Across Carlisle, Allerdale, Copeland and Eden

Criteria

For offenders, ex-offenders, those at risk of offending and single homeless people who require accommodation with support. Priority is given to referrals from the Probation Service. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.
 
Scheme objectives

To assist residents to successfully establish themselves in the accommodation provided and from that base to prepare for move-on into independent accommodation. Also to encourage residents to tackle other difficulties, which may have contributed to their offending.  Efforts are made to match the applicant to the type of accommodation for which they express a preference and which best meets their needs at that time.
 
Support

Support is provided by workers who visit residents regularly and the level of support provided can vary depending upon residents' support needs at that particular time. Shortly after moving in residents meet with their Project Worker to agree a support plan. This is to identify the resident’s aims, needs and a plan and timescale to try and achieve them.  If needs are identified that are outside the remit of the support provided by C.A.S.S. (i.e. non-housing related or very specialist) workers will actively assist residents to contact and maintain contact with the appropriate services.

All schemes provide support and accommodation for a time-limited period - this is generally up to a maximum of two years.
 
Although the scheme cannot support those with very high personal support needs any support that other services provide is considered when reaching a decision on applications.

Details of accommodation

Fifty units of temporary supported accommodation across Carlisle, Allerdale, Copeland and Eden. There is a range of accommodation from unfurnished flats to fully-furnished rooms in houses where communal facilities are shared.
 
Application / referral process

• C.A.S.S. can accept referrals from most agencies and also self-referrals.  Initial enquiries and referrals can be made by phone but all applicants will be interviewed prior to a decision being made on their application.
• When C.A.S.S. takes a referral from another agency the referral will be discussed with this agency.
• The interview ensures that applicants are given full details of the scheme and are given information about their rights and responsibilities - particularly that of the need to meet regularly with a support worker.
• Interviews are kept as informal as possible but we need to establish if the applicant meets the criteria of the scheme and if we are able to provide the support that is appropriate to their needs.
• C.A.S.S aims to interview applicants within five working days of the referral and to inform the applicant of the outcome within eight working days of the interview.
• If an applicant is not accepted they will be notified in writing of that decision with the reasons why and be given information about other services that may be appropriate. There is a right to appeal.
• As part of the allocation process consideration is also given to the support needs of existing residents as well as those of the applicant.  This will not affect the decision in principle but does on occasion mean that a suitable vacancy may not be available at that time.
• If an applicant is not able to be accommodated C.A.S.S. will provide information about other options that may be available.
• For referrals from the Probation Service C.A.S.S. provides a regular access point at the Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven and Penrith Probation Service offices. 

What can someone offered a C.A.S.S. property expect?

This can vary depending on whether the property is a shared house or a single flat. In the shared houses you will get a warm place to live - your own room that is furnished and clean. You will have the use of a kitchen with a cooker, fridge, kettle, pots pans etc. The living room will have a TV and sofas. For your washing the houses are equipped with washer dryers. There is a small charge that covers gas, electric, the TV licence, water, and Council Tax. All houses have smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and central heating. The accommodation will either have a shower or bathroom and some cleaning products are provided. In the single flats it is more or less the same but the resident is responsible for the bills (gas, TV, water, etc). In the property you will get support from a Project Worker to help you with your benefits and maintaining your accommodation until you find a more permanent and independent place to live. C.A.S.S. accommodation is not permanent but is a stepping stone towards achieving independance.