From October 2023 Supported Accommodation became a regulated sector. As a region we had some concerns about providers withdrawing from the market due to regulation and how this may impact on sufficiency, however the expected reduction in available provision has not manifested.
Regionally, there were 1464 children living in Supported Accommodation settings as of December 2023 with numbers rising steadily each quarter; 43% since December 2020.
However, Ofsted have reported that there are 2968 places holding active or proposed registrations meaning we will only require 49% of the potential capacity to meet current need across the north west.
An oversupply of places means the placing authority is more able to select homes that meet need effectively, are high quality and priced competitively.
Cumberland Council has 3 flats (one shared) which are currently going through Ofsted registration as supported accommodation. There are 11 registered Independent Supported Accommodation Homes in the Cumberland footprint. These have a capacity of 28 young people. 7 of these are single occupancy/4 are ring-fenced shared accommodation.
In addition to this, Cumberland Council commissions services for the provision of short-term supported housing provision for young people aged 16 to 24 years who are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless or where there is a planned need for supported living homes through a sub-regional contract. There are two Foyers in the Cumberland footprint (Carlisle and Copeland) which provide supported accommodation for 16 to 24-year-olds.
There continues to be limited supply and choice of social housing across Cumbria and one bedded accommodation is more in demand following the introduction of the ‘bedroom tax’. Care leavers receive a higher banding in the Choice Based Letting (CBL) scheme in operation in Cumbria and are also able to access the one bed rate until they are 22. We know we need to work harder with our local authority partners and private sector landlords to explore opening more move on accommodation particularly homes which are closer to our family hubs which are a key place where support for our care experienced young people is local.
A new contact for the provision of emergency accommodation for young people aged 16-24 has been commissioned to commence from 1st April 2024. It is important that we continue to work with this provider through the early part of the contract to ensure we are providing the right services for the right young people.
Throughout 2023 we have worked with providers to ensure they are ready for inspection by Ofsted in line with the registration of supported living providers who are supporting young people aged 16 to 17. Whilst this work has been timely, and providers have been able to register in line with time scales there is more we need to do over the next few years as this embeds both in Cumberland and nationally. Inclusive of this is the review of the 16/17 homeless response as we continue to improve outcomes for young people who are at risk of or who present as homeless.
Improve sufficiency through:
- supporting providers during registration and throughout their inspections by Ofsted, and throughout their initial inspections
- developing a clear vision and strategic direction for the future approach to supported Accommodation for Cumberland Council underpinned through its housing strategy
- strengthening and broker a closer relationship with Cumberland’s providers to increase access to local homes, embedding a Cumberland first approach
- stimulating the market for external providers to partner with Cumberland to deliver local supported living homes and taster flats which meet the need of our care experienced young people and separated young people
- reviewing our offer to strengthen our support to care experienced young people by joining the sufficiency strategy with the care for, care experienced and separate young people’s strategy
- ensuring homes are situated in the right parts areas linking the principles of staying close and meaningful independence preparation and communities support and engagement developing long lasting networks
- reviewing the 16 to 17 homelessness protocol