Joint Working Protocol for Offenders

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Joint Working Protocol for Offenders

• Sarah Smith
• Partnerships Unit
• Staffordshire Probation Area

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NOMS

• NOMS is the totality of all services provided to
  adult offenders across England Wales and
  includes all custody, supervision, rehabilitation
  interventions.
• Aims
• A reduction in re-offending
• Rehabilitation services for offenders that match
  their individual needs
• A stabilisation in the growth of the prison
  population

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Reducing Re-Offending Framework
Regional Reducing Re-offending Strategies Case
Management Risk Information Sharing
Enforcement Priority Prolific offenders
18-20s Women
E T E
A c c o m o d a t i o n
D r u g s / A l c o h o l
H e a l t h
B e n e f i t s / D e b t
P r o g r a m m e s
C F h a I m l i d l r
i e e n s
L I f e s k i l l s
Interventions
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Why Accommodation?

• Offenders who are released homeless are more
  likely to be re-convicted
• Up to a third of prisoners lose their housing
  during custody
• Having a stable secure address is
• crucial to access other support services
• to maintain employment
• Poor access to housing on release
• Blanket bans on all ex-offenders
• Rent Arrears
• Lack of suitable/stable accommodation

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Barriers and Gaps

• Accountability for delivering services to
  offenders should rest with mainstream
  departments/ agencies.
• Accommodation Outcomes are devolved to 370
  Local Authorities
• Strategic representation of offenders needs at a
  local level has to take place with each
  individual Local Authority.
• Only certain groups of Offenders are given
  priority status they still have to meet
  qualifying criteria must compete for resources
  with other community groups i.e. elderly.
• Use of non statutory provision?

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Accommodation Intervention Pathway
S P E L N A T N E N N I C N E G
P R R R E E E L V E I A
E S W E
R E L P E L A A S N E
P R E S E N T E N C E
O A S y s / A S S E T
J O B C
H A O S U S S E I S N S G M E
N T
PRISON
Tenancy Sustainment
Tenancy Closure
Housing Advice/Support
COMMUNITY
Data Monitoring Point
Data Monitoring Point
ACCCOMMODATION GATEWAY
Probation Approved Accommodation
Local Authorities Supporting People Homelessness R
egional Housing Boards Regional Housing
Corporation Drug Action Teams Health Local
Strategic Partnerships MAPPPs
Data Monitoring Point
Social Landlords Housing Associations Private
Landlords Hostels Other Local Accommodation
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Community Gateway
C G O A M T M E U W N A I Y T Y
S T R A T E G I C
M A P P P
Regional Housing Boards Regional Housing
Corporation Delivery Managers Government Office
Housing/Accommodation Providers Social Landlords,
Housing Associations, Private Landlords,
Hostels, Other Local Accommodation
Local Authorities Supporting People
Homelessness Units
Other Local Partners Drug Action Teams(CJIP),
Health, YOT, Local Strategic Partnerships
D E L I V E R Y
Data and Monitoring
Housing Advice and Assessment
Placement
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SPA Strategic Representation Partnerships Unit

• Regional Housing Boards
• Regional Housing Corporation
• Delivery Managers
• Government Office

• Housing/Accommodation Providers
• Social Landlords, Housing Associations, Private
• Landlords, Hostels, Other Local Accommodation

• Local Authorities
• Supporting People
• Homelessness Units

• Other Local Partners
• Drug Action Teams (CJIP), Health, YOT,
• Local Strategic Partnerships

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SPA Delivery - Accommodation Unit

• Two full time Accommodation Officers (N S) who
  are each supported by a part-time Team Assistant.
  
• Resettlement of offenders via
• - provision of housing advice and information
• - referral to hostels supported housing
• - support with housing / support applications

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SPA Delivery - Accommodation Unit

• Referrals from Offender Managers
• Referrals made to individual housing providers
  based upon
• - full housing needs assessment
• - risk factors public protection requirements
• Work closely with supported housing projects
• e.g. ARCH, PHA, YMCA, Bethany, Focus, Heantun,
  Stonham and NACRO
• Also local housing authorities and large RSLs

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SPA Delivery - Accommodation Unit

• 1 April 2003 31 March 2004
• 833 referrals (27 of total SPA caseload) and 223
  enquiries received during 2003/04
• 70 (n584) of referrals were homeless or
  threatened with homelessness at the time of
  referral

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Role of Approved Premises

• Managing risk and protecting the public.
• Approved premises will continue to specialise,
  focusing on high risk offenders and work with
  MAPPA.
• A range of different services to be developed by
  the approved premises estate to meet differing
  needs rather than a 'one size fits all' approach.
  Split males females.
• Public awareness raising campaign highlighting
  the benefits of appropriate housing who pose a
  higher risk.
• There is a new field of expertise developing in
  relation to accommodation of this specific client
  group and highlighted floating support schemes
  with surveillance e.g. Staffordshire Intensive
  Floating Support Scheme

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SPA Strategic Representation -Supporting People
Joint Commissioning
Bethany Project, Stafford
Potteries HA, Stoke
Focus HA, Lichfield
Heantun HA, Cannock
Stonham HA, Burton
Supporting People Funding
YMCA, Rugeley
Intensive Floating Support Scheme for High Risk
Offenders (PPLO)
ARCH, North Staffs
NACRO, Stoke Stafford
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Mainstream Housing

• Local Housing Authorities
• Housing Associations
• Registered Social Landlords
• Private Landlords

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Homelessness Act 2002

• Extension of priority need groups
• - all under 18s- all 18-21s who were in care-
  over 21s vulnerable after care - vulnerable
  after leaving prison- vulnerable after leaving
  forces- vulnerable because of violence or
  threats of violence
• The right to be considered for housing i.e. to
  go on the list
• The right to information about how application
  will be treated
• Allocations no blanket exclusions - but can be
  ineligible or suspended for unacceptable
  behaviour
• Could lead to no offer for homeless applicant,
  right to review

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Implications for Offenders

• Changes in priority need groups- will include
  young offenders- will include some leaving
  prison- could include some with drug/ alcohol
  mental health needs
• Advice and assistance- assessment of need for
  all applicants not intentional homeless
• End to exclusions- unacceptable behaviour must
  be current- LHA/RSLs should review all those
  excluded from waiting list
• Prevention of homelessness - people leaving
  prison- help to sustain tenancies

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Housing Application
Local Connection

• Test of Suitability

Choice Based Lettings System
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Homelessness Application
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Offender Housing Protocol - Need

• Given that Local Authorities and Housing
  Providers will be required to house increasing
  numbers of offenders what can we do to help?
• Commonly cited problems
• - lack of information
• - no risk assessment
• - unsuitable referrals
• - no contact point within probation

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Offender Housing Protocol - Content

• Outlines the procedure for dealing with offender
  housing applications in Staffordshire
• Nominated officers
• Allows relevant information to be shared between
  Staffordshire Probation Area and housing agencies
• Standardised covering letter
• Standardised homelessness pro forma / housing
  application form
• Full risk assessment
• MAPPA Prolific Offenders

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Offender Housing Protocol - Outcomes

• to provide LAs and housing providers with
  sufficient information to assess housing
  applications
• to facilitate appropriate housing allocations
• to contribute to enforcement, rehabilitation
  public protection

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Next Steps

• We feel that the protocol will be of use to the
  members of this group and are hoping to secure
  your backing for the protocol
• For further information please provide your
  contact details on the form that has been
  circulated or contact me directly

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Signing Up

• Each organisation will be sent two copies of the
  protocol
• Nominate a named representative to deal with
  offender applications
• Organisational approval signatory to the
  protocol
• Retain one copy and return the other to
  Staffordshire Probation Area
• Annual review

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Contact Details

• Sarah Smith
• Partnerships Officer
• Staffordshire Probation Area
• Head Office
• University Court
• Staffordshire Technology Park
• Beaconside
• Stafford
• ST18 OGE
• Tel [phone] Fax [phone]
• E-mail sarah.smith_at_staffordshire.probation.gsx.go
  v.uk