What is Tenancy Support?

This service is for people who have issues that have led to them not being able to sustain a tenancy or manage it independently. This could be due to literacy problems, mental health issues, budgeting problems, alcohol and drug issues, mild learning difficulties, domestic violence etc.

Ultimately, Path Tenancy Support (TS) aims to support vulnerable people who are in danger of losing their accommodation.

Path also offers a Refugee Housing  Support Service with START for which there is a separate leaflet offering information. Please contact Path's TS Team on 255889 or START’s Manager on 255200 for more information.

Who Is Tenancy Support for?

This service is for single people who are in danger of becoming homeless.

We will consider all referrals; however referrals between the ages of 16 and 18 years, and over 60 years, may requireanother specialist agency.

What can Tenancy Support Offer?

• Advice and assistance in corresponding with Housing, Allocations or The Homeless Unit
• Advocacy offered to challenge decisions made by housing providers and Registered Social Landlords, and referrals made to agencies such as Shelter if further advice is necessary
• Help to set up rent payment; on new tenancies
• Accessing benefits and looking at benefit maximisation
• Assistance purchasing furniture or help shopping for goods with which to furnish the home
• Advice around budgeting, help with debts and referrals made to welfare benefits agencies
• Setting up utility services and bill payments with gas, electric, water etc
• Help to access mental health, drugs and alcohol services
• Weekly support from tenancy support worker, so that once the agreed tasks are completed, the client is confidant in maintaining their accommodation
• Constructive, positive feedback and advice to manage housing affairs successfully

How do you access Tenancy Support?

This service does not accept self referrals. Instead we ask that either a GP, mental health professional, Social Worker, Landlord, housing provider or someone from a recognisable agency refer people to the service. There are also internal referrals through other Path services.

The Self Assessment Tool

After the Tenancy Support Assessment is completed, the tenancy support worker will look at seven different areas using the Self Assessment Tool. The areas covered by the Self Assessment Tool are:

• Accommodation
• Internal Change
• Living Skills
• Drugs / Substance Misuse
• Mental and Physical health
• Employment
• Leisure

The Self Assessment Tool is used to determine at what stage a person is at in each given area, and is used as a discussion point to look at past housing history and to talk about the skills and confidence necessary for a tenancy to thrive. Pathsupports clients to complete it as it is a good indicator of where the strengths and weaknesses are, and what areas are likely to affect tenancy management.

The process of assessment

On receipt of the referral an acknowledgment letter will be sent to both the referrer and client. Within two to four weeks from the acknowledgment letter, an appointment will be sent out for a Tenancy Support assessment to be completed. (The two to four weeks wait for the service varies due to capacity of the service and the number of referrals received, and priority of the people referred.) Path offers a policy on its priority of referrals. Priority will be given to those issued with an eviction order and those who are in immediate danger of eviction.

On receipt of a referral the tenancy support worker will collate as much information about the client as necessary, taking particular time on previous housing history, mental and physical health, exploring finances, rent arrears and debt and putting together a robust risk assessment.

The assessment process takes between one and two hours. From the assessment a programme of work will be established between the worker and client. Three month reviews will be held to reflect on the progress of the work identified and from thereon. When all the programme of work is complete, the service will be complete.

Closure from the service

Case closure may occur for a number of reasons such as:

• Completed programme of tenancy support
• Non-engagement with the service
• A number of missed visits and lack of contact with the tenancy support worker

If a client is certain they no longer want or need our support then Path will offer a feedback form, to be completed either independently or with a worker (not their original tenancy support worker). All feedback is valued and informs our future practice.

Comments / Complaints

Path aims for all our services to be provided in a manner that is professional, responsive, fair, respectful and effective.

We welcome feedback. Any comments or concerns about the service should be addressed and sent to the Tenancy Support Team Leader or Path Director.

There is a specific procedure for complaints: a worker can help submit a complaint and support will be provided to anyone wishing to do so.