7. Assessment and provision of services
7.1 In the case of young people not currently open to Children’s Social Care, the Children’s Hub will make their initial decision based closely upon their joint work with The Housing Advice Team and within 24 hours of receipt of the SAFER.
7.2 If the young person is considered to be a Child in Need, the receiving Social Worker needs to determine if a duty to provide accommodation under section 20 is owed.
In all instances where a 16/17 year old presents as homeless and arrangements cannot be made to prevent this, the young person is considered a homeless child and will be accommodated under Section 20, unless there are particular factors that would suggest support under Section 17 would be more appropriate. (DfE and DCLG, 2018, para. 1.3)
7.3 The decision to accommodate a young person or not should be made within 3 working days in order to prevent the young person staying in interim accommodation any longer than is needed. During this period, interim accommodation needs to be agreed, and support provided until the duty under section 20, the Children Act (1989), is determined. The responsibility for securing said accommodation is the joint responsibility of the Housing Advice Team under section 188(1) of the 1996 Housing Act, Children’s Social Care under the Children Act (1989) and Children’s Commissioning (for a small number of young people that are not determined to be Child in Need or S20 this does not apply).
The Child and Family assessment must be young person focussed and young people fully consulted about and understand the implications of being accommodated by Children’s Services and becoming a child in our care. A young person should be given all necessary information to make an informed decision about becoming a child in our care and, where appropriate, this should include access to independent advice and advocacy. Children’s Services should also ensure that the young person receives accurate information about what assistance may be available to them, including provision of support services as a child in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 and from Housing Advice under Part 7 of the 1996 Act, if they do not wish to become a child in our care, and how any entitlement for assistance under Part 7 will be determined.
7.4 Where a young person requires Section 20 accommodation, or identification of additional resources needed to support the young person to remain within the community or reunification home, the case should be presented to the Care Planning Panel within Children’s Services, for identification and agreement of resources including agreement to provide accommodation under Section 20. The Social Worker will need to complete the CPP Case Note (See appendix 2) and email to csc@hartlepool.gov.uk
7.5 The Housing Advice Team, when determining whether a duty under Part 7 of the Housing Act is owed to a 16 or 17 year old who has declined Section 20 accommodation, will consider each case on an individual basis. Any homeless 16 or 17 year old will receive joint support from the Housing Advice Team and Children’s Social Care to secure suitable accommodation under either Section 20 or Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, as appropriate. This approach ensures that all young people are safely accommodated, irrespective of their decision regarding Section 20 accommodation. Placing a young person out of area will only be considered as a last resort in recognition of the impact of distancing them from their family, support network and educational provision.
7.6 Provision of support services will be determined by the assessment which will include a multi-agency plan aimed at supporting the young person’s transition to adulthood. The assessment should determine which agencies will undertake the key working role, the determination of support services to be provided and by whom and will be regularly reviewed as per individual agency policies and procedures.
7.7 Care Leavers – should a Care Leaver present to Housing Advice as homeless or threatened with homelessness, the Joint Housing Protocol for Care Leavers will be followed. Care Leavers are afforded specific housing priorities and as such joint working (subject to the young person’s consent) should take place with Leaving Care services.