Criteria

For offenders, ex-offenders and those at risk of offending who are between 16-25 years of age and require accommodation with support. Priority is given to referrals from the Probation Service. Applicants must have the ability to be able to manage, with support, a self-contained tenancy.

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.

Support

Support is provided from an office base on site. The level of support provided can vary depending upon individual residents' support needs at the 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 and benefit related or very specialist) workers will actively assist residents to contact and maintain contact with the appropriate services.

Details of accommodation

Six self-contained fully-furnished one bedroom flats. Residents are responsible for paying their own bills. The scheme is also able to support two young people in their own tenancies – this is particularly for those who have moved on from the managed accommodation.

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.