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<p>The Department for Education is clear about how local authorities should support
16 and 17 year-olds presenting as homeless. The report from the Children’s Society,
‘Getting the house in order’ reminds local authorities to ensure that under-18s who
are homeless receive the help they need. The government has no current plans to legislate
on this issue, but we are taking action to ensure that all homeless people have access
to the help that they need: we have invested £500 million in homelessness services,
including funding for the development of the ‘Youth accommodation pathway’ service
model. This is designed to support all young people remain in the family home where
it is safe to do so, and offer tailored support options for those that cannot remain
in the family home, including supported accommodation as a starting point for 16-
to 17-year-olds.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>With regard to 16- to 17-year-old care
leavers, revised statutory guidance was issued to local authorities in 2010, setting
out how they can better meet the needs of this group. It makes clear that local authorities
should work pro-actively with young people and their families to identify and resolve
issues which have led them to become homeless. The guidance also underlines the importance
of effective agency collaboration between Children’s Services and Housing Services.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The guidance reminds Housing Services that applicants cannot
be considered to have become homeless intentionally if they fail to take up an offer
of accommodation; the guidance says that homelessness can only be deemed to be ‘intentional’
where the applicant has ceased to occupy accommodation that it would have been reasonable
for him or her to continue to occupy. Local authorities that do not follow these procedures
are open to legal challenge. The full statutory guidance on the provision of accommodation
for 16- to 17-year-olds who may be homeless or require accommodation can be accessed
on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Since 2013, Ofsted inspections of local authorities’
children’s social care services have included a separate sub-judgement on care leavers,
which includes an assessment of whether the local authority is ensuring that care
leavers have access to suitable accommodation. Where Ofsted judges that a local authority’s
social care services are inadequate, the department may intervene to secure necessary
improvements in the quality of care that is provided.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
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