1.1.8 Supported Living Policy |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This document aims to provide Policy to children, young people, their families, providers and employees in relation to those young people who are eligible for supported living by Lincolnshire County Council.
Supported Living/Lodgings describes a situation whereby young people post 16 who have been in care will continue to require accommodation. Please refer to the Leaving Care Procedure.
In addition please refer to the Children's Services Policy, Values and Principles which contains the overall policy and strategy for the provision of services to children, young people and families and provides the context for all policy and procedures within Children's Services.
This chapter first appeared in this manual in February 2010.
AMENDMENT
his chapter was slightly amended in September 2011 See Section 3, Policy Outcomes, in regard to Support and services in respect of the young person’s disability or needs arising from being in custody, or as a result of entering the country as an unaccompanied asylum seeker.
Contents
1. Legal Reference
Children Act 1989
The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
Care Matters; Transforming the Lives of Children and Young People in Care
2. Policy Aims
Lincolnshire County Council will provide a range of services to support young people from 16 years plus who have been looked after by the local authority prior to the age of 16 years, and there remains a need to continue to promote their welfare. These young people will be entitled to a leaving care service that includes an Assessment of Need and a Pathway Plan.
The Supported Living Policy requires that an Assessment of Need is completed for each young person prior to entering the scheme. This is to determine the most appropriate actions for meeting the needs of the young person and the actions will be included within a Pathway Plan. Consideration will be given to race, culture, religion, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation of the young person.
The outcomes and actions derived from the Assessment will be produced and reviewed within a Pathway Plan. The Pathway Plan will identify the assistance that is required to support and assist the young person and the Local Authority, to offer the services in a way that recognises the right and need of young people to seek advice, support and assistance in their own right. This will include supporting them through making their decisions and enabling them to learn from the outcomes.
All information given will be in a format designed to meet the individual needs of children and families in relation to their culture, language, religion, disability, and gender.
3. Policy Outcomes
Young people who are eligible to a service can expect;
- An allocated Social Worker/ or Leaving Care Worker depending on their legal status
- Looked After Services
- Support in finding suitable accommodation, these will include:
Foster Carers, through Supported Living Carers, through Bed and Breakfasts, through identified bodies who have their own purpose built supported accommodation, through privately owned Supported Lodgings. - Support in identifying financial and other entitlements prior to their placement
- Support and services in respect of the young person’s disability or needs arising from being in custody, or as a result of entering the country as an unaccompanied asylum seeker.
All accommodation is subject to a health and safety assessment, all people over the age of 18 who are in contact with the young person within the accommodation are subject to a CRB check.
Lincolnshire County Council is required to have a contract with each Supported Living Provider that has been approved.
The young persons needs highlighted from the Pathway Plan are considered when agreeing the expectations from the young person and the provider. This will be managed within the 'Supported Lodgings Agreement'.
Provision of accommodation and support will be reviewed regularly through the Pathway Planning Review.
End