Introducing the Supporting People Team

The Council’s Supporting People Team provide an invaluable service, by providing housing related support which is aimed at helping vulnerable people to develop and maintain their independence with goal of preventing homelessness.

The team does this by offering a range of support services, including help with housing such as managing accommodation, help with budgeting and benefits, and reducing loneliness and isolation through support with integration with the community.

One of the many ways that the team offers support is via the One Stop Shop, in partnership with Pobl.

Many of the cases that the team is involved in can be challenging and involve a wide variety of issues including language barriers, non-verbal clients, and more. Many of the clients the team works with are experiencing homelessness and struggling to find suitable accommodation.

One such recent client is Jane (name changed to protect identity), who was 14 weeks pregnant and placed in a Holiday Inn Express but was placed on the incorrect priority banding. Jane didn’t feel safe at the current location, so she spoke with the team both via phone and face-to-face at the One Stop Shop.

The team got in touch with Jane’s Housing Solutions Case Worker and Welfare Advisor and were able to assist in finding Jane more suitable housing, where she feels safe and happy. The team also ensured that Jane was placed on the correct priority banding.

Once this was achieved, the team later helped Jane set up a property's tenancy, helped to source basic furnishings for the property, gave advice on setting up and managing her utilities, and helped apply for a council tax deduction.

For more information on the work the team does and the support, they can offer, head over to the website.