Written standards for temporary accommodation used by the Council Temporary Accommodation Standards 1.2 Improve infrastructure to allow digital inclusion in Housing Options, Tenancy Support Unit and District Housing Offices Senior Caseworker / Operations Manager East/West/ TSU March 2020 Provide WiFi access, phone charging points, and PC access Improve digital inclusion of homeless people. 1.3 Review use of Personal Housing Plans. Housing Options Manager December 2019 PHPs in place for all households accepted at risk of homelessness Written information provided for all households who approach service Feedback mechanism in place to monitor effectiveness Improve written information to all homelessness households. 1.4 Pro-actively promote Housing Options Services in social media and press. Housing Options Manager 2 press releases providing information on the Homelessness Service, reported in local press annually Increase use of social media to promote services Bi-annual survey to gauge levels of general public’s understanding of homelessness & housing advice services Raise general public and professional awareness of homelessness, advice and support services in order to ensure a more widespread understanding of where people can go if faced with a housing issue. 1.5 Review Housing Options equalities monitoring systems Casework Team Leader & TSU June 2019 Completed consultation with equalities representative groups re. best use of equalities monitoring data. Research best practice Areas for improvement identified Ensure that homelessness and housing services are accessible to all. Ref Action required Responsible officer By When Key activities Outcome Objective 2: Prioritising early intervention and prevention of homelessness. 2.1 Develop pre-eviction protocols with all housing providers and understand reasons for abandoned tenancies. Operations Manager Community Housing / March 2020 Protocols in place Evictions accurately monitored across all forms of housing Number of evictions reduced.
Ref Action required Responsible officer By When Key activities Outcome 2.14 Work with DWP, Housing Benefit & Poverty and Prevention Service to identify and advise households at risk of future homelessness due to the impact of Welfare Reform. Adult, Prosperity & Wellbeing Manager / Casework Team Leader December 2019 Housing Options representative on Financial inclusion Steering Group Identification of communities most affected by welfare reform to target advice Improve early intervention and prevention for households affected by welfare reform. 2.15 Develop a Housing Training Programme to up-skill support workers (and other professionals) to enable them to provide basic housing advice and improve knowledge of homelessness legislation. Housing Options Manager / Housing Training Officer September 2020 Complete pilot with Domestic Abuse Hub workers Assess feasibility of extending training to other organisations Reduce demand on Homelessness Service by ensuring a wider range of organisations can provide housing advice. 2.16 Explore ways to improve outcomes for homeless households with no local connection. Operations Manager Community Housing December 2020 Liaise with neighbouring authorities to determine the feasibility of developing a regional group to consider the following: Hospital discharges Reciprocal arrangements Housing First Reconnection Temporary accommodation More regional focus and collaborative approach for those homeless households with no local connection. 2.17 Identify and prepare for the implications of the Immigration Act 2014 e.g. Right to Rent checks and Britain’s exit from the EU. Housing Solicitor TBA Monitor implementation date from Welsh Government. Identify relevant steps landlords are required to undertake to comply. Appropriate advice is in place for housing providers.
Ref Action required Responsible officer By When Key activities Outcome 3.7 Reduce barriers for accessing temporary accommodation and supported temporary accommodation. Housing Options Manager / Casework Team Leader September 2020 Identify barriers with stakeholders/service users Address key issues including: Pets Storage of belonging Work/finance Review completed and recommendations agreed Temporary and supported accommodation is more accessible for all households. 3.8 Simplify access to refuge accommodation for households who are experiencing domestic abuse. Operations Manager Community Housing / VAWDASV Co-ordinator March 2020 Meet with neighbouring authorities and providers to identify issues Develop common referral process “Tell it once” approach implemented for households accessing domestic abuse accommodation. 3.9 Review the provision of temporary supported accommodation for households with complex needs experiencing domestic abuse VAWDASV Co-ordinator / Operations Manager Community Housing/ Supporting People Team April 2020 Review to consider: No of spaces available, void levels, waiting list, eviction levels Adequate provision of temporary supported accommodation for households with complex needs experiencing domestic abuse. 3.10 Review the Move-On Strategy. Operations Manager Community Housing / Nominations Officer Dec 2019 Tenancy sustainment performance indicator agreed Review of Move-on Strategy completed with partners Consider options to adopt process for all temporary accommodation. Robust Move-On Strategy in place. 3.11 Increase the supply of suitable and affordable private rented properties. PR Sector Access Team Manager / Team Leader - Housing and Public Health Division June 2019 Funding of 2 additional Environmental Health Officers to speed up Rent Smart Wales registration process and increase no. of inspections carried out. Information leaflet provided for PR landlords on support and advice that the Council can provide Develop closer links with PR landlords Increased supply of good quality, affordable private rented accommodation
Ref Action required Responsible officer By When Key activities Outcome 3.12 Consider feasibility of establishing social lettings agency for private sector properties. PR Sector Access Team Manager / Housing Options Manager April 2020 Liaise with PR Landlord Forum to identify barriers/issues Improve ”offer”/support to private landlord Recommendation to be made on feasibility of Council run lettings agency. Increase the supply of good quality, affordable private rented properties. 3.13 Development of shared accommodation solutions for single households under 35. Landlord Services Manager September 2020 Assess local need for shared housing for young people (under 25 and under 35) and inform More Homes Strategy and Local Housing Strategy. Meet with RSLs/Council housing management to discuss development of shared social housing Identify best practice Consider and cost additional private landlord incentives Increased affordable housing options for people under the age of 35. 3.14 Review the Council’s Housing Allocations Policy. Landlord Services Manager December 2021 Establish Steering Group Identify changes required by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, Welfare Reform etc within 12 months Complete review and revise policy New Allocation Policy in place. Objective 4: Ensuring appropriate support is available for people who are or may become homeless. 4.1 Improve access to substance misuse support services for homeless households. Supporting People Team / Operations Manager Community Housing June 2019 Carry out consultation with service users and providers to identify issues Work with Substance Misuse Area Planning Board to improve access to services Improve links between Housing Options, TSU and Area Planning Board Reduction in the number of individuals whose tenancies fail or who are prevented from accessing supported accommodation due to lack of appropriate substance misuse support.
Ref Action required Responsible officer By When Key activities Outcome 4.2 Improve access to mental health support services for homeless households. Supporting People Team / Operations Manager Community Housing June 2020 Carry out consultation with service users and providers to identify issues Work with Social Service’s Mental Health Commissioning Board and Health to improve access to services Reduction in the number of individuals whose tenancies fail or who are prevented from accessing supported accommodation due to lack of appropriate mental health support. 4.3 Implement findings from Supporting People review of Tenancy Support Unit. Tenancy Support Unit Co-ordinator September 2019 Supporting People review of the service due in Autumn 2018 Revise referral and assessment forms Adopt enabling, strength-based approach to support. 4.4 Reduce Tenancy Support Unit waiting lists across all client groups. Tenancy Support Unit Co-ordinator April 2020 Establish reasons why households are supported over a year & consider ways to reduce this Increase the “support on demand” service Deliver a responsive, flexible tenancy support service to ensure that people receive the right level of support at the right time. 4.5 Strengthen and formalise the working relationships between Local Area Co-ordinators and Housing Options/Tenancy Support Unit. LAC Manager / Housing Options Manager / TSU Manager June 2019 Establish good working relationships with Local Area Co-ordinators Monitor no. of introductions to LAC service Monitor no. of referrals to Housing Options/TSU Reduce demand on homelessness services by providing alternative options to support households at risk of homelessness. 4.6 Raise awareness of provision in place to support men who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse. VAWDASV Co-ordinator / Housing Options Manager June 2019 Monitor level of need Map provision Ensure information is disseminated through a range of channels i.e. social media, website, information leaflet Sufficient provision in place for men experiencing domestic abuse. 4.7 Consult with BME stakeholders and service users to improve ways services are provided to households with language barriers and cultural differences. Housing Options Manager/ Senior Policy Officer June 2019 Consult with BME Stakeholders Identify service improvements Research best practice Provide a more accessible homelessness service.
Ref Action required Responsible officer By When Key activities Outcome 4.8 Develop housing advice leaflets specifically for refugees to provide targeted housing advice. Housing Options Manager / Senior Customer Services Officer September 2019 Consult with BME Stakeholders and service users to identify issues Leaflet produced and translated into identified languages Work with Home Office accommodation provider to ensure information is provided to asylum seekers at an early stage. Refugees have an improved understanding how to access housing. 4.9 Map the provision in place to assist and advise individuals who are ineligible for homelessness and housing assistance. Operations Manager Community Housing / Migration, Asylum Seeker and Refugee Coordinator October 2019 Work with Social Services and the Asylum Seeker & Refugee Forum to identify issues Existing provision mapped Clear understanding and improved signposting to resources available to assist non-eligible households. 4.10 Up-date and improve on-line Supported Housing Directory. Supporting People Team April 2020 Implement system to ensure information is regularly up-dated On-line directory up-dated and monitored which is promoted and accessible to all stakeholders. 4.11 Develop a training plan for housing and support providers. Operations Manager Community Housing / Housing Training Officer December 2019 Key areas for training to include: Domestic Abuse Mental health training Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Psychologically-informed environments (PIE) Housing/Homelessness legislation Substance misuse awareness Households with No Recourse to Public Funds. Welfare Reform updates Training sources identified Training plan disseminated to relevant stakeholders. Training plan implemented for Housing Options staff. Housing and support providers receive appropriate training and are well resourced to provide appropriate advice according to the needs of individuals.
Ref Action required Responsible officer By When Key activities Outcome 4.12 Develop a Transitional Accommodations Officer Post Housing Options Manager / TSU March 2019 Link in with TSU to ensure smooth transition of support. Develop referral process to identify those households that require transitional service. Measures in place to sustain tenancies. Pre-tenancy and transitional support service operational. 4.13 Identify and monitor the number of repeat homelessness presentation and the number of repeat requests for support. Housing Options Manager / TSU March 2019 Review homelessness presentations and identify repeat cases during 2017/18 Review TSU support cases and identify repeat requests for support during 2017/18 Reduce number of repeat homelessness presentation. Reduce number of repeat support cases. Objective 5: Providing robust responses to support rough sleepers and end the need for people to sleep rough. 5.1 Carry out a feasibility study to look at developing a holistic “solutions centre” for services for rough sleepers. Landlord Services Manager April 2021 Feasibility Study completed Options assessed Report to Cabinet Member Improve facilities for those who are vulnerably housed and sleeping rough. 5.2 Develop a Housing First approach to address the housing and support needs of homeless people and rough sleepers with the most complex needs. Operations Manager Community Housing / Supporting People Team April 2019 Carry out tendering exercise Housing First Project in place to support approx. 15 people per annum Reduce levels of rough sleeping in Swansea. 5.3 Increase emergency bed provision and ensure support and advice is provided to rough sleepers within 48 hours. Operations Manager Community Housing December 2019 Robust Rough Sleeping Intervention Team in place and providing support 7 days a week Develop additional emergency bed space Improve link between and emergency bed space and supporting housing projects (Gateway Officer Post) Reduce levels of rough sleeping in Swansea.
Ref Action required Responsible officer By When Key activities Outcome 5.4 Develop a multi-agency approach to serious incidents involving rough sleepers and other vulnerable groups. Operations Manager Community Housing June 2019 Agreement on approach from relevant partners Lessons learnt and service improvements identified across all agencies/organisations Robust safety protocol in place for rough sleepers. 5.5 Carry out an annual review of the Cold Weather Plan. Housing Options Manager September 2019 (annually) Annual review completed Relevant improvements identified and implemented Robust cold weather plan in place that offers appropriate protection for rough sleepers, and proactively helps them to access more suitable housing and support. 5.6 Develop information leaflet for general public and local authority Councillors on support available to assist rough sleepers. Operations Manager Community Housing October 2019 Consult with partners Produce leaflet Promote and disseminate information Increase awareness of assistance available to rough sleepers. 5.7 Develop a monitoring system to record the support needs and housing history of rough sleepers in order to accurately inform future service provision. Housing Options Manager / Casework Team Leader December 2019 Implementation of (Welsh Government’s) Street Homelessness Information Network (SHIN) Council rep. on national development group. Better information on the needs of rough sleepers available to identify effective interventions. 5.8 Work with HHAVGAP (Health of Homelessness and Vulnerable Groups Action Plan) to ensure implementation of Welsh Government’s Health Standards for Homeless and Vulnerable Groups. Senior Caseworker December 2019 On-going homelessness/housing representation on HHAVGAP Group Support implementation of action plan recommendations Improve health outcomes for rough sleepers and other vulnerable groups. 5.9 Review with Social Services/ABMU the need for rough sleepers and vulnerable households to have better access to health including mental health services. Operations Manager Community Housing December 2020 Consultation with service users and providers Hold discussions with health and social services Increased access to health services
Ref Action required Responsible officer By When Key activities Outcome 5.10 Carry out local qualitative research with former rough sleepers to identify the key factors that helped them obtain and maintain permanent housing. Operations Manager Community Housing December 2019 Consultation with service users Research report completed Better information in the needs of rough sleepers available to identify effective interventions.