Public reports pack PDF 3 MB - Blaby District Council

APPENDIX 3
Blaby District Council Homelessness Case Study (an amalgamation of two
cases)
AJ – a 17 year old male.
AJ approached the Council Housing Options Team having been asked to leave a
hostel due to his behaviour.
He approached the Housing Options Team late having been to Social Services at
Bassett Street, South Wigston for advice. Initially he had been told by Social
Services duty officer to go to Leicester City Council for housing help. He had been
there but had been referred to Blaby as he in fact had no connection with Leicester,
having lived in Blaby for several years.
On presenting to the Housing Options Team, initial details of his circumstances were
taken. His mum confirmed that she was not willing to have him at home due to his
behaviour.
It appeared that AJ had spent several nights sleeping rough and was suffering from
ill health. He was tired, hungry and crying. It also transpired that AJ had had contact
previously with Social Services and had in fact been placed in temporary
accommodation by them for a considerable while having experienced problems
when living with his father.
In addition, AJ had mental health problems including self-harm and history of suicide
attempts, had a poor relationship with both parents, had a long history of social
services involvement with his family, educational welfare issues, increasing offending
and a relationship breakdown with his partner.
As it appeared that AJ had already been assessed and accommodated by Social
Services, a copy of the Child in Need assessment was requested.
In the meantime, a deal was brokered for placing AJ temporarily with his mum
pending the outcome of his application.
At first, Social Services denied that any assessment had been carried out or that AJ
had been accommodated by them.
AJ informed us that Social Services had placed him in B+B and then found him a
hostel space. He was given money by Social Services to help buy food and clothing.
This led us to believe that AJ had been in receipt of accommodation and support
from Social Services because he was a child in need.
When that was denied, we requested a further assessment of AJ. This assessment
was allegedly carried out on 5 th October without Social Services seeing AJ or
updating the information they held. We were informed that AJ had been assessed
as NOT a child in need and therefore, not in need of accommodation or support
provided by Social Services.
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