Women's Scheme

 

The aims of the service are to provide time limited, high quality housing and support for single women aged 16+ who have support issues in addition to being homeless & to move them on to independent accommodation within 6 months.

 

These are achieved by providing:

 

The sector has a variety of fully furnished accommodation that encompasses a hostel, shared houses and single tenancies all within the Leeds area.

 

Oakdale House: Oakdale house is a hostel for eleven women in Meanwood. All women have individual single rooms and share communal facilities.

 

Shared Accommodation: In the sector's shared houses clients have their own bedroom and share a kitchen, bathroom & in some properties a lounge.

 

Single Tenancies: The numbers of these are limited and priority is given to women who are ready to move on from supported shared housing in order to gain experience of living independently with support prior to moving out of the organisation. The accommodation is furnished but the client is responsible for all utility & community charges. 

 

All Clients are given assured shorthold tenancy agreements. The service is contracted to provide 6 months of support with the aim of helping Clients access more permanent move on accommodation within this time. 

 

Clients are allocated a key worker who co-ordinates mutually agreed support packages. The key worker meets regularly with women on an individual basis and makes referrals to other agencies in order to ensure that a package of individually planned care and support is available to each individual. In order to ensure equality of services to all, interpreters are provided for tenants for whom English is not their first language.
 

 

The service is staffed by a Scheme Manager and Housing Support Workers who are based at Oakdale House. The Scheme Manager is responsible to a Senior Manager who is based at LHC’s Central Office. Staff cover is provided: Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am- 4.30pm. The service aims to have a minimum of one staff member in the office at any one time to answer telephone calls and deal with enquires. However, there are times when staff are in meetings or talking to clients, and an answer phone is used to take telephone messages. 

 

Accommodation is available to single homeless women aged 16 and over. There is no upper age limit. Referrals for accommodation are accepted for any voluntary, statutory or private referring agencies, although priority is given to referrals from the Emergency Tier of Supporting People services. Details are taken over the telephone for a comprehensive risk and needs assessment to be carried out. We aim to inform the woman, or referrer within 24 hours (often on the same day) whether the referral has been accepted. If accepted and a property is available, an offer will be made and arrangements made to view. In some cases where further information is needed, an interview will be arranged, generally within 24 hours. All referrals should be made directly to the Women’s Sector office. 

 

Where a referral request has been refused and the applicant or their referrer is not satisfied with the reasons given, they have a right to appeal the decision. Appeals should be made ini writing within 10 working days of receipt of the written decision. Once received an appeals meeting will be arranged within 5 working days chaired by a Senior Manager at which the applicant and their referrer have the opportunity to state why they disagreed with the decision. An appeal decision will be made within 3 working days. 

 

Postal Address: Oakdale House, Between 396 and 398 Meanwood Road, Leeds LS7 2LP

Telephone: (0113) 262 4330

Fax: (0113) 262 4334

Email: ws@leedshc.org.uk

 

Scheme Manager: Debra Priim

Email: dpriim@leedshc.org.uk

 

Senior Manager: Lesley Sendall-Long

Email: lsendall-long@leedshc.org.uk