To consider the response from Strategic & Community Housing Services to the questions from the review panel.
Minutes:
10.1 The panel was keen to understand the relationship between Haringey Strategic and Community Housing Services, Children and Young People Service and Adult Services. In addition to receiving written responses to a list of questions constructed by the panel (appendix 1), The Head of Housing Needs & Lettings, Strategic & Community Housing Services (SCHS) was invited to a meeting of the Review Panel to outline the services on offer to this client group. In response to a question on how many young adults in this category were housed by the Council, including a breakdown in terms of gender age, and ethnicity the Panel learned that SCHS did not have precise numbers in this group, however the Special Needs Team had dealt with over 200 cases which included families with young adults. When a young person who was part of a household that was homeless or potentially homeless and to whom the Council had a statutory responsibility under the Housing Act 1996, they could be assisted initially with temporary accommodation and ultimately permanent accommodation. This was dependent on other factors and included an assessment process involving the Council and the Special Needs Team where there are physical or mental health issues.
10.2 The Panel noted that the current lettings policy (under review) awards specific points for medical, mental health, lack of facility or property conditions. This, along with a dedicated housing advice and options team meant that the SCHS could also assist by exploring alternative options such as resettlement in the private sector with support.
10.3 Those young people with physical disabilities needing specific adapted accommodation might prove difficult to house as adapted units were very scarce. The SCHS was working with Housing Association partners to increase the supply of this type of accommodation. Whilst the council was looking at increasing supply, it was acknowledged that there were a number of competing priorities and there were less than 100 adapted properties in the borough. It was felt that the Council was reactive rather than proactive in this area, however there were discussions about the possibility of providing a quota system with a number of units set aside to be able to more effectively meet the needs of different client groups with specialist needs. The panel also noted that there was no Service Level Agreement between relevant services
Referrals to SCHS
10.4 The Panel asked SCHS whether they could identify how young people in transition were referred to them, whether the system worked and the possibility that some clients might be in need but were unknown to them. The Panel heard that it was not always easy to identify this client group as there were no specific monitoring arrangements in place in the Housing Service to distinguish them. As a result of the scrutiny investigation, the panel learned that dialogue was to take place with SCHS colleagues in Social Care in order that appropriate mechanisms could be developed to identify and capture this specific need. Only a small proportion of households/young adults were formally referred to the SCHS as most clients were simply informed of the process for applying for housing. Recently the SCHS and Children’s Services had put in place pro-active working protocols which had improved the referral mechanisms between the services. SCHS would consider putting a similar arrangement in place for this client group between children, adult and housing services so that access and referrals could be improved and streamlined, this would lead to an enhancement of services provided to this group and minimise the number of clients not benefiting or accessing services. Whilst this information was available through the 16 plus panel it was felt that gaps existed for 14-18 age groups where early identification of housing needs could be mapped to ensure the commission of appropriate accommodation.
Learning from other authorities
10.5 In response to a question as to whether SCHS drew on best practice from other boroughs to inform their processes, the panel learned that SCHS did not fully draw on best practice in this area, however they worked across the North London Sub Region on a range of Housing and Social Care issues, The panel recommended that the remit of the North London Sub-Regional meeting on Housing and Social Care issues should be expanded to include the needs of young people in transition.
Equalities and diversity
10.6 There were overall equalities performance management systems which sought to comply with the local government equalities standards and framework. Specific equalities data on ethnicity, gender, and disabilities is captured for clients housed in the Social Housing Sector. SCHC monitoring systems show that the overall allocation of social housing is in line with the diverse communities within the borough.
People in transition moving into the borough
10.7 The Panel learned that there are formal liaison methods between local authorities which enable the exporting boroughs to inform the receiving boroughs where clients with Special Needs move into their locality. In housing, a specific Pan London System called ‘Notify’ is in place. This is a shared Pan London database that facilitates data and information exchange of households in Temporary Accommodation moving across local authorities. There are also Sub-Regional Supporting People Forums.
10.8 The Panel also learned that the Housing Service, Adult and Children’s Services are working together on a number of issues. The Head of Adult Needs also advised that they are currently reviewing their protocols and procedures for young people in transition including vulnerable young people, young people with mental health difficulties with and without learning difficulties and young people with a range of disabilities.
10.9 The steering group from Children and Young People’s Service and Adults have been joined to establish a new steering group. A Housing representative will sit on this group and will ensure that it works with housing in the revised protocols.