Ideally, you should be able to live at home until you're ready for a planned move, whether that's going to college or university, sharing with friends or getting your own place.
But, if you’re 16 or 17 and can’t stay at home because you’ve been asked to leave or it’s no longer safe or manageable, we’re here to help.
How we can help
When you contact us, you’ll speak with a member of the team who’ll arrange an assessment, this is usually the same day. This will be completed jointly with a social worker. Together, they’ll assess your situation to make sure you get the right support.
This process is called a joint assessment and it's a legal requirement that helps us understand your needs properly. We may speak to your parents or other family members as part of this.
Speak to the team on 0114 273 6306.
Help to return home
Where possible, we’ll support you to return home if that’s the right option for you. As part of this we may offer:
- mediation or counselling
- follow-up visits
- extra support to help your family situation improve
If going home isn’t possible
You’ll be offered a temporary place to stay in supported accommodation known as an assessment placement, for up to 6 weeks. While you're there, you'll work with:
- your Housing Solutions Officer
- your social worker
- staff at the placement
Together, you’ll agree your next steps and plan your move to more stable housing.
Supported accommodation
Assessment placements are a type of supported accommodation with staff on site 24/7. Their job is to keep you safe and help you adjust.
If you can’t go home, you may later move on to longer-term supported accommodation, where you could stay for up to 2 years. There are 6 different services across the city that offer this support.
Support we can give you
At the start, we’ll help with:
- collecting your belongings from home
- emergency food or essentials
- claiming benefits or getting other financial support
- contacting Social Services, if that’s right for you
We’ll also give you time to think about what you want next and support you in working towards that goal.
Council housing
By law, we can’t offer a council tenancy to anyone under 18. But once you turn 18, you can register and apply for housing.
Registering for a council home
If you're living in supported accommodation and are assessed as ready for independent living, you may qualify for hostel leavers’ priority, which could help you move into a tenancy sooner.