Supported and Sheltered Housing - Information and Advice
Supported Lodgings Scheme
The Supported Lodgings Scheme is Bath and North East Somerset
Council’s response to the growing concern about the lack of housing
options for young people.
Many young people aged 16 - 18, whether they are leaving
care or whether they can no longer live at home, are just not ready
to live on their own.
The Supported Lodgings Scheme will help young people to develop
the practical skills and emotional stability they will need to make
the transition to adulthood and make a success of living
independently – in short, to achieve their personal
potential.
How does it work?
Supported Lodgings Providers rent rooms in their homes to young
people and give them the support, encouragement and guidance they
need to develop the skills and confidence to live
independently. The young person renting the room becomes part
of the household and shares the facilities.
Lodgings Providers work in partnership with the young person and
the
Adolescent & Leaving Care Team (ALCT) to provide a
programme of support that meets the young person’s individual
needs. Some will need help with practical tasks such as
cooking, budgeting or shopping economically. Others will need
more emotional support. Many will need both. The idea
is that they 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.
Who can be a Lodgings Provider?
We need people from all walks of life and from all kinds of
cultural and ethnic backgrounds to become Lodgings Providers.
After all, the young people also come from diverse backgrounds and
it is important that this is reflected in the lodgings that are
available. As a Lodgings Provider you could be:
- a family, a single person or a couple living together
- black, minority ethnic or white
- heterosexual, lesbian, gay or bisexual
- disabled or able-bodied
- working or unemployed
Being a Supported Lodgings Provider is not about having
particular qualifications – it’s more about having the special
skills and qualities we are looking for.
Lodgings Providers get on with teenagers and enjoy their
company. They are warm, caring and patient individuals who
also have a good sense of humour. They have a good
understanding of the issues facing young people and are prepared to
be advocates for them. Lodgings Providers want to make a
positive difference in a young person’s life.
It may be that you have the skills and qualities we are looking
for because you have children of your own, or because you have
experience of working with young people. All that we ask in
addition is that you are in good health, have a spare room and are
willing to share your home with a young person.
If this sounds anything like you, we would love to hear from
you!
All Supported Lodgings Providers will be subject to
health and criminal background checks and must be able to provide
references
Training and Support
We recognise that training and support must be made available to
Lodgings Providers if they are to fulfil their role. Whilst
preparing to be a Lodgings Provider you will be required to
complete the mandatory training element of the Assessment
Process. This will cover areas such as young people’s issues,
confidentiality and working in partnership, as well as provide
information on the legal aspects of becoming a Lodgings
Provider.
Being a Lodgings Provider may be frustrating and challenging at
times. While you may have the support of family and friends,
it is important to have access to professional support, too.
The Young Persons Accommodation Officer (YPAO) is responsible for
supporting Lodgings Providers and will be able to help you to
identify and address your support and training needs. You will meet
with the Young Persons Accommodation Officer on a monthly basis
when you have a young person lodging with you.
The young person will have help, too. She or he will be
supported by a worker from the ALCT and it will be your role to
work in partnership with Social Services to support the young
person.
It can also be helpful to share any difficulties or problems
with other Lodgings Providers who may be able to offer support.
We organise a regular social event for you to meet with other
Lodgings Providers, share stories and experiences, relax and have a
good time!
What’s in it for me?
Supporting young people in this way is an exciting and rewarding
experience in itself, but we will, of course, pay you for your
services. In return for providing accommodation and support
to a young person, Bath & North East Somerset Council will pay
you an allowance of around £147 each week for each young person who
lives with you.
The young people will also make a weekly contribution to help
them get used to budgeting. In addition to financial reward,
you will also be given regular training and support to help you
deal with some of the issues facing young people. You will
also be able to access the Council’s Property Accreditation
Scheme
What happens next?
Bath and North East Somerset Council needs to be sure that all
Lodgings Providers can offer young people a safe and supportive
environment. Our assessment process will ensure that you are
committed to providing care and support which is of the highest
quality.
Once you contact us to say you would like to join the Scheme as
a Lodgings Provider, the YPAO will make a home visit to you and any
other members of your household in order to fill out an assessment
form. Generally speaking, we will be interested in finding
out about:
- you, the others in your household and your home
- any skills or experience you may have of working with
teenagers
- what your expectations of the young people would be
- what you would be prepared to offer a young person
This may take more than one visit but it will be an ideal
opportunity for you to ask about anything you are unsure of.
As part of the assessment process you will also be asked to
complete a CRB Disclosure form for all members of your household
over the age of 16. With your permission, we will contact
your General Practitioner to ask if there is any medical reason why
you would not be a suitable Lodgings Provider. You will also
be asked to provide two personal references.
On completion of the assessment form, the YPAO will present your
application to the Lodgings Providers Review Panel. The
Panel, which includes at least one member who is independent of
Bath and North East Somerset Council, decides whether or not you
should be recommended for approval as a Lodgings Provider.
Within three days of this meeting, the YPAO will inform you of the
Panel’s decision.
If you are successful, you will be asked to complete the
mandatory training which also forms part of the assessment
process. When you have completed the training to a
satisfactory standard, the Group Manager, Children’s Services will
make a final decision as to whether or not you can be approved as a
Lodgings Provider.
Approved Lodgings Providers will be asked to sign a Partnership
Agreement with Bath and North East Somerset Council, which sets out
what you can expect from the Council and what the Council expects
from you as a Lodgings Provider. It is only at this point
that young people can be placed with you.
The whole process may seem rather long and drawn-out but we are
sure you will appreciate that all of the relevant checks need to be
in place to ensure the safety of our young people.
Interested? If you are interested in becoming a Lodgings
Provider, please contact Nicola Robinson (Accommodation
Officer) at the Supported Lodgings Scheme to arrange your
first home visit.
| This information can be made available in a range of languages,
large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible
formats. Contact the Information Officer on 01225 477983,
Minicom 01225 477043 or email information_officer@bathnes.gov.uk |
