Blackpool Council Home Page

Background

Blackpool Council Housing Options Service

In 2003 we found ourselves with a crisis on our hands; 100% increase in homeless presentations, high acceptance rates, heavy use of bed & breakfast, high levels of inward migration and a 'housing advice service' in name only.

We were clear that we needed to make some radical changes if we were ever to improve service delivery and, with the support of our portfolio member, undertook a fundamental review of our service .

We were very aware that the Council was not in a position to invest large amounts of new resources, and that to we would have think differently and look at how we could reconfigure and remodel existing services to achieve positive outcomes. This exercise led to the establishment of the Housing Options Service in place today which comprises the following teams;


· Homelessness
· Homeless Prevention
· Rent Bond
· Youth Mediation
· Single Homeless & Rough Sleeping
· Housing Applications
· Welfare Rights
· Admin

The single most significant change has been the shifting of staffing resources from processing homelessness applications to homeless prevention together with embedding a 'can do' culture within the teams where no suggestion is considered too outrageous to consider.

One stop shop, options interviews, rent in advance, bonds both cash and underwritten, help with mortgage/ rent arrears, removal costs, home safety equipment, lifetime DHP awards with decisions made by a multi agency panel, client tailored tenancy support, reconnection policy, specialist welfare benefit advice and representation, frontline staff with spending powers, Housing Benefit secondee, co location with health, mediation, wristbands for the Pleasure Beach, home visiting, ring fenced bed spaces, night shelter with life signs technology; in Blackpool the initiatives go all the way through the rock!

Susan Walsh
Housing Options Manager (picture)
Tel: 01253 477761
Email: susan.walsh@blackpool.gov.uk

Jane Rickett
Housing Advice Manager (picture)
Tel: 01253 477763
Email: jane.rickett@blackpool.gov.uk

Yanina Sochacki
Single Homeless Coordinator (picture)
Tel: 01253 477930
Email: yanina.sochacki@blackpool.gov.uk

Regional Homelessness Champions Home Page