Chapter 1: Purpose, Aim and Background
Purpose
The purpose of this strategy is to set out what we mean by vulnerable, highlight how we identify those that are vulnerable and what we do to support these residents.
For the purpose of this strategy resident means a council tenant or a retirement living leaseholder.
For the purposes of this Strategy “vulnerable” is defined as:
“A tenant or retirement living leaseholder (excluding Wealden Independent Living Scheme tenants) who is aged eighteen years of age or over, and who is or may be by reason of physical or mental health, addiction, financial and/or digital, isolation or circumstances unable to take care of themselves or unable to protect themselves against harm or exploitation or is at risk of losing their tenancy.”
The above definition sets out that our residents maybe be vulnerable due to five reasons:
- Physical Health
- Mental Health
- Addiction – drug and alcohol abuse or gambling
- Financial and/or digital
- Isolation
- Circumstances – is wide ranging and can include being vulnerable due to anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse or being a care leaver.
Chapter 2: Identifying Vulnerable Residents
Not everyone with a vulnerability will have a support need. However, it is essential that those that do are identified as soon as practical to ensure that they receive the support and services necessary to maintain their tenancy.
The housing service manages in-house the housing register for all households that require social housing whether that be council housing or Private Registered Provider/Housing Association homes.
All housing applicants including those for retirement living leasehold are assessed at the point of applying for housing to see whether they have any support needs. Any that have high support needs will be considered for schemes such as WILS (see page 8) or supported accommodation or specialist service options e.g., YMCA youth hostel or extra care. Some housing applicants may also already have support in place either at the time of applying for housing or once they have applied. Where a need is identified the Housing Options team will make referrals for support to services such as Brighton Housing Trust.
When a new tenant is nominated for a vacant council property detail will be passed from the housing allocations team to the housing officer so that they are aware of any support needs or vulnerabilities of the customer. The sign-up process and 6 week visit for all new tenants is another opportunity to identify any support needs including any assistance required to help them sustain their tenancy.
When anyone moves into retirement living the Retirement Living Court Manager will produce a wellbeing assessment as a matter of course with them and this will be reviewed regularly (see page 6). This identifies any support needs and how these will be meet.
For most customers their support needs will be low-level and short-term and as such they will be referred for support to Brighton Housing Trust.
Chapter 3: Supporting Vulnerable Residents
The support needs of our residents vary considerably. Many will have a combination of support needs as opposed to one isolated issue. The way in which residents can be supported varies but this section outlines some of the ways we can help. Support may come in the form of a referral or signposting to another agency or assistance from staff within the housing service. Tenancy sustainment is the key priority for us as a housing provider.
The services available locally change regularly and so an East Sussex online directory has been developed. It details all the services available by type and the contact details for them and how referrals can be made. This is used by staff to ensure residents are able to access appropriate support.
Within our stock there are 13 Wealden Independent Living Scheme (WILS) tenancies. WILS aims to provide a supported housing service for vulnerable people including those with mental health problems and/or learning difficulties to assist them to maintain a self-contained tenancy within the community. Southdown Housing Association is commissioned to operate and manage the service on behalf of the council and Social Services ‘Supported Accommodation Team’. This ongoing long-term arrangement involves the council leasing accommodation to Southdown Housing Association who in turn offers a tenancy to a housing applicant who has support needs. Southdown provide intensive support for up to two years, ensuring that at the end of this time the tenant is capable of sustaining a tenancy unsupported. The accommodation is dispersed across Wealden and is generally in the form of self-contained single person flats. Southdown undertakes full housing management responsibilities on behalf of the tenant. The scheme is very successful and very few tenancies fail due to the intensive support provided by Southdown. Once people are able to live without support the tenancy will be put into their name.
We also have 8 units of accommodation for rough sleepers (4 are owned by the Housing Revenue Account and 4 the General Fund). These are known as Housing First units and come with specialist support including access to a range of other services delivered through a multi-agency approach to help the former rough sleeper. This support is currently provided by Southdown Housing Association.
Although not owned by the council but by Housing Associations we have access to some specialist accommodation within the district. East Sussex County Council deal with for referrals to extra care to the 2 schemes in Wealden for older people in need of care and support. They also deal with referrals to accommodation for those with learning disabilities which also comes with onsite support, with 2 schemes in Wealden as well as some dispersed accommodation. We can refer our tenants/retirement living leaseholders to ESCC if they need this specialist accommodation and the support that comes with it.
Additionally, a housing association own a refuge in the district which can be accessed via Refuge for victims of domestic abuse who cannot stay in their current home. Via Refuge we can also access refugees located in neighbouring authorities.
Chapter 4: Meeting our Objectives
Our aim is to ensure that our residents are able sustain their tenancy/lease. National research has shown the benefits of early intervention which are wide and include financial benefits and social benefits. Through identifying and ensuring vulnerable residents are supported appropriately we can ensure tenancies/leases are sustained and well managed. This not only improves the health and wellbeing of our residents but also leads to cost savings for the housing service in terms of dealing with tenancy enforcement and rents arrears.
It is essential that as a service we are proactive in identifying vulnerable residents at the earliest opportunity to minimise the risk to the service (both financial and staff safety), other residents and the “vulnerable” person themselves.
In delivering this strategy we will ensure that:
- Housing staff and contractors use every opportunity to identify vulnerable residents.
- Vulnerable residents are sign-posted/referred to appropriate support services.
- That most vulnerable tenants are supported by our Tenancy Sustainment Officer.
- Housing staff have the necessary knowledge, training and skills for their role, including ongoing/refresher training.
Housing Options Officers, Retirement Living Court Managers and Housing Officers are primarily responsible for identifying vulnerable households and referring them to appropriate support. However, after moving into a council property any visiting council officer or housing services contractor should flag-up to the Housing Officer anyone that they believe is vulnerable so that the Housing Officer can visit and make any necessary referrals/signposting. All contractors are trained in safeguarding and are DBS checked. Any issues identified by them come via their Contract Manager to Housing Property Services Manager, Senior Administration Officer (Property Services) or Voids Officer.