Address
SalaryFostering Duty & Supported Lodgings Team Manager
Management of the Supported Lodgings Scheme
What is Supported Lodgings?
Nationally, Supported Lodgings is a service that provides a young person (aged 16 to 25), with a room of their own, in a private home, where they are a member of the household, but are not expected to become a member of the family. BCP’s Supported Lodgings Services had a well-established Supported Lodgings Service, which offered a range of support packages to young people aged 16+. This was from Supported Lodgings in its purest sense as described above, to caring for UASC, supporting young parents and offering high level support to young people stepping down from residential care.
While the Supported Lodgings scheme is identified as semi-independent, all BCP Supported Lodgings Carers undertake an assessment and are approved through the Fostering Panel process, they have full DBS checks, personal references are obtained, statutory checks are completed, they undertake a basic medical and receive training and support through the Supported Lodgings Team. Supported Lodgings carers offer a range of support and care needs, including young people with additional complex needs stepping down from high-cost residential placements, former UASC and young people who also have lower-level support needs, but who require additional support and confidence building in order to live independently. Supported Lodgings carers receive a structured supervision visit every four weeks (this is increased if needed), have access to the full fostering training and development programme and also receive support through specific support groups. Staff supervising Supported Lodgings carers have four weekly supervision with their Team Manager, which is recorded on Mosaic.
An Ofsted national system of regulation and inspection expected for full implementation in April 2024 there is the opportunity to rebuild BCP’s Supported Lodgings Scheme and this will facilitate the placements of 16+ with Supported Lodgings Carers.
With new regulations being introduced, the DfE will: implement mandatory national standards for provision that accommodates 16-and 17-year-old looked-after children and care leavers
- introduce requirements for providers to register and be inspected by Ofsted
- call this provision ‘supported accommodation for young people’
- The registration and regulation of the Supported Lodgings scheme will reflect the current standard and processes in Fostering. The team needs to progress with ensuring that BCP’s Supported Lodgings scheme will be Ofsted complaint. This is a substantial undertaking, and all outstanding documentation is currently being developed. Support from the Southwest Consulting has been requested through Commissioning.
Always There Carers
It was identified there is an unmet need to offer additional support to the Care Experienced Young People living in private accommodation. Through our joint working with the Housing Pathways Panel and Care Experienced Young Peoples Team the Fostering and Supported Lodgings service have developed 1:1 outreach support as part of a wraparound package to ensure the young person is able to sustain their accommodation. We have identified Supported Lodgings Carers & Foster Carers who have been willing to deliver these bespoke support packages. This model mirrors the support 18-year-olds leaving family homes would expect, i.e. dropping around to mum to get your laundry done, being invited around for Sunday dinner, and spending Christmas and/or special occasions at home.
A2B (Alternative to BnB Carers)
Supported Lodgings Carers offer temporary accommodation to Care Experienced Young People who would otherwise find themselves having to access accommodation, either in the form of Bed and Breakfast or HMO via homeless legislation. Care Leavers accessing this scheme are identified by housing and community services alongside the Care Experienced Young People’s Team as needing supported housing. This enables otherwise vulnerable Care Experienced Young People to be in a supportive home environment while suitable long term housing arrangements are sourced.
Supported Lodgings Responsibilities
Manage a team of Supported Lodgings Workers who:
- Recruit, Assess & Supervise BCP Supported Lodgings Carers
- Always There Scheme
- Alternative to BnB Scheme
Fostering Duty Responsibilities:
The Fostering Duty & SL Manager directly line manage the Fostering Service Accommodation Officer who:
- Manages all in house placement referrals
- Matching new referrals to placements
- Undertake risk assessments and complete matching documents
- Compiling the Carer’s Out of Hours/Retained Carer rota
- In House Residential Step Downs
- In house sufficiency and forecasting
For an informal discussion please contact Service Manager In House Fostering, Private Fostering and Supported Lodgings Service at rubina.payne@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
About BCP Council
BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world-renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, word-class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.
Our Benefits
We offer an excellent benefits package for further details see here
As a result of the creation of BCP Council in 2019, we are working on simplifying our terms and conditions of service and will be creating a single pay structure which is to be applicable for all employees. It is important to us that we offer benefits that our colleagues value as part of their total employment package and we are reviewing these to make sure we have it right. We are in the process of establishing a timescale for implementation and colleagues joining us will be included in these changes. Expected to be in place 2024.
DBS
BCP Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the community and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Applicants to this post will be required to complete the appropriate level of Disclosure & Barring Service Check. Please refer to the Job Description or Role Profile for more details.
