Focus is part of Leeds Housing Concern and is a time limited (maximum 2 years) city-wide floating support service that works with, and gives support to people who are classed as Mentally Disordered Offenders, who are finding maintaining a tenancy difficult and may be at risk of losing this.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the service is to provide a floating housing support service that will work holistically with other appropriate agencies in order to help the service user sustain their tenancy.
We aim to achieve this by:
- Working cooperatively with specialist mental health agencies and other appropriate support services to provide a holistic package of support.
- To provide practical, non-judgemental specialist housing support that is flexible to the individuals needs.
- To enable and encourage individuals to develop skills and strategies in order that they may maintain their tenancy independently.
- To work with clients in a person centred way to devise support plans that are tailored to the individuals needs.
Referrals
Referrals will be considered for single people who are classed as being a MDO who is having difficulty sustaining a tenancy independently and who may be at risk of losing this due to their support issues. Referrals can be made by phone or by completing a referral form and sending it via fax or email to the sector office where a decision will be made as to whether the person referred meets the service criteria. If so an interview will be arranged in order to discuss the presenting issues with both the service user and the referring agent and to decide upon the type of support that is needed.
Appeals
Where a referral request has been refused and the applicant or their referrer is not satisfied with the reasons given, they have the right to appeal the decision. Appeals should be made within 10 working days of receipt of the written decision using the accompanying appeals form. Once received an appeals meeting will be arranged within 5 working days chaired by a Service Manager at which the applicant and their referrer have the opportunity to state why they disagreed with the decision. An appeal decision will then be made within 3 working days.
Support Services
Clients are allocated a key worker who maintains regular contact and works with the individual and other involved agencies. The keyworker co-ordinates the needs and risk assessments and develops the support plans and their reviews with the service user and any other support agencies involved. The key worker will aim to work with the service user on a regular planned basis as often as the individual’s circumstances require and it is acknowledged that initially there may be frequent contact that will decrease in time as the presenting support issues are resolved.
Staff and Management
The service is staffed by a Scheme Coordinator and two Housing Support Workers. The Scheme Coordinator reports to a Senior Manager who is based at LHC’s central office. The service is staffed Monday – Thursday 9am-5pm and 9am – 4.30pm Friday.
Contact details
Postal Address: Focus, 18 Ashbrooke Business Park, Parkside Lane, Leeds, LS11 5SF
Telephone: (0113) 276 5603 Fax: (0113) 277 7671
Scheme Coordinator: Marcia Firth
Senior Manager: Jocelyn Bass