Preparation for the move

Outline of section

Cognitive aim | Practical aim | Emotional aim | Tasks | Viewing | Advocacy | Community care grants | Other sources | Co-ordination | Advocacy | Standards | Evaluation of the preparation stage | Skills, knowledge and training

Cognitive aim

• To ensure as far as possible that the person makes an informed decision about the suitability of the property, that is - will it suit them as far as reasonable? Is it fit and suitable as somewhere to live?

Practical aim

• To consider and plan for what else the client needs to have in place to feel comfortable in the first few weeks in this property?

Emotional aim

• To consider and plan for the emotive aspects of moving in, how will they know/feel that they're settled in a new place?

Tasks

The necessary undertakings in preparation for the move.

Viewing

A proforma viewing checklist may be useful to fill in with the client as you look around the property, just to be sure you don't forget anything. You can download one here.

The tenancy will nearly always begin on a Monday. The landlord may want the tenancy to begin as little as seven days after the viewing. The resettlement worker should try to put the tenancy back to at least one week from the viewing date, and if unsuccessful, should ask the referring project to apply for double housing benefit if a delay is achieved.

If the client is on an assured short hold tenancy in their current accommodation, double housing benefit may be necessary to pay their notice period of 4 weeks.

Refusal of offer

Some organisations operate a restricted offer system, sometimes a one-offer system. Unpalatably, this amounts to take it or leave it, but careful planning and assessment of wants not just needs can mitigate for this, so that the property viewed is not unsuitable for client.

Under restricted systems refusal of offer is restricted to 'justifiable' reasons that include health and safety concerns, unsuitablity of the accommodation for inhabitation - that is it is structurally unsound, squatted, doors or windows are not in place, no working bath/shower, toilet etc, it requires major repairs, is infested, has serious damp, is not connected to a meter for gas and electricity (these are much more difficult to have installed than the connection to be made). For example, in the assessment it is important to ask if there are any areas the client would not want to live, and why, so that refusal of an offer on grounds of not liking the area is deemed unjustifiable when it comes to that.

Other 'unjustifiable' reasons for refusing an offer include the property size (generally), minor repairs, just not liking it. Again the importance of regular review of the plan is emphasised in that a change of circumstances (that weren't communicated to the worker) is also deemed unjustifiable. The importance of accountabilty of the process of assessment is in mitigating for the potential risk of last minute elements the worker was not aware of.

While tolerance of such behaviour varies according the the ethos of the project and the client group they are aiming to help, not turning up for an interview or viewing may also result in losing the nomination.

The reasons behind such policy should be made explicit to the client, refusals of offer delay the process, increases the length of time required to resettle the client, causing a lack of hostel/supported housing bed spaces and resettlement case load spaces for potential new referrals and compounds the lack of move-on available.

Community care grants

Community care grants are grants to people who are:

• already getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit, or payment on account for one of these benefits

or who are

• likely to start getting one of these benefits within the next six weeks because you're moving out of care

and any one of the following applies:

• moving out of residential or institutional care to live independently
• moving to a new home which will be more suitable for you following an unsettled period in your life and are being resettled by an organisation like a local council or voluntary organisation
• need help to stay in your home and not go into residential care or hospital
• need help because you or your family face exceptional pressure, such as family breakdown or because one of you has a long-term illness
• look after someone who is ill or disabled, or has been released from custody on temporary licence
• need help with expenses such as visiting someone who is ill, or to attend a relative's funeral

To be eligible for a community care grant a client must be in receipt of income support/Job Seekers Allowance at the date of the written application and planning to move out of the hostel accommodation into the community within six weeks.

If the client is receiving income support; JSA the resettlement worker with the client will apply for a community care grant, filling in the application form, explaining about the acceptance of a loan. It is very important to emphasise that the client should keep all the receipts for purchases made.

The community care grant application should be filled in at the earliest possible opportunity. The resettlement worker will assist the client with the application, which consists of a standard application form, a letter in support of the claim written by the resettlement worker and a list costing the required items.

For more information on community care grants and other benefits and financial advice see the Directgov webpages.

• A supporting letter is a good idea, and click here for a current (2007) London price approximation

Other sources

Some schemes are able to offer refurbished or second hand furniture, it is worth looking into this in your area , or such sites as freecycle.

Co-ordination

On the day of the move, the client may be able to move independently, but if this is not the case, the worker should arrange or be present to help.

The worker may be best placed to co-ordinate transport etc.

Advocacy

The resettlement worker will:

• advocate on behalf of the client to obtain the best possible offer to reflect their circumstances, where the client may not have the knowledge of the system or the confidence for example. This is a majoe reason to try and be present at the interview.
• attempt to negotiate a tenancy start date as favourable as possible to the client
• enable as far as possible the client to move when they want and how they want
• Write a letter in support of applications for community care grants and/or double housing benefit and appeal any decisions against these not being awarded.

Standards

• Ensure that there is a viewing checklist covering:

1. condition of accommodation
2. services
3. tenancy details.

• Review the client's risk assessment in consideration of increased stress, delay, risk of future isolation and risks related to the new living circumstances.

Skills, knowledge and training

• Time management
• Planning and co-ordination
• Property inspection
• Negotiation.

back to top | Next section: the move