Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the credible offer policy and the following point was made:

• The draft Credible Officer Policy had been designed to ensure that an equitable, effective and transparent approach was taken in the delivery of service offers to rough sleepers.  In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping advised that service users would only be offered accommodation outside Greater London where they had a strong and safe connection to a particular location or where their individual needs could only be met outside London.  Service users would not be placed outside Greater London unless they agreed, and all accommodation would be considered unsafe and/or unsuitable for placement until an assessment had positively determined its safety and suitability.  A Member commended officers for an excellent policy and highlighted the importance of accommodating individuals in areas where they had the opportunity to develop social capital and engage with the community.

RESOLVED, that the Community and Children’s Services Committee be recommended to approve the draft Credible Offer Policy.