Assessment centres

Maintaining our innovative approach to helping local authorities roll out their strategies, we have now opened three assessment centres to work with young homeless people in partnership with the London Boroughs of Camden, Lewisham and Milton Keynes Council.

These centres provide high-quality supported accommodation for a short initial period while the young person is assessed before being referred to an appropriate level of supported or other accommodation.

Our Camden and Milton Keynes centres offer a safe and supportive environment for young single homeless people aged 16-21, our Lewisham centre for those aged 16-24. 

Support is offered for up to 12 weeks in Milton Keynes, six months in Camden and three to six months in Lewisham, with the option of reducing or increasing the length of stay according to each individual’s level of need. During their stay, their accommodation and support needs will be comprehensively assessed.

Once a service user has been assessed they will be referred to an appropriate level of provision. Referrals will be made to other support providers, who will be identified during the assessment process.

An Individual Support Plan (ISP) will be created and will be an ongoing tool to assist the development of the individual. A ‘keywork’ session will take place between an allocated staff member (keyworker) and the young person on a regular basis.

St Christopher’s assessment centres are developed through close collaboration with local authorities.

The Milton Keynes centre follows a review of the housing department by Milton Keynes Council that identified the need to differentiate between those in ‘need’ of housing and those who ‘wanted’ housing.

The Camden centre is the result of St Christopher’s supported housing working closely with the London Borough of Camden to provide accommodation-based support for people referred by designated pathway sources that allows them to prepare for options through and out of the pathway and receive appropriate interventions for their ongoing issues. The service will be flexible and responsive to the multiple needs of service users including:

• people with substance misuse issues
• people with mental health problems
• people with chaotic lifestyles, including those displaying anti-social behaviour
• people at risk of offending and or with a current offending history
• people deemed to be vulnerable and at risk
• unaccompanied minors

If you are interested in commissioning St Christopher’s services, call 0208 780 7800 and ask for Development - or click here