2. Your home
Accommodation and the ability to cope with independent living is one of the biggest concerns for many young people leaving care.
To help you in your transition from leaving care to living independently, we can provide various options:
Semi-independence units and supported flats
Oldham Council partners with Great Places Housing Group to provide semi-independence units and supported flats.
Referrals
The accommodation is just for looked after young people and care leavers and a referral is completed by your after care social worker and places are allocated when vacancies arise.
You will sign an agreement and have a licence for the semi-independence units and a shorthold assured tenancy for the flats.
Semi-independence units
Hawthorne Crescent, Fitton Hill
Hawthorne Crescent in Fitton Hill has five self-contained rooms, one of which is used as emergency accommodation.
Suffolk Street in Werneth has six self-contained units. The units are owned by Great Places and managed by the Oldham After Care Team with 24 hours staffing. One bedroom is used as emergency accommodation.
Both accommodation provides you with
- further steps towards independence
- 24-hour residential support workers
- a key worker who provides support and links into the after care worker
- weekly budgeting (includes shopping, bus pass and other bill payments)
- support to help develop independence skills such as cooking, cleaning and laundry
- an individual Pathway/Support Plan that identifies where support is needed
- A package of support which is reviewed regularly to meet the young person’s needs
- their own tenancy
- the option to attend the many after care groups and social activities
- regular support meetings, supported by a manager.
Supported flats
Oldham also has three supported housing projects – Ripponden Road (four flats), Goddard Street (six flats) and Clyde Street (three flats, training room and office).
You will have shorthold assured tenancies for an agreed length of time.
Support is provided by staff from the semi-independence units, dependent on individual need.
Training
As a resident you are encouraged to develop the life skills needed to live independently by learning to budget, how to pay bills and claim benefits, form filling, cooking and cleaning, being a positive neighbour and developing support networks in the community.
These skills are not linked to accreditation but you will have to complete housing tenancy training before being offered a property by housing providers.
Sustainability
Whilst you are in supported housing and do have your own tenancy the aim is to provide you with a realistic idea of managing independently and help develop the necessary life skills needed for when you move on.
You are set up with payment plans that include their responsibility to pay bills, for example; water, TV licence and electric. We expect you to follow the tenancy agreement and abide by the “rules”.
Staying Put (foster care)
Are you living with foster carers and want to stay with them after you are 18? You may be able to have a Staying Put arrangement.
You can ask your social worker or pathway adviser to ask the Council to look into this.
These arrangements can also be continued if you are attending full-time higher education. This is to make sure that you have somewhere to stay during holidays.
Further housing support available
To help you prepare for adult life, we will support you to complete a:
- social housing application
- and/or to secure private rented accommodation in line with your wishes and your Pathway Plan
We will also offer you support to make a Housing Benefit claim if you are on low income or not in work.
Young People (under 25s) normally get rent payments at the cost of a room in a shared house.
Care Leavers (between 18 and 21) can get the rate for a one bedroom instead.
When you turn 22, you can only get the shared accommodation amount.
Be aware of this if you are moving to a new home.
As a Care Leaver you may also be entitled to:
- Council Tax exemption up until the age of 21 years
- or a reduction in council tax through Second Adult Rebate.
Like Housing Benefit, you can qualify for Council Tax Benefit if you are not working or on a low income.
If you have savings of over £16,000 you cannot normally get this benefit.
All your benefit entitlements will need to be confirmed with the Benefits Agency.
Your Personal Advisor will be there as always to support you to attend appointments as needed.
Setting up home allowance
When you first move into your own place you are entitled to a setting up home grant of £2,000, this will help you to get started with furniture and decorating.
You social worker or personal advisor can help you buy any of these items.
They can also help you if you require a TV (and a TV licence for the first year only).
The grant can be used for:
- TV
- TV Stand
- Washing machine
- Fridge/freezer
- Plates/dishes
- Chopping boards
- Laundry basket
- Tea, coffee, sugar pots
- Measuring jug
- Iron and ironing board
- Bin
- Cooking utensils
- Cooker
- Microwave
- Toaster
- Kettle
- Table and chairs
- Toaster
- Pans
- Cups and glasses
- Cutlery
- Tea towels
- Washing up bowl
- Sofa
- Lamps
- Carpet
- Mirror
- Clock
- Curtains
- Bed and mattress
- Bedding, pillows and duvet
- Bedroom furniture
- Towels
- Shower curtain
- Bath mat
- Soap holder