Young people and accommodation and the implications of G v Southwark

Sitra held three national seminars during April to June 2010 in London, York and Birmingham, on the implications of judgment in G v Southwark.

This House of Lord decision clarified the Children Act responsibility to lone 16/17 years old homeless young people. In brief, if they are assessed as a child in need and require accommodation as a result of no person with parental responsibility or being lost or abandoned or the person caring is prevented from providing suitable accommodation.

The events had a range of speakers who outlined the judgment and its implications for local authorities and providers. Most importantly, young people spoke of what they wanted from statutory and voluntary agencies in terms of services and opportunities to shape policy and practice. 

Presenters included the youth homeless advisor to Communities and Local Government (CLG), National Care Advisory Service (NCAS), Oxfordshire County Council, Devon County Council, Depaul UK and the National Youth Reference Group. The seminars afforded an opportunity for participants to ask questions and share experiences of the implication of the judgment in the localities where they provided services.

The key themes included:

  • Ensuring that valuable preventative work is built upon and not lost
  • Collaboration and partnership between local authority departments and statutory and voluntary sector partners
  • Ensuring there is a range of suitable accommodation for young people
  • Intelligent commissioning based on robust needs assessments
  • Strategic, operational and frontline response to meeting the needs of young people when they become homeless.

Resources

Sitra bulletin articles

Available shortly.

Sitra training

Sitra can provide inhouse training on Supporting Young People in and from care, covering:

  • The legal framework of duties owed to young people in and from care and the concept of corporate parenting
  • The role of key professionals responsible for services for young people in and from care
  • The key issues for young people in and from care in their transition to adulthood Improving the accommodation prospects of young people in and from care.

Contact kerileej@sitra.org or call 020 7793 4713 to find out more