, bathroom and lounge with another young person.
The project's support worker will work with your social worker to help you improve your life skills. You will have a Pathway Plan, which you will have drawn up with your Social Worker and other people who are offering you support. Among other things this plan will specify how the support worker is going to help you achieve your goals.
Housing Referrals
Referrals can be made by your social worker. These are then sent to Bromford Housing Group, as they have to decide whether or not the project is appropriate for that young person.
The project runs on a planned basis. This means young people cannot move into the flats in an emergency.
Once the referral has been read by Bromford Housing Group, you will be asked to attend an interview. This is to get to know you and let you know more about the project. If there is a young person already living in the flat you will have an opportunity to meet them before you move in.
Agreements
There are some "House Agreements" which will be discussed with you before you move in and you will sign a document to say you agree to these guidelines before you are offered a place.
Moving on
The purpose of the scheme is to help you secure your own flat in the future. The support worker will help you in finding your own accommodation when you are ready to move on.
You will be able to stay in the flat for up to two years-although we hope young people will be ready to move on before this. You do need to be at least 16 before you can be referred.
Watch this space for more details
Supported Lodgings Scheme
Supported Lodgings Providers are a bit like Landlords/Landladies offering a room in their home. The Provider will supply you with a room, breakfast and evening meal and will work with you developing some of your skills like, cooking and budgeting.
All Providers need to be "approved" by us to ensure it is a safe place for you to live.
The purpose of the Scheme is to provide you with a stepping stone between foster care and other accommodation. You have to be 16 before you can be referred to the project and there are Agreements which you will be involved in negotiating with the Lodgings Provider and Social Services.
Allowances
We will pay the Lodgings Provider while you are living there and you will also receive a small allowance. Out of this you will be expected to contribute towards the cost of your food and bills.
This will all be discussed before you move in.
Social Workers may be discussing the scheme with you. They will write the referrals with you for the scheme.
Training Flat
Are you aged 16+ and living in foster care/ residential care or in supported accommodation?
Would you like a 'taste' of independent living before moving on permanently?
The training flat is a 2 bedroom flat in the Smiths Wood area of Solihull, close to the shops. It is fully furnished and equipped with everything that you would need during your stay. You can stay in the training flat for 2-4 weeks, maximum of 4 weeks.
Turnaround
Solihull Floating Support, 'Turnaround' was set up in April 2003, by St Basils and the 16+ team, to work with and offer support to Care Leavers who feel that they are ready for the next step towards independent living.
St Basils is a separate agency who work along side us to work with 16-21 years old, for at least one year and up to two years.
After this time young people can be re-referred. All of our referrals come from us and normally identified through the Pathway Plan system.
The scheme offers a Floating Support worker, for one-to-one work and a minimum of one home visit a week. These visits are gradually reduced until you, your social worker and your Floating Support worker are happy you can live independently.
The scheme offers a wide range of assistance on anything and everything that may be an issue before during and after your move to independent living.
Help with things like:
- Applying for your tenancy.
- Assistance when applying for benefits and grants.
- St Basils's services including family mediation, employment education and training advice, mentoring, access to counselling services, (health, drug, alcohol) and a lot more.
- Referral to furniture providers.
- Help you to move into your new property and get settled.
- Help with budgeting, shopping, cooking, bill payment methods.
The project is staffed by two full time members of staff who work office hours (9:00am to 5:00pm).
As you can see there are lots of exciting things happening at the moment in terms of housing options for young people.
Hopefully this will mean young people have more choices in the future.
If you have any ideas about things that might improve housing for young people I would love to hear from YOU.
Give me a call on 0121 788 4235 if you want to know more about the schemes or you are interested in being involved in developing new schemes.
Contact Details
For more information please contact 16+ team, or see the second page for useful contacts.
Telephone: 0808 16 02 211 - for young people only.
Telephone: 0121 788 4200 - for all other people.
Emergency Duty Team: 0121 605 6060
Email: 16plus@solihull.gov.uk