16 and 17 year old young people at risk of homelessness
3. Principles
- The young person’s safety and welfare is paramount.
- Services will work to support families to stay together where it is consistent with the young person’s welfare. Where a young person has been provided with emergency accommodation prior to the completion of assessment, Buckinghamshire Children’s Services and Housing will continue to work towards a return to the family home.
- All the young person’s developmental needs will be assessed to ensure they receive appropriate support services to help them achieve good outcomes and provide them with opportunities for success in adult life.
- Where accommodation is provided, it will be suitable for the individual young person’s assessed needs. Bed and breakfast accommodation will never be used as this is not appropriate accommodation. Risk assessments will inform placement decisions in order to safeguard all young people. All accommodation decisions are authorised at a senior level for increased oversight and scrutiny of practice and support.
- All agencies will promote multi-agency working practices to ensure integrated services and clear referral pathways so that young persons identified needs are met in a timely manner.
- Agencies will respect the young person’s status as a young adult moving towards independence whilst balancing this against any continued need for safeguarding and support.
- Information will be shared in line with good practice and on a “need to know” basis. The young person’s privacy and confidentiality will be respected where this is consistent with promoting their welfare and the welfare of others. Please refer to Section 10 on young person’s consent to accommodation for more detail.
- Agencies and workers will work collectively and individually to ensure this protocol is implemented and that there is a genuine integration of services so that no young person is left without appropriate support.