Public reports pack PDF 3 MB - Blaby District Council

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4. Evidence and Findings
Leicestershire Approach
Under the Children’s Act 1989 local authorities have a primary duty to 16 -17 year olds who present as homeless. To ensure
homeless 16 -17 year olds do not fall between County’s Children’s Services and Blaby’s Housing Options teams, local authorities,
in the statutory guidance are advised to have a joint protocol which sets out how each department will work together.
The Bridge was chosen through the Chief Housing Officers Group using Regional Innovation and Efficiency Project (REIP) funding
to:
• develop a joint working protocol for Leicestershire local authorities and social services
• develop and roll out the Single Access Point model across Leicestershire.
The Leicestershire Multi-Wide Agency Protocol for 16-17 year old homeless was presented to the Chief Housing Officers Group in
November 2010 – Appendix 1
The Bridge, in Loughborough, (a voluntary agency providing homelessness prevention services via service level agreement to
Charnwood Borough Council) , operates what is known as a single access point for all 16-17 year olds with housing problems in
Charnwood. It is a reputable project with experience in providing support to homeless 16-17 year olds.
Single Access Point
Single Access Point (SAP) is a specialist homelessness prevention service which works with 16-17 year olds who are having
difficulties where they are living or are homeless. Its ethos is to provide effective and co-ordinated help to ensure that young
people get the best possible service to help prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place. When Scrutiny started this
work, The Bridge in Loughborough, funded by Charnwood Borough Council, was the only SAP in the County.
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