Assessing support needs - new and existing tenants

Every tenant and potential tenant of Chester & District Housing Trust has their support needs assessed and where  needed, the support put in place, as part of a Sustaining Tenancies Policy.

Chester & District Housing Trust took over the stock transfer from Chester City Council in 2001. The Sustaining Tenancies Policy (2006) outlines the intention to reduce the likelihood and incidence of tenancy failure. The major thrust of the policy is to identify customers who require enhanced levels of support at the earliest opportunity and to provide an appropriate and individual service. The broad definition used by the Trust for vulnerable tenants with regards to tenancy maintenance is a person who is: “unable to safeguard his or her personal welfare, property, tenancy, or financial affairs, and is in need of care, attention and/or support".

Individuals may be considered to be vulnerable for a number of different reasons, some for just short periods and some long term or permanently. Some examples of situations that can result in a person becoming vulnerable are:

• history of homelessness
• drug or alcohol addictions
• history of rent arrears
• literacy problems or learning difficulties
• mental health problems
• difficulty reading, speaking or understanding English
• major life changes such as bereavement, relationship breakdown or ill health.
• long-term limiting illness.

They see identifying and supporting vulnerable or potentially vulnerable tenants as key to supporting community cohesion, social inclusion and is in keeping with the national agenda for preventing homelessness and reinforces their commitment to customers.

The aim is to identify vulnerable and potentially vulnerable customers at the earliest opportunity using a range of methods that cover new and existing tenants. A fully inclusive approach is fostered in an attempt to ensure no customers “slip through the net”.

Support provision

Once identified, vulnerable and potentially vulnerable customers are offered appropriate support.  Individual support plans will be agreed with the resident’s full co-operation. 

Support may be delivered by the trust or by partner agencies and can take many forms.  Support will be tailored to the needs of each resident and appropriate providers will be matched with the specific needs of residents. 

Support will range from low level to high level and will be offered directly  or through formal referral process to a partner agency to ensure that the most appropriate support is made available.

A programme of Tenancy Audits will be completed over a three year period.  Every property will be visited during this period and an assessment of “vulnerability” will be undertaken as part of the visit.

“Barriers to services” or “unique communication methods” will also need to be identified. For example:

  • Please knock loudly
  • Women only
  • Identified other language
  • Serious mental health issues

All of these issues are coded and will appear on the IT system on the case file.

All  front line officers must be aware of the concept of “vulnerability” and should be given appropriate training to ensure staff are aware of their responsibilities for identifying and reporting vulnerability.

All delivery of medium and high level support will be subject to examination by service reviews by Supporting People and will be recorded and monitored in line with the supporting people quality assessment framework and our existing policies and procedures.

Further information

 To find out more please contact David Shaw at: d.shaw@cdht.org

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