Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the impact of the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Social Worker role and the following points were made:

·         The Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Social Worker role had been created to address the need for specialist social work input for clients who were homeless or sleeping rough in the City of London, as well as to act as a bridge between the Adult Social Care Team and the Homelessness Service.  The postholder had started in February 2021 and was currently managing a caseload of 15-20 individuals comprising those sleeping rough, those experiencing homelessness in temporary or hostel accommodation and those at risk of homelessness or who had recently moved into accommodation.  Alongside statutory work, the Social Worker was undertaking a range of non-statutory work for individuals who did not meet the threshold for support under the Care Act 2014, including use of the Adult Social Care Early Intervention pilot and participation in multi-agency meetings. Future planned work included a monthly early shift with the Outreach team, arranging a regular drop-in advice and discussion session with the Outreach and City Assessment Service Teams and building stronger multi-agency links across this service area. 

·         In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Homelessness, Prevention and Rough Sleeping confirmed that this post had been funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as a one-year fixed term contract, but that it was hoped to make it a permanent role as part of a best practice model for other local authorities.  A Committee Member queried how individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds were being supported and the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Social Worker advised that some individuals qualified for statutory support from other local authorities and that it was possible to apply for funds to meet the care and support needs of non-qualifying individuals.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.