Assessment and Advice Team
The assessment and advice team consists of a team leader, Irish persons’ coordinator and four housing and assessment workers.
The work of the team covers several key areas and includes;
- carrying out assessments of clients visiting the day centre, including establishing what their needs are and how they can be best met;
- providing a specific service for Irish clients (through the Irish persons’ coordinator post which is funded by Díon an agency of the Irish government);
- providing housing advice, making referrals into accommodation and advocating on clients behalf when they may be entitled to statutory housing provision; and
- providing a comprehensive welfare rights service which supports clients in making and accessing benefits that they may be entitled to.
In the last year we have strengthened relationships with Borderline (a service for Scottish homeless people) and SSAFA (a service for ex-members of the armed forces) – as a result of this both agencies now provide a weekly surgery at the Passage. hope Worldwide- Two Step a project that supports homeless people to access and maintain tenancies in the priovate rented sector also hold weekly surgeries at the day centre.
We piloted a group for clients to help them access the private rented sector. Welfare rights staff now take part in the Passage House and Montfort House pre-tenancy workshop for clients.
We have also developed new relationships with Paradigm Housing Group, St Ignatius Housing Association and Arhag and have made successful referrals to each of these accommodation providers.
Over the past 12 month period the Irish Persons’ Co-ordinator has continued to develop and deliver services to Irish clients using the Passage Day Centre. The primary focus of this project is to promote the social inclusion of this marginalised group of homeless, and formerly homeless Irish people, by facilitating access to welfare benefits, health resources, employment and accommodation.
Also, to improve communication within the day centre, joint team meetings have been held with the health and streetlink teams. Skill-sharing and shadowing has taken place with streetlink, focusing on private rented sector accommodation and reconnection resources.
We intend to
- Develop a client volunteer role in relation to the new Information Desk;
- Achieve the Quality Mark Accreditation for advice work across The Passage;
- Achieve a new funding stream for private rented sector advice work;
- Lead on developing strengths based support planning tool for Day Services; and,
- Develop new systems of communication and joint work with other Day Services teamsto ensure more effective engagement and assessment with clients.
Outcomes during the year
- Assessment and advice sessions 5,415
- Welfare rights appointments 1,567
- Clients found temporary accommodation 123
- Clients found permanent accommodation 59
- Proof of identity obtained 103
- Financial assistance with travel and other costs 246