Better partnerships needed between housing and children’s services, says ombudsman
Joe Lepper
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Councils are being urged to ensure housing works better in partnership with other council departments including children’s services, to improve support for young people facing homelessness.
The call has been made by the local government and social care ombudsman Michael King in his report More Home Truths, looking into housing complaints made against councils.
He wants to see local authorities "develop joint working protocols and information sharing agreements with other departments such as children’s services, adult social care, and benefits".
Also being called for is better record keeping on homelessness cases and set targets to respond to those seeking housing.
Having a system in place to cover housing officers on leave or off sick is also among King’s recommendations.
Under 2017’s Homelessness Reduction Act, councils have a duties and powers to help people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.
King had raised concerns in 2020 that councils were failing to implement these new duties.
But “unfortunately” King continues to receive complaints where councils are failing people facing homelessness. This includes delays in completing assessments.
“We recognise that councils’ ability to deliver services is under more pressure than ever, and that officers are expected to do more with less,” said King.
“However, homeless applicants approach councils at one of the most stressful and uncertain times in their lives."
Among cases detailed in the report is a 2022 incidence of a mother with disabilities and her young child who were let down by Lewes District Council, which allocated them unsuitable accommodation without vital disability adaptations.
If the council “had properly considered its assessment of her needs, it would not have offered the property in the first place”, warned King.
“Our helpline hears from young people facing homelessness every day who have been failed by their local councils,” said Paul Brocklehurst, Centrepoint Helpline senior manager.
“Some can’t even get an assessment and for those that are assessed, a personalised housing plan isn’t provided, leaving them incredibly stressed and frightened.
“In more extreme cases, we’ve also heard of young people who are clearly priority need not being offered emergency accommodation or being told to sleep rough to 'prove' their homelessness.
“This is completely unacceptable and we know that the few dozen cases that make it to the Ombudsman are just the tip of the iceberg of people not getting what they’re entitled to."
Among the most high-profile cases of a local authority failing a young homeless person was four years ago, when King detailed how Cornwall Council had accommodated a teenage boy in a tent.
The boy, then aged 17 spent five weeks in a tent, four weeks in a static caravan and several nights sleeping rough after approaching the council for help, King found.
