Centrepoint Preventative Services

Preventative services Prevention is Better than Cure! ‘….our systems for addressing housing need amongst young people are predicated on crisis. Despite knowing that young people will make some sort of transition to adulthood and for some this will be harder than others, we still largely wait for the crisis to happen before services are offered.’ St Basils – Developing Positive Pathways to Adulthood

Prevention Aims To identify young people at risk of homelessness and provide support at different points within this cycle. Ensuring young people are equipped with the skills needed to sustain their accommodation and progress into a situation where by the risk of repeat homelessness is reduced. Aims Support young people at a number of different points Those at risk of homelessness Origins and Development- YEP & LW- Successfully running for 6 years Mediation- Responding to need in Sunderland and Co Durham, Young people at risk and those found to be homeless. Evolved 2015 into prevention with all sharing the common aim and working well to complement each other. Areas of work Solid relationships in the following areas Prisons Youth offending Teams Schools Colleges University Supported Accommodations

Preventative Services At risk early on in the family home Awareness raising Independent Living Skills Family Mediation Preparation for independent living Further Independent Living skills Mediation Struggling to sustain independent living Further Lifewise & intensive support in areas of difficulty Onwards referral for additional support Supporting young people at three levels; At risk early on in the family home- Raising awareness of the issues and providing education on services available (YEP) Providing skills to support place in home (Lifewise, e.g. Equality & Diversity, Rights and Responsibilities, Drugs & Alcohol) Family Mediation Preparation for independent living- Further skills support through Lifewise (Money management, cooking and nutrition, home safety) Mediation (what relationship can there be & how can this support independence) Struggling to sustain independent living- Further Lifewise & intensive support in areas of difficulty

Youth Educators 16- 25 with homelessness experience. The Youth Educators Project trains young people who have experienced homelessness, to deliver awareness sessions . High level of support provided to those wishing to progress their skills and become Youth Educators . Awareness sessions to young people and professionals. Empowers young people to draw on their own experience to deliver the sessions.

Lifewise 14- 25 AQA accredited unit award. Practical units supported with activities to reinforce learning. 6 months aftercare support. Progress self assessed to help individual identify personal achievements. Support to gain further EET opportunities. AQA Accredited Unit award Health, Nutrition and cooking, Sexual Health, Drug & Alcohol awareness. Home Safety, Bill Payment, E&D, Rights and responsibilities, to support Yp's to sustain tenancy and in becoming a good neighbour. 6 Months aftercare Additional optional support provided to ensure Yp's are able to go on successfully using their new skills. This allows young people to access support if they feel like they are encountering difficulties. Can involve additional support around EET, accommodation and signposting/ referring onwards.

Family Mediation 14- 21 Impartial service Confidential Opportunity to identify and resolve issues. Support relationships without compulsory return to family home and achieve outcome in the best interest of the young person. Additional access to other Prevention services. Additional access to other Prevention services -Young people accessing Mediation will be able to access Lifewise to support them further and prepare for any eventuality. Skills gained through Lifewise can help yp when remaining in the family home or moving on into independent living. - Those appropriate and wishing to can also go on to train to become a Youth Educator, gaining skills that will enable them to share their experience with others in an awareness raising setting.

Capacity to meet demand Defining Prevention Challenges Funding Capacity to meet demand Defining Prevention Measuring Outcomes / Proving Homelessness has been prevented? Used to be a team of 4 – Northern Rock Funding etc LA funding challenges What is prevention – wide range of interventions – floating support, RDGS etc How can we track people for years – how can we predict what might have happened without the intervention?