going places newsletter autumn 2008

Issue10:

Nov

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‘Focus on you’ResettlementServices

page 3

The FurnishedTenancyScheme

page 5

CharityChristmas Cardsnow on sale

page 16

Welcome...to the November, issue of the Going Places newsletter. Wehope you enjoy reading this newsletter. If you have anycomments or suggestions for articles for future issues, pleaseemail [email protected]

Check out the new ‘Skills for Life’training programme - Page 9

Housing Need and Support Service newsletter

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Accessing our services

ContentsHousing Options 0161 474 4237

Housing Options 0161 477 2626(Out of Hours)

Homechoice 0161 474 4567

Resettlement Team 0161 474 3772

Furniture Station 0161 456 0717

Wellspring 0161 477 6344

Housing Benefit 0845 644 4303

Job Centre Plus 0845 608 8526

Welfare Rights 0161 474 3093

Citizens Advice Bureau 0870 120 4040

Stockport Victim Support 0161 477 9597

Victim Support Line 0845 3030 900

Samaritans 0845 790 9090

Stockport Advice 0845 644 4307

NHS Direct 0845 46 47

Alcohol and Drugs Service 0161 249 4080

Disability Stockport 0161 480 7248

Stockport Refugee 0161 426 9101Support Group

Going Places - November 2008 Issue 10 www.stockporthomes.org

Focus on you

Fun and Games at the TemporaryAccommodation Expert Panel(TAEP)

The Furnished Tenancy Scheme

Case Study - Family InterventionProject

Practicing Excellence Event

Pinpoint Scheme

New ‘Skills for Life’ trainingprogramme

Service Standards

Case Study - Asylum Seeker Team

What’s going on at your scheme?

Facts and Figures

Quiz Corner

Repairs at TemporaryAccommodation Schemes

Christmas Cards

Useful numbers

If you would like a copy of thisnewsletter in large print, Braille,on audio tape or CD, pleasecontact the ServiceImprovement Team on 0161474 2860 or email:[email protected] free interpreting service isavailable if you need help withthis newsletter. Pleasetelephone StockportInterpreting Unit on0161 477 9000. [email protected]

Going Places - November 2008 Issue 10www.stockporthomes.org 3

FocusOn You

If you can answer yes to the above thencome along to ‘Focus On You’ and meetResettlement Officers and other people in asimilar position to you (and have somenice home made cakes!).

We are a friendly group who meet every couple ofmonths and talk about what we think of theResettlement service. We invite a guest speaker toevery meeting who offers essential information andadvice on a whole range of lifestyle issues.

Below are a few things we’ve done at previousmeetings.

• We designed this posterwhich is now up at all ofour offices.

• We made lots of changesto one of our forms tomake officers andservice-users safer.

• We had information and advice from GreaterManchester Fire Authority and got issued withsome smoke alarms.

We have a theme for every meeting. In March itwas Easter and we all enjoyed Chocolate Easternests and in June we had a summer theme andattendees got free sun cream.

Our next theme is ‘Hawaiian Christmas’ – soget your hula hoops and grass skirts at theready!

Venue: 1 St. Peter’s Square,Stockport

Date and Time: Friday 12 December 2008from 11.00am – 1.00pm.

Attendees can look forward to meeting all theResettlement Officers and a quiz, with aspecial Hawaiian prize. Please call0161 474 3771 or speak to your ResettlementOfficer to book a place.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Do you have a Resettlement or Tenancy Support Officer?

Would you like to tell us what you think about the service?

Would you like to meet other people who are also usingthe service?

And do you like home baking?

4 Going Places - November 2008 Issue 10 www.stockporthomes.org

The TAEP is a group of current andex-residents of TemporaryAccommodation who meet with staffwho work at the schemes to thinkabout how the service can be madebetter. We call it the Expert Panelbecause it’s all about listening to theopinions of the people who live andwork at our schemes – the experts.

The events help change and develop the services,but are organised to be fun and creative. Whenthe group last got together they made boardgames to illustrate how residents of TemporaryAccommodation (TA) can be supported into a newhome and what issues they may face on theirjourney there. Below are some of the tips from theboard games.

Ask as many questions as you can inone-to-one’s with your Project Worker, preparea list and remember no question is stupid!

If you have kids you need to make sure youget them into education whilst you are livingin TA as you can be fined or sent to court ifyou don’t.

Make sure you see the Resettlement Teamwhilst you’re at TA, they can help you applyfor grants, get utilities on and much more,help is there. They have a surgery at eachscheme every week so ask your ProjectWorker!

Everyone really enjoyed the day and attendeeshelped our Graphic Designer make the gameslook more professional. They will be put into eachTA scheme for everyone to play. It is hoped thatthe board games will provide residents of TA witha more interesting way of getting to know whatsupport is in place to help you into a new homeand what to expect along the way.

If you would like to come to the next TAEP,please speak to your Project Worker orStella Cook on 0161 218 1368. You don’tneed any special skills to come to thegroup, just an opinion!

The Finished Board Game


The FurnishedTenancy SchemeThe Furnished Tenancy Schemehas been running since 2000. Westarted off with six properties, thisrose to 36 by 2007, and we nowhave 82 furnished tenancies withanother six awaiting completion.The scheme furnishes almost oneproperty a week.

The aim of the service is to enable peoplethat:

• do not have furniture;

• do not have sufficient funds to purchasefurniture; and

• do not qualify for a community caregrant the ability to gain access tofurniture and white goods for their home.

By providing these essential itemsalongside resettlement support a tenant ismore likely to sustain their tenancy in thelong-term.

Furnished tenancies are available to anyStockport Homes’ tenant. A new, goodquality package of essential furniture andwhite goods will be delivered and installed,carpets fitted and curtains hung. Thefurniture package can be put in regardlessof how long a tenant has occupied theproperty.

The charge for the furniture is added ontothe rent account and can vary between£10 and £20 per week. If the tenant iseligible for housing benefit they may findthat there is either nothing, or very little topay each week as housing benefitgenerally covers the cost of the furniturepackage.

The Furnished Tenancy Officer willcomplete yearly audit visits to ensure thetenants are still happy with the packageand to see if any furniture needs to bereplaced due to wear and tear oraccidental damage.

For more information about FurnishedTenancies, please contact the ResettlementTeam on 0161 474 3772 or [email protected]


Family IntervCase StudyThe Family Intervention Project (FIP)works with families who are at risk oflosing their tenancy and / orenforcement action due to persistentnuisance and Anti-Social Behaviour.The case study below is an exampleof the type of cases the project dealswith.

Valerie was living in a Councilproperty with her partner,two sons and daughter.She had substantialrent arrears and wasat risk of losing hertenancy. Therewere also issues ofAnti-SocialBehaviour,fraudulent benefitclaims and non-attendance at schoolby the children. Thefamily were referred to theFamily Intervention Project bytheir Housing Officer. However,unfortunately the family were evicted beforeOfficers could start work with them andValerie’s partner subsequently left thefamily.

FIP Officers engaged with the family, thefirst and most important task being tosecure some form of accommodation forthe family. Officers negotiated with theHousing Options Team and securedTemporary Accommodation whilst other

options were explored. Privately rentedaccommodation proved to be the mostviable option for the family, but it was clearthat Valerie would not be able to find adeposit of one month’s rent that alllandlords require. Therefore, a referral wasmade to Stockport Homes’ Rent BondScheme, which provides a writtenguarantee to landlords up to the value of

one month’s rent.

Valerie was assigned a KeyWorker whilst living at

the TemporaryAccommodationscheme andreceived supporton a regular basiswhilst staying atthe scheme.

However, therewere several

incidents involvingValerie and other

residents which led toValerie and her family

eventually being evicted from thescheme, for health and safety reasons.

FIP Officers continued to explore optionsfor rehousing and assisted Valerie to viewone private rented property, but thelandlord decided against renting theproperty. Although Stockport Homes’ RentBond Scheme would assist Valerie in termsof providing a bond for the deposit, manylandlords also require one months rent inadvance, which Valerie did not have.

Going Places - November 2008 Issue 10 7

vention ProjectSo FIP officers explored other sources offunding. Officers assisted Valerie to viewanother privately rented property, but onthis occasion the landlord was requestingsix month’s rent in advance. Officers liaisedwith the landlord and letting agent andmanaged to reduce the rent in advancerequired to two months.

Officers liaised with a number of otheragencies and managed tosecure the financialassistance Valerieneeded in order to signfor this tenancy.

Once the familymoved into theproperty, issues oftruancy and Anti-Social Behaviourby the oldest childcontinued.

The Youth Offending Teamwere already involved with thechild and a referral was also made tothe Community Outreach Team for furthersupport. Unfortunately this provedunsuccessful and the eldest child wasplaced in a Young Offenders Institute dueto persistent offending behaviour.

FIP Officers continued to co-ordinate thesupport provided to the family by a rangeof services. Officers felt that Valerie wouldbenefit from parenting classes and areferral was completed.

Due to issues with the private rentedtenancy, which were no fault of Valerie orher family, she had to move again soOfficers again assisted her in securingalternative accommodation, rent inadvance and a bond to cover the deposit.

The eldest child has since been releasedfrom the Young Offenders Institute. He is

working closely with the YouthOffending Team and

Connexions. He is currentlyattending E2E on a

regular basis andthere is a possibilityof him gainingfull-timeemployment.

There have beenno reports of

nuisance or Anti-Social Behaviour and

an improvement in theyoungest child’s

attendance at school.

Valerie and her family are happilysettled in their accommodation andare making real efforts to make asuccess of the tenancy.

They continue to engage well withOfficers of the project and otheragencies and have really turned theirlives around.


PracticingExcellence Event

Stockport Homes is committed to thedelivery of excellent services to itscustomers and regards servicedevelopment and improvement as anintegral part of it’s day-to-day work.

A series of ‘Practicing Excellence’ events havebeen delivered by a wide range of service areaswithin Stockport Homes and in May it was theturn of the Housing Options and ResettlementTeams to host an event.

The event was attended by representatives from awide range of organisations and agencies workingwithin Stockport.

The aims of the event were for delegates to:

• assess the team’s performance;

• identify gaps in provision;

• consider new ways of working; and

• develop actions to further develop andimprove services.

Delegates were asked to consider theperformance of the services by reference to theAudit Commission’s Key Lines of Enquiry, whichprovides services with a guide as to what isexpected from an excellent service.

Delegates were also asked to consider a series oftypical case studies of situations that the servicesdeal with on a regular basis and asked specificallywhat can be done to prevent homelessness inthose situations, what barriers exist for people interms of receiving the help they need and who arethe key agencies that should be involved.

The event provoked lively debate anddelegates made some interesting andvaluable suggestions as to how servicescould be improved further. Thesesuggestions have been captured in amulti-agency action plan which a range ofservices are now working towards.


Stockport Homes, along with nine of the otherGreater Manchester local authorities, plusRegistered Social Landlords (RSL’s) are nowsigned up to Pinpoint – a region-wideChoice-Based Lettings (CBL) scheme.

Pinpoint provides a one-stop shop for thoselooking to move home across Greater Manchester.With Pinpoint offering a seamless service it willsoon be easier than ever to move from one localauthority area to another to be closer to work orfamily.

The scheme launches in Stockport on3 November 2008.

For more information, please visitwww.pinpoint.org.uk. Alternatively, pleasecontact the Homechoice Team on0161 474 4567, [email protected] or visitwww.stockporthomes.org/homechoice

Moving from A to B isnow as easy as A, B, C

New Skills for Life programme!The new Skills for Life programme offree customer training courses is nowavailable. You can pick up a copy ofthe leaflet from your TemporaryAccommodation Schemes, AreaHousing Offices, the HousingInformation Centre or you candownload it from your websitewww.stockporthomes.org

To book your place on one of the courses,please contact Stella Cook, CustomerInvolvement Officer on 0161 218 1368.


Service StandardsBelow are the Service Standards for Housing Options,Resettlement and Temporary Accommodation.

Standard

Keep average waiting times for those with an appointment tosee a Housing Advice Officer below 10 minutes

Provide written confirmation of the outcome of Housing Options/ Homelessness interviews

Make homelessness decisions within 33 working days

Visit rough sleepers within 24 hours of notification

Assess everyone referred to us within three working days

If we cannot help, we will send a letter explaining why within5 working days

You will be given an information pack on signing up to theservice containing information local to your area

We will make an initial assessment of your needs when yousign-up to the service

Initial completion of the Support Plan will be undertaken atsign-up or within 10 working days afterwards

Provide accommodation that is safe, clean and meets theTemporary Accommodation Re-let Standard

Ensure that the reception and communal areas are clean, tidyand safe

Maintain appropriate standards of safety and securitythroughout the accommodation

Make an appointment with each new resident to explain theservices available to them within the scheme

Provide all residents with a needs assessment interview withintwo weeks of entering the scheme

Hold regular resident meetings, at least every six weeks andmore often as necessary and provide feedback to service-usersfrom each meeting

We are keen to hear what you, our customers, would like us to monitor and report on.Please let us know what you think, by contacting us using the details on page 2.

Target

below 10 mins

100%

85%

100%

95%

95%

100%

95%

95%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Outcome(April 2008 -

September 2008)

4 mins

100%

79%

100%

100%

100%

100%

98%

97%

100%

100%

95%

99%

85%

100%


Asylum Seeker TeamCaseStudyStockport Homes’ AsylumSeeker Team provide practicalsupport and assistance tohouseholds who have fled theirhome countries and soughtasylum in the UK. The case studybelow is an example of the typeof households that aresupported.

Sam* and his family lived in Burma. Both Sam, hismother and other members of the family wereinvolved in political activities, specificallycampaigning against the government and raisingawareness of humanitarian issues within Burma.Sam’s mother was imprisoned for her politicalactivities, without trial, on a number of occasionsand suffered considerably at the hands of thegovernment. Following her release from prisonafter two years, and with the help of agents,Sam’s mother managed to leave Burma and seekasylum in the USA.

Sam was subsequently arrested by military policeand imprisoned. He was interrogated and torturedbut eventually released on condition that heceased his involvement with any politicalcampaigning against the Burmese government.However both Sam and his brother continued withtheir political campaigning, both being imprisoned,tortured and released without trial on a number ofoccasions. Tragically on the subsequent arrest ofSam’s brother, he was tortured and abused anddied as a result of his injuries.

Following his brother’s death and further raids bythe military police, Sam feared for his safety andthat of his family. He therefore fled Burma, andwith the help of agents, travelled to the UK wherehe claimed asylum in November 2007.

* Not their real name

The family moved into a property in Stockport bythe United Kingdom Borders Agency. Whilst theirapplication for asylum was being considered, thefamily received support and monthly visits from theAsylum Team. In May 2008 the family weregranted leave to remain in the UK. The AsylumTeam then supported the family to move intotemporary accommodation. Permanentaccommodation was secured in September 2008,at which point a Resettlement Officer, workingspecifically with households from a Black MinorityEthnic (BME) and Refugee communities, wasassigned to support the family.

The Resettlement Officer visited the family on aweekly basis within their new home and assistedthem to set up home and settle into the localcommunity. Such support included help to applyfor a community care grant so the family had thefinancial means to purchase basic furniture andwhite goods to set up home. The ResettlementOfficer also assisted the family with benefits andthe setting up of payment plans and direct debitsfor utilities.

Both Sam and his wife have also been supportedto attend Stockport College and are activelyseeking employment opportunities. The familyhave settled in well to their home and the localcommunity. Sam’s mother continues to live in theUSA.


What’s going on at yourBuxton Road CentreResidents get fit

Staff and residents at the Buxton RoadCentre took part in ‘Street Soccer’, afootball training initiative which started on31 July, run by Manchester City Missionand Stockport Sports Trust. All residentssay they enjoy the weekly football sessions,meeting new people and working as partof a team. They said they enjoyedsocialising with others who enjoy the sport,and being involved in something whereeveryone involved has respect for eachother. Residents Chris and Alex have saidthat their fitness has improved and so hastheir sleep routine. The coaching sessionsare free, and with FA qualified coaches.The residents can also access thecoaching sessions after they move out ofthe Buxton Road Centre.

Julie Gordon, Project Worker said,

“It’s good to see the residentsbeing involved in events in thewider community, and having theopportunity to take their skillsforward.”

Bingo Fun at Strathclyde“HOUSE!”

Residents at Strathclyde House have beenenjoying weekly bingo sessionsOne of the residents said,

“At Strathclyde House mysuggestions were taken on board atall the meetings, which includedBingo nights for people atStrathclyde House to meet up andget to know each other and to alsowin prizes to help them when theymove out of the scheme, such ascan openers and potato peelers,things that really help when youhave nothing.”

Recently staff have written to localcompanies and asked for donations whichhave included toiletries and vouchers froma local supermarket, which make for reallyuseful prizes. Two regular residents atbingo night added “we look forward tobingo night, it makes for a goodatmosphere in the scheme and weenjoy the useful prizes!”


r scheme?Brindale HouseHatworks Trip

Brindale House staff organised a trip for allresidents at the scheme, to go to the HatWorks in Stockport, on Monday 4 August.

The day out was completely free to allresidents and included return transport tothe museum. During the Spring months,staff at Brindale House were consultingwith residents, as to what activities andtrips they wanted to partake in over theSummer holidays. The Hat Works was afirm favourite with many of the residents.

The Hat Works is the UK’s only museumdedicated solely to the hatting industry,hats and headwear and was developed asa lottery funded regeneration project inStockport, one of Manchester's leadinghatting towns.

Those who attended the trip were able to:

• experience an interactive tour around themuseum;

• watch live demonstrations of workingmachinery;

• view the extensive collection of hats andaudio-visual shows; and

• visit the themed gift shops and cafes.

Those with an artistic flare could take partin some of the interactive activities goingon such as:

• ‘Funky Felt Jewellery Making’;

• designing lighthouses and windmills;

• making ‘Summer Fruit Hats’; and

• silk painting.

The day was enjoyed by all who attendedthe trip, and staff will be running artsessions back at the scheme for all thosewho want to ‘Make a Hat’.


Facts and figures(April 2008 to September 2008)Housing Options Service

Total number of decisions about homelessnessFull-duty decisionsNon-priority decisionsMain reasons for homelessness

• Asked to leave by parents• Domestic violence• Loss of private rented tenancy

Number of visitors to the Housing Information CentreAverage wait for an interview% of customers from a black or minority ethnic (BME) backgroundAverage number of days to answer letters

Temporary AccommodationScheme

FamiliesSingle menSingle women /mums and babies

Numberaccommodated1076843

% from BMEgroups9.3%5.2%11.5%

Average length of stay(days)7310468

Resettlement Service

252 households (including individuals) were referred to us for resettlement or tenancy support6177 hours of support were provided to 165 households1116 visits to service-users in their homes were completed202 households received a full package of support (including home visits).

At the end of this period, of the 202 cases closed:

80 have completed a package of support and aresuccessfully resettled

97 remain in their properties but have decided not tocontinue using the service

21 have been admitted to hospital, long-term

2 have died

1 has been evicted

1 has lost contact with the service

1357651

311412

144125 mins

7%?


Can you find find these words in the wordsearch?

resettlementfurniture stationrentbondfurnished tenancieshousing benefitcouncil taxeducationtrainingmediation

budgetingadvicefamilyinterventionprojectcommunityasylumrent arrears

QuizCorner

Inthis issue

wehave

includedawordsearch.!

Thereisa£20

prizefor the

winner!

Giveyour com

pletedwordsearch

toStella

Cook.

Keepyour eye

out for theanswers, which

wewill include

inthe

next issueof ‘Going

Places’.


Repairs at TemporaryAccommodation SchemesMaking the Temporary Accommodation Schemes pleasant and safe places to live depends uponmaking sure repairs are done to a high standard and on time. To help with this, residents are involved inhealth and safety checks and encouraged to report faults whenever they see them and are involved inmonitoring performance and making suggestions for improvements to the repairs process.

TemporaryAccommodation Scheme

Brindale HouseBuxton RoadStrathclyde HouseOverall

Total repairsordered

58111988

Orders completedwithin target

49101372

%

84%91%68%82%

(May 2008 – December 2008)Please report any repairs at the Temporary Accommodation schemes to your Project Worker.

Thank you to everyone who entered our Christmas card competition. All entrantsreceived a box of chocolates. The four winning designs have now been chosen and made into a packof 12 Charity Christmas Cards (three of each design). The winners are pictured below receiving theirvouchers. The Christmas Cards are being sold in packs of 12 for £2.50. If you areinterested in buying any packs of cards, please contact your Project Worker. All monies raisedfrom the sale of these cards will be used to support future projects at StockportHomes’ Temporary Accommodation Schemes.

going places newsletter autumn 2008

Documents

stockport advice

stockport victim support

theresettlement service

support groupgoing places

going places newsletter

stockport refugee

disability stockport

drugs service