In case of emergency relating to a 16 or 17-year-old please call the Safeguarding Hub, if our Youth Homeless and Housing Officers are not free. Telephone: 0333 240 1727
Initial response to a young adult who is homeless or worried about becoming homeless
If you are aware of a young adult, who is homeless or worried about becoming homeless, the first step is to complete a First Contact Script with them. This is an online form that can be used to refer someone into the Positive Housing Pathway (where they may be able to access emergency accommodation, specialist support, supported accommodation and/or flexible support).
The First Contact Script sets out the initial conversation you need to have with the young adult and what you need to discuss with them.
The purpose of the First Contact Script is to ensure that young adults get a consistent response, regardless of where or to whom they present as homeless or are worried about becoming homeless and to capture the necessary information to avoid the young adult having to repeat their story; we know that this is really important to the young adults we support.
The Script should be completed by the professional with whom the young adult is speaking, in conjunction with them, in their own words, and with their consent. This is important so that we have an accurate record of the young adult’s wishes and feelings.
Fill in the First Contact Script for the relevant age group
First Contact Script for 16 and 17-year-olds (online form)
First Contact Script for 18 to 24-year-olds (online form)
If you need advice
Contact the Youth Homeless and Housing team.
Lisa Williams for Carlisle locality
Telephone: 07825 097991
Email: Lisa.williams@cumberland.gov.uk
Helen Walker for Allerdale and Copeland localities
Telephone: 07825 340628
Email: Helen.walker@cumberland.gov.uk
After you have completed a First Contact Script
Once you have completed the Script and submitted it online, this is sent to the Youth Homeless and Housing Team and they will be in touch with you about what happens next.
Depending on how old the young adult is, you will also need to complete:
- a safeguarding referral - if the young adult is aged 16 or 17 years old
- a Public Duty to Refer form - if the young adult is aged between 18 to 24 years old
Submit a safeguarding referral (16 or 17 years old)
If the young adult is aged 16 or 17 years and homeless or worried about becoming homeless, you will also need to complete a Safeguarding Hub referral via the Single Contact Form.
If possible, attached a copy of the First Contact Script, you can email this to us:
Email: safeguarding.hub@cumberland.gov.uk
Once the professional has submitted the script, a PDF copy can be provided by the Youth Homeless and Housing Officer, if this is requested.
Submit a Public Duty to Refer form (18 to 24 years old)
A Public Duty to Refer form can also be completed; you will need to ask consent from the young adult to complete this.
Consenting to this referral means that the young adult is agreeing that their information can be shared with the relevant housing options team who will make contact with them to complete a housing assessment.
Fill in the Public Duty to Refer form online
Joint protocol for homeless 16 and 17-year-olds
Together with our partners, we have developed a Joint Protocol, which sets out how we will work together to respond to and help a young adult, aged 16 or 17 years, who is homeless or worried about becoming homeless.
If you would like to discuss the Joint Protocol in more detail, please contact one of the Youth Homeless and Housing Officers listed at the bottom of this page.
Care-experienced young adults’ protocol
We have a protocol, which sets out how we will work together to respond to and help care experienced young adults, who are homeless or worried about becoming homeless. The purpose of this is to set out how the Children’s and Housing Teams within Cumberland Council work with our Choice Based Letting partners to ensure that:
- care experienced young adults across Cumberland get a consistency of service
- joint working between services is paramount and starts at an early stage
- as far as possible care experienced young adults are supported to make planned moves into accommodation, so they do not need to access the safety net offered through an emergency housing route
- when care experienced young adults are homeless or worried about becoming homeless, we have a clear understanding of what support can be offered and by whom
When we talk about care experienced young adults, we are referring to those young adults who are leaving care; young adults who are care experienced have told us that this is the language they prefer.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC), who are of an age to be leaving care, will also fall within the remit of this Protocol and will be entitled to a full Leaving Care service.
This document also details the housing options available to care experienced young adults, who are starting to live independently.
Contact our Youth Homeless and Housing Officers
For general advice and help, contact Lisa or Helen.
Lisa Williams
Tel: 07825 097991
Email: lisa.williams@cumberland.gov.uk
Helen Walker
Tel: 07825 340628
Email: helen.walker@cumberland.gov.uk