Issue - items at meetings - Housing and Support for Young People aged 16-25 Joint Commissioning Strategy

Report of the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing

21.6    RESOLVED That the Housing Committee approve this strategy.

21.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment Development and Housing regarding a joint strategy on housing and support for young people aged 16-25. The report was presented by Ms J Sharp, Commissioning Officer.

21.2    The report set out the Housing and Support Joint Commissioning Strategy, which was a joint strategy being undertaken with Children’s Services. A Housing and Support for Young People Needs Assessment was undertaken in October 2012 which indentified the local housing and support needs for young people in the city. The Strategy for young people aged 16-25 had three main aims; the first was to increase the numbers of young people who were prevented from homelessness; the second was to ensure the young people had a more positive transition to adulthood through the provision of a Young Peoples’ accommodation and support pathway, and the third aim was to ensure the better use of resources through a joint commissioning approach to accommodation and support for young people. Ms Sharp informed the Committee that the Department of Communities and Local Government had been in touch to discuss whether Brighton and Hove Council would like to be part of a future working group looking at how to develop positive accommodation and support pathways for your people.

21.3    The Chair thanked the officer for the report and said that the Joint Strategy was great news and was a good example of working with other departments and a better way to manage budgets. The Chair added that he was very pleased that the government had asked the Council to be involved in a working group which reflected the great work the officers had undertaken.

21.4    Councillor Mears noted that last year it had been agreed that young people leaving care would get priority for housing, and asked if those who were giving housing were provided with appropriate support. Councillor Mears said an update on those leaving care who were given housing would be useful. The Head of Housing confirmed that support was given, and a report on care leavers would come to a future Housing Committee meeting.

21.5    Councillor Wilson referred to Appendix A of the strategy and asked if that could be extended to include families. The Chair confirmed that work was done with families, and that was undertaken by Sussex Central YMCA.

21.6    Councillor Mears asked what savings would be made through the implementation of the strategy. Officers advised that there wouldn’t be savings as such, but there were important financial implications which would enable the care leavers team to better manage their budget and improve the service provided.

21.7    Councillor Robins was aware that some young people who were under the care of other local authorities had been given housing within the city, and asked whether this authority were aware of them and what support was given to them. Officers confirmed that young people were given housing outside of their area, and where that happened the new local authority would be informed. The solicitor confirmed that the Community Safety Team were currently devising a protocol to address the matter.

21.8    RESOLVED That the Housing Committee approved the strategy.