Report of the Strategic Director for Children and Education Services

This report outlines proposals for the development of a property into foyer model accommodation for up to 30 young people, as part of the Council’s commitment to working closely with housing providers and partners to ensure that all care leavers have access to sustainable and affordable accommodation to meet their needs.

The Committee received a report of the Strategic Director for Children and Education Services which outlined proposals for the development of a property into foyer model accommodation for up to 30 young people, as part of the Council’s commitment to working closely with housing providers and partners to ensure that all care leavers had access to sustainable and affordable accommodation to meet their needs.

The Committee was invited to comment on the report prior to its consideration by the Executive on 30 June 2021.

Officers referred to the main points and themes within the report, which included:

• Proposed accommodation model;
• Mosscare St Vincents Pledge and Social Value offer;
• Financial implications;
• Need;
• Procurement; and
• Next steps.

Some of the key points and themes that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

• To welcome the proposals set out in the report;
• Positive experiences of Mosscare St Vincents;
• Concern that accommodation for vulnerable young people could attract anti-social behaviour and child sexual exploitation and how this could be avoided;
• That the report stated that there was a good evidence base for foyer models of accommodation and could this evidence be shared with Members of the Committee;
• The importance of having positive stories about this to reduce the stigma that young people living in Children’s Homes or accommodation for Care Leavers could face; and
• How young people who had been placed out of area were made aware of the options for them when they left care.

In response to the concerns about the accommodation attracting anti-social behaviour and people wanting to exploit the young people, the Strategic Director for Children and Education Services outlined how young people’s resilience was built up through the care system, through which they developed relationships with trusted professionals, and the preparations for young people leaving care, putting in place plans, working with the young people to ensure they were ready and providing more intensive support where this was needed.  He also highlighted the role of the community, Neighbourhood Teams, the Complex Safeguarding Hub and Adult Social Care in addressing any issues that arose around the accommodation, including young people being at risk from sexual and criminal exploitation.  He agreed to share with Members evidence that the foyer models of accommodation had been successful elsewhere.  He reported that the Chief Executive of Mosscare St Vincents had been working with Greater Manchester Strategic Housing Providers to provide a broader offer of support to young people who were care experienced, including work experience and practical help.  He advised that all our young people were prepared for leaving care, with suitable accommodation being identified from a range of different options and support for their transition to independence based on their needs.

Decisions

1.            To endorse the recommendations to the Executive to:

(1)  Comment on the report.

(2)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director – Children and Education Services, in consultation with the Executive Members for Childrens and Education to commission foyer model of accommodation for up to 30 children  looked after, delivered by Mosscare St Vincents

(3)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director – Children and Education Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor to negotiate and formalise a ten year agreement with Mosscare St Vincent, with associated contract clauses to the annual value of £731,500 per annum.

2.            To note that the Strategic Director for Children and Education Services will share evidence of the success of foyer models of accommodation with Committee Members.