Housing associations, homeless services and floating support services are having to find new ways of working at the moment, due to the coronavirus lockdown. At the same time, many of the people that we are supporting are having a more challenging time of it, due to being separated from their support systems, increased costs of living and a lack of the usual structures that education and regular activities provide to us all.
We've started to deliver our staff training courses online - in response to the current situation - and we believe this very difficult time is actually an ideal time to consider increasing the use of the Resettlement Passport or starting to use it for the first time.
Local Solutions' AIMS team who support young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have developed a self-care resource for the young people they support - specifically during the current lockdown situation. This may be useful for other organisations who are supporting young people at this time. The resource can be viewed and downloaded Here.
This year for the first time, we invited organisations that use Resettlement Passport to take part in a survey to get feedback on how they are using the course, the impact it is having and to help us shape the course for the future. A huge thank you to the nine organisations which took part. Here are the results (and why there's a picture of a house falling off the cliff)…
At a recent Resettlement Passport training session, and a discussion of best practice, participants shared a number of mobiles apps that they felt to be helpful and relevant to the Resettlement Passport, and those receiving support with the move to independent living. As a result of this discussion, we have compiled a list of apps that were mentioned, that you or someone you know may find useful.
Liam, a young person who completed Resettlement Passport, as part of Wirral Supported Lodgings agreed to share his experiences of using the course with us.
Supporting vulnerable people who face issues with housing and living independently? Want to feel better equipped? Want to ensure your team have the skills they need to support people effectively? We've got 2 excellent courses that you can book people onto for the new year.
This week, I’ve been at the ‘Care Experienced People Conference 2019’ – a joint venture between Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum. This is the third year this conference has happened, thanks to the leadership of Teresa Clarke. Here are 5 reflections on a really inspiring event.
A huge congratulations to Chloe who has moved on from Local Solutions' Sefton Supported Lodgings to study Nursing at university, having completed the Resettlement Passport.
Shared Lives Plus has adopted the Resettlement Passport as a resource for Shared Lives schemes which are offering young people the opportunity to move in with a Shared Lives carer to learn how to manage a tenancy and build confidence when they leave care.
I was recently reviewing the year for our internal reporting and realised just how much has happened this year and how many ‘firsts’ happened with the Resettlement Passport.
It’s good to pause and take stock, so here are our highlights from the last year.
Citywest Housing Trust has been working closely with Salford's leaving care service 'Next Step' to support young people to prepare for and sustain tenancies. They use Resettlement Passport as part of this support. Watch this short video to get the feedback from a care leaver, a staff member from 'Next Step' and Citywest Housing.
Thanks to funding from the Community Fund we are looking for a Resettlement Passport Development Worker. The post is 6 months fixed term, three days a week. The role will involve promoting the Resettlement Passport with other organisations, delivering Passport training and supporting the reach and development of the initiative.
Knowsley Council have released a short film detailing their commitment and offer to their care leavers - and included the Resettlement Passport as part of that offer.
We're delighted to announce that the Resettlement Passport has been awarded an 'Awards for All' grant from the Big Lottery's Community Fund to support the development of the initiative.
If we ran a book club ‘Universal Credit: Unintended consequences’ report would be on our recommended list. This new report pulled together by Liverpool City Council incorporates the views of a wide range of Liverpool’s city leaders. While focused on Liverpool, the report is relevant nationally, talking about the ‘Unintended consequences’ of Universal Credit.
Since we started talking to people about the Resettlement Passport, we've always been asked, "And what about your data?" "What proof have you got that your course is making a difference?." Now, thanks to Chris in Local Solution's IT team - we're able to display the data that the online course has captured, and it makes encouraging reading.
Last week, we held an exhibition stand for the first time at the CIH conference in Manchester to promote the Resettlement Passport. It was a great opportunity to connect with people from Housing Associations and Local Authorities from around the country.
The Resettlement Passport was ‘Highly Commended’ at the UK Housing Awards last night, in the category of ‘Innovation of the Year.’
Marie works as a Support Co-ordinator for Liverpool and Knowsley Supported Lodgings and delivers Resettlement Passport training to staff from other organisations. Here’s her story and her advice for young people and other support workers.
A couple of weeks ago, I took part in an excellent event hosted by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum. The fact this event was organised represents a real step forward and was thanks to the excellent work that Teresa Clarke, the HMPPS Care leavers Champion is leading on.
