Head of Housing and Support, Phil Townsend, has responded to an article that appeared in Inside Housing on 7th January, regarding local authority responses to the Southwark decision.
Read an extract of our response below:
“As a specialist provider of services for children and young homeless people, we share the concerns highlighted by your research.
“The failure to complete a joint assessment is only one part of the story. All too often, young people are encouraged to pursue their application under the Housing Act rather than the Children Act, without being offered independent advice about the benefits and problems associated with each route.
“We also believe that there is a need to bridge the considerable gap between the provision of accommodation which is ‘supported’ and the provision of accommodation that satisfies the requirement to look after the young person ‘in the manner in which a good parent’ would – via for example, the use of firm boundaries, curfews and an interest in their education, relationships and long term direction. Many 16 & 17 year olds continue to be housed in inappropriate accommodation which fails to meet the guidelines issued.
“There are, however, examples across the country of good practice. The London Borough of Camden’s Young People’s Pathway consistently uses assessment centres as stage 1 short term accommodation for young people. By allocating social workers to different assessment centres on the Pathway, as well as offering a range of assessment options, the Camden model - with the support of third sector providers - is able to deliver positive outcomes. Our experience is that this model works and that a young person’s life-chances can be greatly improved.
“The Southwark decision gave a rare opportunity for local authorities and providers to establish new ways of working that deliver real benefits for young people. We are at risk of squandering this opportunity in the name of short term cost savings, leaving young people far more vulnerable.
The original article can be viewed at http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/analysis/in-depth/who-cares?/6513139.article