Supported Accommodation Services
Homeless young people are vulnerable to many problems including poor physical and mental health, drug and alcohol addiction, loneliness, fear and threats to their lives. Homeless young women with children face a bleak future.
The Catholic Children’s Rescue Society Supported Accommodation Service exists to offer a safe, secure and nurturing environment for young women and their babies.
Our three projects are based in Manchester, Blackburn and Bolton and consist of self-contained flats. They provide a family atmosphere for those who are often alienated from their own families or have experienced violence, disruption or loss.
The main aim of the work is to provide a safe, friendly and secure environment where the young women can regain control of their lives and are assisted in moving on to more independent living in their own right. This is our accommodation service. We also provide resettlement and aftercare support. To find out more about each of these three services please read our Accommodation or Aftercare sections.
Accommodation Service and How It Works
Once the young woman has been accepted, she is allocated a Key Worker and an Assessment of Need and Risk is undertaken which leads to a Support Plan being compiled. The young woman is central to all of this and the plan takes into account her domestic, social, personal and care needs as well as those of her child(ren). For example, cooking, budgeting, general housekeeping, keeping appointments and attending clinics and dealing with Benefits Agencies.
The Key Worker works closely with the young woman and a review of the Support Plan is held on a regular basis. This meeting can include relatives, partner/boyfriend and appropriate professionals. This is to ensure the young woman is benefiting as much as possible from her stay with us. Each project has a team of workers providing 24 hour support.
Access to the service
Access to the service is via a referral system. We do not accept emergencies and are not a direct access service as such, although we can admit a young woman at short notice if we have space and can meet her needs.
Staff Teams
The Service is managed by a Service Manager and each project has an Officer in Charge, a Deputy and a team of Support Workers. There is a minimum of one member of staff on duty during the day and sleep-in cover is provided during the night.
Finance
These units are financed through the Government’s Supporting People Strategy and purchased at a local level by the Supporting People Commission within each Local Authority where a project is based. Housing Benefit is also part of the funding package which we claim on behalf of the young woman. However, we also fundraise for holidays, outings and leisure activities. If you wish to help, we are always very grateful for any financial support. Please click here to find out more about supporting us.