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• Local Authority assessment and advice

Local Authority assessment and advice

When a young person first approaches a local authority for advice and assistance in housing, the quality of assessment and the approach to offering advice can positively prevent many young people from needing to make homeless applications.

It is at this point that opportunities for family mediation, problem solving and considering short term "breathing space" with friends or extended family might be considered. In addition, any child protection issues or other risks to well being may be identified and if need be, referrals made.

Local authority housing departments do not have to do this work in isolation but can be creative in fulfilling their statutory duties. Many have developed partnerships or commissioned services, recognising that organisations with expertise in working with young people can help them to secure better outcomes in the long term for homeless or potentially homeless young people. If there is no possibility of preventing a young person from becoming homeless, the local authority has a statutory duty to investigate and then decide whether they are vulnerable and have a priority need for temporary accommodation (see the Homelessness Act 2002 (external link)).

This section looks at a selection of models for delivery and gives some tips for innovation and success in this important aspect of preventing youth homelessness.

The hallmarks of good practice in this area are:

• The focus of the work is on prevention
• The organisation/service has expertise in working with young people
• The organisation/service has credibility in its work on homelessness with young people and is an appropriate delivery agent/partnership arrangement
• A partnership approach underpins the work
• The assessment model is a holistic one, which looks at causes of /triggers for homelessness in a preventative framework
• Staff are trained in holistic assessment skills
• There are a range of housing options for young people
• The organisation/service has good local knowledge and strong relationships with other providers in the community it serves
• There is evidence of understanding of the potential customer base, in terms of:
  • client groups
  • geographical /local make up of the community
  • community intelligence
• The service looks at both immediate needs and long term outcomes for young people
• There is independent evaluation of the work.

(researched and written by St Basils)

Tools               Additional Resources               Case Studies

In this section

• Partnership working
• Locating and delivering services
• Assessment processes and referral on
• Monitoring and evaluation