Supported Lodgings

Who we are

Supported Lodgings is a scheme provided by Moray Council on behalf of Health & Social Care Moray.

We support young people aged 16-21 who are transitioning from foster care, kinship care or residential care to independent living. We also work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people aged 16-18 years old who have fled persecution or conflict and experienced long, perilous journeys and separation from their families.

If you are a young person who is care experienced and looking to move on from your foster, kinship or residential home but might not feel quite ready to live independently, supported lodgings is a place where you can stay with a family or individual and they can support you developing the skills you need, before living independently in your own accommodation.

In Moray, there are two types of supported lodgings available:

• a room in a person’s home or
• a studio/bedsit which is part of a larger home.

Supported Lodgings offers young people a greater sense of freedom and independence whilst having a safety net of support. Each young person and supported lodgings household go through a matching process. During this process young people will meet the potential supported lodgings caregiver and a plan of support is developed to try and make the transition to supported lodgings be as smooth as possible for everyone. During this time, we work with young people and the team around them to identify potential support they may require.

If you are a young person considering supported lodgings, please get in touch with your social worker who can arrange for a member of the supported lodgings team to meet with you and discuss the service more.

About Supported Lodgings

Young people who are leaving care are amongst the most vulnerable groups in society. Young people leaving care can lack the life experience to begin living independently and may have little or no family support.

A stable and supportive home environment can make a huge difference to their chances of moving on successfully. That’s where Supported Lodgings comes in — providing a crucial stepping-stone for young care leavers on their journey to independence

How you can help

Our Supported Lodgings Team would love to hear from you if you can offer a young person a comfortable spare bedroom and supportive presence at a crucial time in their life.

Supported lodgings caregivers act as positive role models and provide guidance, advice and support. Each young person is different, but they may need help with:

• sustaining positive employment, further education, or training
• improving emotional wellbeing
• developing practical life skills like budgeting, cooking, and housework
• reducing loneliness through positive community connections
•  building confidence in their ability to live independently

Young people may stay with you from six months to two years. Caregivers receive a regular payment and ongoing support from our Supported Lodgings Team who will be there to offer advice and help you address any challenges. The young person will have their own worker from the Through Care and After Care Team.

Caregivers don’t take on the same responsibility as a parent or foster carer. Young people living with them will already have a level of independence and hosts should expect to provide a minimum of six hours of support each week as part of a plan to help them transition to live in their own property.

We support you from the moment you express interest. This includes:

• Guidance through the assessment process
• Support from a dedicated social worker
• Training before and during your time as a host
• Ongoing contact and check-ins after a young person moves in

Who can apply

We welcome interest from:

• Single people, couples and families
• People who are retired, working full-time, part-time, or not currently working.

You must have a spare bedroom and be over 21 years old at the time of your application. All applicants are subject to background checks.

We don’t need you to have any specific qualifications – just time, patience and empathy. This may come from personal experiences in your own life, or from having contact with young people, for example, through work.

What to expect from the assessment process:

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our young people, we’ll carry out several checks with your consent. A social worker will be there to support you through the process.

Everyone in your household will take part in the assessment to help us understand the family’s role and attitude towards welcoming a young person into your home.

The assessment involves:

Personal motivation & background

• We’ll explore your life experiences, values, and relevant skills.

Statutory checks & references

• Personal references
  We’ll ask you to give the names of people who can speak to your character and qualities including you work place (if in employment)
  
• Medical check
  Your GP completes a health assessment to confirm you’re physically and emotionally well to provide care and support to a young person.

Home environment

• We’ll carry out a risk assessment of your home, surroundings, and any pets to ensure the space is suitable for a young person.

Supported Lodgings Panel

• Once your assessment is completed, you’ll be invited to attend the Supported Lodgings Panel where your assessment will be reviewed and a recommendation made about your suitability

Next steps

If this sounds like something you’d like to do, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us:

Supported Lodgings
Health & Social Care Moray
Rose Cottage
PO Box 6760
Elgin
IV30 9BX

01343 563568

adminrosecottage@moray.gov.uk

One of our experienced and dedicated team members will be happy to answer any questions you have. They can arrange to meet you if you would prefer to chat face-to-face and learn more about what’s involved. This is also an opportunity for us to learn more about you, and to talk you through the assessment process.