Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Acknowledged
Ensure consistent identifiers alert schools and GPs when children move into temporary accommodation.
Conclusion
Currently, schools are not always notified when a pupil becomes homeless or changes school due to a move into temporary accommodation. This prevents schools from offering additional support which those children may require. Similarly, GPs are often unaware that families are experiencing homelessness, leaving an incomplete picture of the health impacts of homelessness on children. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64) As the Government seeks to establish ‘consistent identifiers’ for children through its Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, it should ensure that these can be used as a formalised notification system, so that a child’s school and GP are alerted when they move into temporary accommodation. This should be introduced alongside a focus on improving data reporting and sharing between public services, to fully understand the health impacts of temporary accommodation on children. (Recommendation, Paragraph 64)
Government Response Summary
The government provided a vague commitment, stating that the homelessness strategy will provide more detail on balancing responsibilities and accountability between central and local government regarding children in temporary accommodation, without addressing the specific recommendation for a formalised notification system for schools and GPs.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
39. We recognise the importance of balancing responsibilities between central government and local authorities, and the importance of accountability. The homelessness strategy will provide more detail on this.