Naos

Schemes: Naos
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Naos, which means ‘Sanctuary’ in the Greek language, is a supported housing scheme in Supporting People’s Resettlement Tier 1 services for single male and female refugees.

In addition to being homeless the referring criteria is that the applicant must have additional support needs that could include mental health issues, a history of violent intimidation, abuse and harassment towards them from others, and education, training or language needs.

Aims & Objectives

To provide high quality next step accommodation and support to enable individuals to effectively integrate into the local and wider community.

We will achieve this by providing:
• Furnished, secure and safe accommodation for a period of 6 months.
• Comprehensive assessments and individually tailored support planning
• Emotional support and links to specialised services
• Access to interpreting services and multilingual literature
• Advice and practical assistance on benefits and welfare rights
• Advice and practical assistance to access healthcare services
• Support and information to access education and/or training
• Interpersonal, social and life skills support
• Links to local community and regional support services
• Advice, support and practical assistance to secure independent accommodation

Accommodation

Accommodation currently consists of six fully furnished, self-contained flats and one four-bedded shared property. The weekly rent payable to LHC includes a charge for water rates and television licence but does not cover electricity or community charge in self contained accommodation, both of which have to be paid separately by the tenant in order to prepare them for independent living.

Support Services

All tenants are allocated a keyworker who co-ordinates mutually agreed and individually tailored support packages. The keyworker meets regularly with tenants on an individual basis and makes referrals to other agencies where needed.

This is done to ensure that a full package of individually planned care and support is available to each individual. In order to ensure equality of services, interpreters are provided where needed. Written information is also translated into the Farsi, Kurdish, Arabic, French and Portuguese languages.

Conditions of Occupancy

All service users are given an Assured Shorthold Tenancy with the aim of obtaining more permanent accommodation after a period of 6 months.
All service users have access to information held on them by the organisation and a right to complain about provision, services, intimidation, harassment and discrimination. LHC also regularly consults tenants in relation to service provision via a Quality Standards Exercise three times a year, and asks tenants to complete an Exit Questionnaire when leaving the organisation in order that we may review the services and support we have provided to each individual.

Staff and Management

Naos is managed by a team leader with one dedicated project worker.
Staff cover is provided during the hours of 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am – 4.30pm on Friday on an individual basis to each tenant.

Referrals

Referrals will be accepted from both voluntary and statutory agencies who are in contact with refugees over the age of 16 with priority given to referrals from the Emergency Tier of Supporting People services.
Referrals can be made either by telephone or by requesting a form be sent to the agency. In either instance, it would be advantageous for the client to be present throughout the referral as we request detailed information in order to complete a comprehensive needs and risk assessment.
The service does not provide direct access accommodation however we aim to inform the individual or referrer within 24 hours if the referral has been accepted.

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.