Moving on
At a glance
- We aim to help you get ready to move on to independent living, and we give that help from the beginning of your tenancy.
- Most clients exit positively. However, some may exit due to serious breaches or other challenging circumstances.
- Life staff treat all exits with care, helping you find accommodation and involving relevant external agencies when needed.
- You have the right to appeal decisions affecting your move-on. Appeals will be handled fairly and transparently.
Aim
Life provides supported accommodation to women who are pregnant or with a child under the age of 5. While within the service clients are supported and empowered with the aim of them moving on to live independently with their child/children. This policy sets out how Life will ensure that when clients move on from the service, planned or unplanned, fair exit procedures are adhered to.
Exit from service
Life aims for all housing clients to achieve the necessary skills for independent living and to have a positive exit from the service. Support staff discuss move on options with all clients from the beginning of their tenancy/license and throughout their journey with Life. Support will be provided around tenancy sustainment alongside the other support areas Life provides. If a risk to tenancy has been identified this will be discussed with the client and be managed appropriately in line with Life’s Tenancy Management Policy.
The large majority of clients move on successfully after benefiting from the support offered by Life. However, there are circumstances where a client’s exit from Life services may be as a result of a serious breach of tenancy, placement breakdown, the removal of a child or other reasons that would mean the support has to end. In these circumstances particular care should be taken to ensure a positive ending is achieved.
Staff should treat all clients with care and compassion and ensure they feel listened to. Support should be given to acquire suitable alternative accommodation and support if relevant. Close working with other agencies is likely to be key to achieving a positive outcome. Mutual termination of a tenancy/license can also be used as a tool in difficult circumstances to prevent the ending of the tenancy impacting negatively on the client in the future.
It is of utmost importance that the impact of exits under difficult circumstances on other clients and staff is recognised and managed appropriately.
Appeal
All clients are made aware of their rights to appeal decisions around Letters of Concern or decisions to end a tenancy/license. Any appeals will be considered by an independent member of the team to ensure a fair and transparent review of the circumstances are carried out in line with Life’s Tenancy Management Policy.
