Homeless family out-of-area
Lack of data and understanding regarding the distance and impact of out-of-area placements for homeless families.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears across 11 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
28 PFD reports
135 committee recs
1 PPO rec
2 NAO recs
85 IMB recs
30 IMB reports
33 DHR recs
810 LGO/SPSO decisions
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Prevention of Future Deaths reports(28)
Damion Stanley Joseph Henson
Concerns: The coroner raised concerns about multiple deaths at the premises and the lack of 24-hour supervision at a homeless unit. This allows drug users residing there to introduce others out of hours, creating risks for all present.
Overdue
Gareth Slater
Concerns: Concerns included inadequate discharge planning for Mr Slater, with no care plan, family involvement, or assessment for independent living. His flat was unsuitable, administrative processes were rushed, and there was a lack of structured support post-discharge.
Overdue
Alan Stanfield Browning
Concerns: Mr. Browning was discharged from Somewhere House without his family being informed of accommodation arrangements, and a Friday discharge limited time to secure proper housing. There was also a lack of clarity regarding routine family involvement in discharge planning.
Overdue
Richard White
Concerns: The coroner noted that Hope House lacked a clear and accessible policy or protocol regarding the administration and holding of medication by staff, which was not made known to prescribers or other relevant personnel.
Response (700 Club2): • The organisation stated that it does not store or administer medication to clients as a matter of policy. • The organisation confirmed that if a client voluntarily surrenders medication, … (AI summary)
Responded
Stephen Tilbury
Concerns: Concerns were raised regarding persistent vehicle speeding in Crow Lane. The coroner identified a need for physical measures, such as speed bumps, to ensure vehicles adhere to the speed limit and reduce collision risks, including those posed by the trief curb.
Overdue
Christopher Ajayi
Concerns: Inadequate discharge planning for a patient with severe mental illness and new diabetes led to release into unsupported accommodation without a care package or medical follow-up. The coroner noted insufficient post-discharge support from Care Coordinators and gaps in staff training for complex cases.
Response (South London and Maudsley NHS Trust): • The Trust acknowledged that discharge planning and follow-up fell below expected standards in this specific case. • Staff involved were debriefed and reminded of Trust guidance on effective discharge … (AI summary)
Responded
Robin Richards
Concerns: The coroner identified a shortage of suitable supported accommodation for individuals with Asperger's Syndrome and noted issues with an uninspected placement. Concerns were also raised about the Trust's poor communication, inadequate discharge planning and handover, and shortcomings in risk assessment.
Overdue
Amanda Briley
Concerns: The coroner noted the CCG only commissioned services for autism diagnosis, not management, resulting in a lack of local in-patient provision for individuals requiring mental health treatment. This leads to out-of-area placements, which is contrary to guidance on local provision.
Response (NHS England): • NHS England confirmed the expansion of its Care and Treatment Review (CTR) and Care Education Treatment Review (CETR) policies in March 2017 to include autistic people of all ages, … (AI summary)
Response (Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust): • The Trust introduced an e-learning Autism Awareness module in November 2017 and established a task group to develop more in-depth training for staff. • It was agreed that autism … (AI summary)
Responded
Anthony Watson
Concerns: The coroner raised concerns regarding the insufficient number of inpatient mental health beds in Birmingham and Solihull, resulting in patients requiring immediate admission not receiving treatment. The considerable distance of out-of-area beds also presented a particular difficulty for elderly patients and their families.
Response (NHS England): • NHS England committed to eliminating out-of-area placements for non-specialist acute inpatient care by 2021, including for older adults. • NHS England and NHS Improvement provided clinically-led support and workshops … (AI summary)
Response (NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB): • The CCG increased funding for mental health services and collaborated with partner organisations to address increased demand. • The CCG established a Mental Health Programme Delivery Board with a … (AI summary)
Responded
Georgia Nelson
Concerns: The coroner notes a lack of suitable long-term housing and rehabilitation placements for young mental health patients in RBKC, and highlights the need for improved discharge planning and consideration of rehabilitation before discharge.
Response (RBKC): • The Council and West London Clinical Commissioning Group (WLCCG) acknowledged the need to identify how to build on and strengthen existing processes for young people with mental health support … (AI summary)
Response (CNWL NHS Trust): • The Trust will work with its commissioner and local authority to ensure services are commissioned to provide a wide choice of rehabilitation options. • The Trust will follow new … (AI summary)
Responded
Michael Cox
Concerns: The coroner identified a potential shortage of suitable placements for individuals with mental health history, leading to persistent difficulties for social workers and occupational therapists in finding appropriate facilities.
Response (Cornwall Council): • Cornwall Council has developed a draft multiagency Cornwall Complex Needs Strategy and a draft Adult Mental Health Strategy. • A multiagency operational dual diagnosis steering group was formed in … (AI summary)
Responded
Piotr Kierzkowski
Concerns: The coroner raised concerns regarding the overall bed capacity for patients seeking informal mental health admission and the lack of provisions to temporarily house such patients when a bed is not immediately available.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has increased capacity by opening four crisis house beds and reviewed its bed management processes. • Officials brought the report to the … (AI summary)
Responded
James Herbertson
Concerns: Concerns were raised regarding discharge arrangements where the lead practitioner and parents were not informed, and the accommodation provided was unsuitable for a person with recognised mental health and substance misuse difficulties.
Response (Sussex Partnership NHS Trust): • The Trust updated its Care Programme Approach policy in 2020 to require follow-up contact within 3 days of discharge. • An audit of Carenotes documentation was completed in November … (AI summary)
Responded
Mary Gwanyama
Concerns: Inadequate discharge planning from the Abraham Cowley Unit included no confirmed housing, formal risk assessment, or sufficient observation of medication effectiveness prior to discharge. Gaps were noted in policies for post-discharge medical reviews and comprehensive community care coordination.
Response (Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust): • The Trust committed to updating its CPA policy and Acute Care Services Operational Protocol to require a CPA discharge meeting for homeless patients prior to discharge. • The Home … (AI summary)
Responded
Victoria Cartwright
Concerns: The coroner highlighted insufficient collaborative working between the hospital discharge team and external agencies, leading to a discharge to unsuitable accommodation and a lack of involvement or notification for key partners.
Overdue
Michael Poulton
Concerns: The coroner noted that individuals released from police custody, often a distance from home, may lack money, communication means, or transport to return home, requesting a review of arrangements for their return.
Response (Wiltshire Police): • Wiltshire Police developed and implemented a Vulnerable Detainee Transportation Scheme. • The scheme includes a 'Ring B4 U Bring Scheme' to gather detainee details and provides for taxis or … (AI summary)
Responded
Benjamin Nelson-Roux
Concerns: The coroner noted that accommodation searches for a homeless 16-year-old were restricted to the county boundary, and raised concerns about the lack of residential substance misuse treatment facilities for those under 18.
Response (North Yorkshire County Council): • The Young Peoples Pathway Service is currently under review following local government reorganisation. • The Joint Working Protocol for accommodating homeless 16 and 17-year-olds will be reviewed and updated. … (AI summary)
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Department of Health and Social Care has invested £532 million in the drug strategy to enable local authorities to meet the needs of residents with substance misuse needs, … (AI summary)
Overdue
Shahzadi Khan
Concerns: The coroner identified concerns regarding out-of-area mental health placements resulting from bed shortages, which impeded family contact and information sharing. Issues also included coordinating teams' insufficient understanding of local care pathways and effective discharge planning.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • Funding was made available to support discharge from mental health inpatient settings, and statutory guidance for discharge was published. • Capacity within the North-West Bed Bureau was strengthened, and … (AI summary)
Responded
Tobias Mannering-Jones
Concerns: The coroner noted long waiting lists for mental health support and insufficient resources for stable housing for vulnerable homeless young people, particularly LGBTQIA individuals who are at risk of exploitation. Concerns were also raised about the lack of overall ownership and coordination among multiple agencies involved in supporting these individuals.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) published updated guidance for Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs) to consider wider determinants of health, including housing, and to promote involvement of … (AI summary)
Response (Greater Mnachester Integrated Care): • An action plan is being developed from the Safeguarding Adults Review recommendations, with a workshop planned for May 2024 and a review group to monitor progress. • NHS GM … (AI summary)
Responded
Luke Brooks
Response (North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust): • The 111 service revised its policy to remove all exclusions for self-conveyance, except for Category 1 incidents, allowing patients to be asked if they can make their own way … (AI summary)
Response (Department for Levelling up Housing and Communities): • The Renters (Reform) Bill, introduced in May 2023, includes provision for a new private rented sector database and Property Portal. • Comprehensive guidance on understanding and addressing health risks … (AI summary)
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • Officials from the Department of Health and Social Care made enquiries with NHS England regarding ambulance service policies. • NHS England confirmed, after engaging with ambulance trusts, that no … (AI summary)
Responded
Jagjeet Singh
Concerns: The coroner noted a chronic national shortage of mental health beds, which meant a patient was discharged from a medical ward without a mental health bed available, leading to inadequate accommodation arrangements.
Response (NHS England): • NHS England stated that £2.3 billion was invested in mental health services from 2019/20 to 2023/24, with an additional £1.6 billion made available via the Better Care Fund from … (AI summary)
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Department of Health and Social Care published statutory guidance on discharge from mental health inpatient settings in January 2024. • The Department stated its mission includes ensuring more … (AI summary)
Responded
Paul Williams
Concerns: The coroner noted that the housing situation, including eviction, homelessness, and separation from family due to a shortage of public housing, significantly impacted Paul Williams' mental health. The delay in securing suitable accommodation contributed to his deteriorating condition.
Response (Ministry of Housing Communities Local Government): • The Ministry introduced the Renters’ Rights Bill into Parliament on 11 September 2024, which will abolish Section 21 "no fault" evictions and increase notice periods for possession. • Funding … (AI summary)
Responded
William Bissett
Concerns: The coroner identified late engagement by the Community Offender Manager and insufficient planning for the prisoner's accommodation upon release. Concerns include a failure to inform local authorities about impending homelessness and a lack of support for the prisoner to understand his release conditions.
Response (HM Inspectorate of Prisons): • HM Inspectorate of Prisons stated it would keep the findings of the report on file. • Inspectors would be made aware of this information during the next inspection of … (AI summary)
Response (HMPPS and NW Probation Service): • The OMiC POM to COM Handover Guidance was amended and re-issued in March 2024, providing clear instructions for handover meetings, including timing, attendees, and record keeping. • A review … (AI summary)
Responded
Alexi Susiluoto
Concerns: The coroner noted complexities in care for patients with dual diagnoses due to separate mental health and substance misuse services. An ongoing review of this issue does not consider the additional challenges when these patients are also homeless, causing confusion over care provision and funding.
Response (MHCLG): • The department is providing £58.7 million to local authorities in 2025/26 through the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant (RSDATG). • This funding will deliver substance misuse services … (AI summary)
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is developing a comprehensive action plan to improve service provision for individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs. • … (AI summary)
Responded
Callum Hargreaves
Concerns: The coroner noted the significant disparity between 26,000 families on Cornwall's housing register and only 1,000 properties available annually. This shortage limits the Council's ability to house homeless individuals and contributed to the deceased's mental state.
Response (MHCLG): • The government confirmed a new £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme running from 2026 to 2036 and a ten-year rent settlement for social housing providers. • Funding for … (AI summary)
Responded
Callum Hargreaves
Concerns: Sanctuary Housing did not adequately determine if a vulnerable tenant was being cuckooed or who caused significant property damage. This led to an inappropriate possession notice and highlighted a lack of clear process for responding to cuckooing concerns.
Response (Sanctuary Housing): • Sanctuary Housing committed to an internal review to identify improvements to its multi-agency approach to anti-social behaviour and cuckooing. • Sanctuary Housing will externally benchmark its policies and procedures … (AI summary)
Responded
Callum Hargreaves
Concerns: The coroner noted a prolonged disagreement between a housing provider and the Council over responsibility for housing a cuckooed tenant, and conflicting internal Council views on homelessness applications for tenants with social tenancies.
Response (Conrwall Council Housing): • A Housing Options all-staff briefing was held in June 2025 to highlight the importance of applying the correct homelessness test and s.188 duty. • Housing Options staff have completed … (AI summary)
Responded
Pellumb Olaj
Concerns: Islington Council housed a tenant with paranoid schizophrenia and a history of attempting to jump from high windows in a sixth-floor property. The coroner noted a lack of a clear plan from the council to take such risks into account for new and existing tenants.
Response (Islington Council): • The Housing Management and Housing Needs Services were reorganised to streamline processes, improve resident contact, and facilitate the sharing of information regarding applicants' and tenants' needs. • A new … (AI summary)
Responded
Select committee recommendations(135)— showing 50 strongest matches
#5 —
Recommendation: The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should recognise the importance of housing to the success of community orders . It should be careful not to undermine the efforts of the Ministry of Justice to rehabilitate people serving community …
Response attribution not verified
#4 —
Recommendation: Being homeless makes it difficult to comply with the requirements of a community order. For those sent to prison, perhaps after the breach of a community order, custody can make their situation worse. They are likely to lose their accommodationâhaving …
Response attribution not verified
#19 —
Recommendation: We welcome the focus on young people in the National Plan to End Homelessness, not least given the elevated risks young people can face through abuse, family breakdown and care leaving. Ensuring young people can get the right support at …
Response status not verified
#18 —
Recommendation: Government strategies to end rough sleeping must take into account that women are more likely to manage their homelessness by making themselves less visible. Using this as a coping strategy can expose them to further risks. More hidden forms of …
Response status not verified
#15 —
Recommendation: We welcome the government’s programmes to increase access to mental health support for people in the homelessness system. We would like to see improved access to referral pathways between health and housing services in areas with high levels of Black …
Response status not verified
#12 —
Recommendation: Statutory services should be required to play a stronger role in tackling homelessness. We welcome the focus in the National Plan to End Homelessness on switching from crisis response to prevention of homelessness and the proposed “duty to collaborate” to …
Response status not verified
#11 —
Recommendation: We welcome the government’s plans to address poor practice in the use of out of area placements. Those plans should include measures to address the disproportionate use of these placements for Black households, including through the recording and publication of …
Response status not verified
#10 —
Recommendation: Out of area placements can remove vulnerable people from their support networks at a time when they most need them and have a devastating impact on people’s healthcare and education. Reports of the disproportionate use of these placements for Black …
Response status not verified
#5 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the government adopt a reuse-first approach to housing policy, prioritising the conversion of vacant and under-used heritage buildings before pursuing new build. This approach should embed reuse as a clear priority in the National Planning Policy Framework, …
Response status not verified
#4 —
Recommendation: Heritage-led housing is no longer a niche or peripheral opportunity, but a major and under-recognised means of addressing the country’s acute housing shortage. Historic England’s estimate that up to 670,000 47 homes could be delivered through the reuse of vacant …
Response status not verified
#19 — MHCLG recognises need for stronger data on household placements, improving information sharing
Recommendation: MHCLG accepted that this is an area where it needs stronger and more transparent data. We asked if this was something that MHCLG’s homelessness case level information collection (H-CLIC) dataset could help with. It explained that, while joining up data …
Response attribution not verified
#18 — Anecdotal evidence indicates local authorities are 'swapping' homeless households between areas
Recommendation: We enquired whether some local authorities were effectively “swapping” households with other local authorities. MHCLG replied that it received a lot of anecdotal evidence that this was happening, and that such an approach was clearly wrong given that it is …
Response attribution not verified
#17 — MHCLG lacks crucial data on distance of out-of-area placements for homeless families
Recommendation: We asked MHCLG how far away from their home area these families were living. It replied that it does not have the data to understand the exact figures involved, although it is aware that some families are being placed at …
Response attribution not verified
#16 — Out-of-area homeless placements significantly increasing, causing disruption for households, particularly children.
Recommendation: For a variety of reasons, including lack of housing supply and suitability of accommodation, some local authorities struggle to place households within their local area. MHCLG acknowledges that placing households out of area can cause disruption, especially to children, including …
Response attribution not verified
#11 — Significant concerns exist regarding B&B suitability for temporary accommodation, particularly for children.
Recommendation: There are particular concerns about the use of B&Bs as temporary accommodation, regarding the suitability of the environment and location, safeguarding in mixed settings, and a lack of support from wider public services. Children in B&Bs often face particular challenges, …
Response attribution not verified
#3 — Improve MHCLG data on out-of-area placements to encourage better local authority coordination.
Recommendation: Too many people’s lives are disrupted by being placed in temporary accommodation outside of their local area. For a variety of reasons, including lack of housing supply and suitability of accommodation, some local authorities struggle to place households in temporary …
Response attribution not verified
#30 — Home Office competition for accommodation exacerbates local authority homelessness costs and housing pressures.
Recommendation: The National Audit Office reported that the increase in asylum decisions had placed greater pressure on local authorities to support refugees in finding accommodation and increased the risk of homelessness and rough sleeping.107 The previous Public Accounts Committee also raised …
Response attribution not verified
#29 — Home Office improved engagement with local authorities on asylum accommodation and move-on support.
Recommendation: Since 2020, the Home Office has increasingly used hotels to accommodate asylum seekers due to rising demand and a shortage of alternative accommodation. The previous Public Accounts Committee had raised concerns about the Home Office’s lack of effective engagement with …
Response attribution not verified
#14 — Provide update on connecting homelessness data with public services and improve related data collection.
Recommendation: The Government should provide an update on its efforts to connect homelessness data with data from other public services, including health data, to take a more holistic approach to understanding the drivers of homelessness in England. It should also consider …
Response attribution not verified
#13 — Ensure consistent identifiers alert schools and GPs when children move into temporary accommodation.
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#12 — Update Code of Guidance requiring local authorities to notify host authorities before out-of-area placements.
Recommendation: We are deeply concerned to hear that several local authorities may be falling short of their legal duties regarding out-of-area placements, particularly the requirement to notify the host authority after placements are completed. There is currently no requirement for local …
Response attribution not verified
#11 — Issue guidance discouraging out-of-area property acquisition and consult on placement distance limits.
Recommendation: The Government must issue guidance to discourage local authorities from acquiring properties outside of their authority boundaries to use as temporary accommodation. Where this is not possible, the local authority must notify prospective host local authorities before it purchases any …
Response attribution not verified
#10 — Require local authorities to report quarterly on out-of-area placements and publish H-CLIC data.
Recommendation: The Government must improve the quality of data on local authorities’ use of out-of-area placements. It should require all local authorities to report to the Department quarterly on instances of out-of-area placements as part of their H-CLIC data report, including …
Response attribution not verified
#9 — Out-of-area temporary accommodation placements cause devastating impacts and lack reliable data.
Recommendation: Out-of-area temporary accommodation placements have a devastating impact on families, leaving them far from their extended family, friends, and support network, and causing disruption to children’s education. There is a lack of reliable data on how out-of-area placements are currently …
Response attribution not verified
#3 — Mandate local authorities to conduct mandatory temporary accommodation inspections and publish annual reports.
Recommendation: Some local authorities are not taking sufficient account of the needs of children and families when making decisions on temporary accommodation placements. Many local authorities do not carry out any regular inspections of the conditions in the accommodation they use …
Response attribution not verified
#2 — Families face prolonged temporary accommodation stays amid England's severe housing crisis.
Recommendation: During our inquiry we have also heard that, for many families, life in temporary accommodation is far from ‘temporary’. In some cases, families spend years in temporary accommodation, stuck in limbo without the stability of permanent accommodation and knowing that …
Response attribution not verified
#20 — Collect DfE data distinguishing out-of-area child placements by reasons of interest versus capacity.
Recommendation: The Department for Education should collect data on the proportion of children who are placed out of area because it is in their own interests compared with those placed out of area due to capacity issues, so that the situation …
Response attribution not verified
#19 — Publish national children's social care sufficiency strategy and mandate local out-of-area placement reduction plans.
Recommendation: The Department for Education must publish a national sufficiency strategy for children’s social care as a matter of urgency and publish data on the extent to which sufficiency requirements are being met on an annual basis. It should also require …
Response attribution not verified
#18 — Data on reasons for out-of-area placements is essential for understanding and change.
Recommendation: We disagree with the Department’s view that data on the reasons for out- of-area placements are not needed. While data collection itself may not directly lead to improvements, it is essential to fully understand the nature and scale of the …
Response attribution not verified
#17 — Out-of-area placements traumatise children, despite some local authorities limiting numbers.
Recommendation: Too many children are being sent many miles from home, which has a traumatic and lasting impact on their lives. We were saddened to hear that a care-experienced young person had chosen not to pursue higher education as a direct …
Response attribution not verified
#34 — Reconsider freeze on Local Housing Allowance rates and extend support for housing acquisition
Recommendation: As we recommended in our previous report, England’s Homeless Children, the Government should reconsider its decision to freeze Local Housing Allowance rates and should extend its support for local authorities to acquire new housing stock through the Local Authority Housing …
Response attribution not verified
#33 — Record levels of homelessness among families and children strain local authority finances
Recommendation: It is a source of national shame that cases of homelessness, particularly among families and children, are at record levels and continue to rise. This is placing considerable strain on the finances of local authorities. We repeat the findings of …
Response attribution not verified
#9 — Bolstering preventative services must not underfund essential acute services like temporary accommodation.
Recommendation: We support the Government’s current stated intention to focus more on prevention to reduce the demand for more expensive acute services in the long term. These preventative services have been weakened by a decade of underfunding in local government. However, …
Response attribution not verified
#17 —
Recommendation: We welcome the measures in the Social Housing Bill to support victims of domestic abuse and to help prevent them becoming homeless. We will follow the scrutiny of the Bill closely. (Conclusion, Paragraph 93)
Response status not verified
#16 —
Recommendation: Domestic abuse is a key driver of homelessness. The housing workforce must have the training and capacity required to deal with cases effectively and compassionately. The government has increased the funding available to support victims into safe accommodation but it …
Response status not verified
#13 —
Recommendation: In bringing forward the “duty to collaborate” the government should set out a clear ambition to tackle the poorer outcomes including increased risks of homelessness that minority ethnic groups experience in leaving the care of public services. The government should …
Response status not verified
#5 —
Recommendation: The government needs to increase and sustain Local Housing Allowance rates at the 30th percentile of local private rents. Doing so will help to prevent people from being pushed into homelessness due to private rent increases, will immediately unlock more …
Response status not verified
#4 —
Recommendation: Local Housing Allowance provides vital support for people on lower incomes. The ad hoc approach of freezing and resetting rates creates uncertainty, pushes people into further poverty and increased risks of homelessness. This in turn forces local authorities to increase …
Response status not verified
#33 —
Recommendation: We remain of the view that the government should unfreeze the Local Housing Allowance and ensure it matches at least the 30th percentile of market rents to protect households on lower incomes. Doing so will help reduce the risk of …
Response status not verified
#2 —
Recommendation: We urge the government to publish the long-awaited long-term housing strategy by the end of September 2026. We will be assessing whether the strategy addresses the drivers that contribute to poor housing across the country, including in the private rented …
Response status not verified
#1 —
Recommendation: We welcome the government’s plans to raise the standard of homes in the privately rented sector over the next decade. While most renters are satisfied with their homes, a substantial minority of private renters are living in homes that are …
Response status not verified
#34 —
Recommendation: We call on the Ministry of Justice and prison leaders to prioritise timely notification of upcoming releases to local authorities and other relevant stakeholders, giving them the best chance to identify suitable accommodation among an already limited stock of options. …
Response status not verified
#33 —
Recommendation: We were impressed by the large network of partners—including multiple UK and Welsh Government funded housing advisors as well as third sector providers—working hard to ensure Welsh prisoners were released into suitable accommodation and not released into homelessness. However, we …
Response status not verified
#24 —
Recommendation: Accommodation continues to account for a large proportion of asylum-related spending, with pressure shifting as demand and system capacity change. Spending on asylum accommodation reached around £3.4 billion in 2024–25, and hotels continue to be used as contingency accommodation.58 The …
Response status not verified
#23 —
Recommendation: We also questioned departments on the increasing pressure on asylum accommodation and social housing across the UK. Shortages of dispersal accommodation have contributed to continued reliance on hotels, and efforts to expand alternative options, such as large sites, have faced …
Response status not verified
#14 —
Recommendation: Efforts in 2023 to clear the backlog of legacy claims also led to a notable increase in individuals who had been granted protection status presenting to local authorities as homeless and requiring support, exacerbated by the requirement to leave Home …
Response status not verified
#17 —
Recommendation: There is a shortage of suitable accommodation for older prisoners following their release, which can undermine their rehabilitation and prevent them from successfully re-integrating into society. We are particularly concerned about reports of older individuals being released to no-fixed abode. …
Response attribution not verified
#10 —
Recommendation: A social housebuilding programme should be top of the Government’s agenda to rebuild the country from the impact of COVID-19. The crisis has exposed our broken housing system. Families in overcrowded homes have faced worse health outcomes. Private renters have …
Response attribution not verified
#1 —
Recommendation: The housing market in England has changed substantially since the last time there was political consensus on the need to build large numbers of social housing. The decades in which social housing was delivered at scale featured different mechanisms than …
Response attribution not verified
#51 —
Recommendation: On 5 June, the Housing Secretary announced a two month extension, until the end of August, of the suspension of evictions from social or private rented housing to protect tenants and landlords during the pandemic.
Response attribution not verified
PPO death in custody recommendations(1)
NAO audit recommendations(2)
The effectiveness of government in tackling homelessness
We recommend that DLUHC should explore how it can provide local authorities with greater predictability of funding for homelessness, within a spending review period.
Accepted
The effectiveness of government in tackling homelessness
We recommend that DLUHC should lead on producing a long-term strategy, and associated public targets, with regard to statutory homelessness.
Partially accepted
IMB annual reports(30)
Ashfield (2021)
HMP Ashfield is judged to be a well-managed Category C prison for sex offenders, maintaining high standards and humane treatment despite significant COVID-19 challenges. The prison effectively managed the pandemic, achieving low infection rates and progressively easing restrictions to maximize purposeful activity. Key concerns include persistent difficulties in securing suitable accommodation for released prisoners, a severe reduction in offending behaviour programme places, and issues with mental health support and equality and diversity monitoring.
PRISON
Key concerns
Brixton (2021)
The reporting year at HMP Brixton was dominated by COVID-19, leading to severe restrictions on the prison regime, impacting prisoners' mental health and resettlement opportunities. Despite significant efforts by staff and healthcare to maintain services and well-being, concerns persisted regarding the suitability of the offender flow system, inadequate accommodation for older prisoners, and a lack of D-category prison places. While self-harm incidents slightly decreased, assaults on staff increased, and substance misuse remained a challenge, with the Board commending positive aspects like food quality, staff commitment, and progress in education.
PRISON
Key concerns
New Hall (2021)
The Independent Monitoring Board at HMP New Hall reported a generally well-run and safe prison for the year ending February 2021, despite significant challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Positive aspects included improved healthcare staffing, reduced self-harm, and effective use of technology like Purple Visits to maintain family contact. However, key concerns persist regarding the lack of resettlement accommodation, the impact of Covid-19 on sentence progression, and persistent issues with late prisoner arrivals and lost property during transfers.
PRISON
Key concerns
Peterborough (Men) (2021)
HMP/YOI Peterborough (Men) operated under restricted Covid-19 regimes for the entire reporting year, impacting daily routines and rehabilitation. Despite this, the prison received credit for managing the pandemic well, leading to good safety outcomes, including significant reductions in violence and self-harm. Key concerns persist regarding resettlement accommodation, mental health provision in segregation, the future 'full regime,' and the full return of the key worker scheme.
PRISON
Key concerns
Askham Grange (2021)
Askham Grange is a safe, open women's prison with a strong resettlement ethos, treating prisoners fairly and humanely, and providing good healthcare. Key concerns include the delayed decision on the prison's future, the potential removal of popular single-occupancy pods, and the ongoing transfer of women with short sentences, which hinders resettlement efforts.
PRISON
Key concerns
Leicester (2023)
HMP Leicester is well-led, maintaining a relatively safe environment with reduced self-harm and assaults on staff, and improved reception facilities. Despite generally good physical and mental healthcare, significant concerns persist regarding long delays for mentally ill prisoners awaiting transfer, which can result in inhumane segregation. Staffing shortages have severely impacted key working and the regime on weekends, while aging infrastructure requires substantial capital investment, particularly for the gym. Resettlement efforts are hindered by a high proportion of men released without accommodation and underdeveloped substance misuse services.
PRISON
Key concerns
Leyhill (2024)
HMP Leyhill is a Category D open prison that demonstrated humane treatment, effective healthcare, and improved ROTL processes during the reporting year. The prison's population was 449 against an operational capacity of 460. Key challenges include a persistent lack of Approved Premises delaying releases, an inadequate food budget, and the impact of a changing prisoner demographic on safety and increased drug finds. Staffing pressures also affected healthcare, education, and social video calling provision.
PRISON
Key concerns
Leicester (2024)
HMP Leicester, a busy local prison, continues to be well led despite the challenges of old buildings needing investment and high prisoner churn. While staff-prisoner interactions are positive and resettlement planning is a strength, the Board remains concerned by rising self-harm incidents, delays in mental health transfers, prisoners leaving without accommodation, and deteriorating cell conditions. Key working remains insufficient, and the substance misuse unit is not delivering its full therapeutic regime.
PRISON
Key concerns
Bronzefield (2020)
HMP/YOI Bronzefield, a local female prison, effectively managed the initial COVID-19 lockdown, maintaining a nearly virus-free environment, but the sustained restricted regime led to a significant rise in self-harm and mental health concerns. Key issues included a high proportion of prisoners released without stable accommodation, persistent challenges with timely mental health transfers, and a shortage of cell keys affecting prisoner property security. Despite these, the Board noted positive developments in food quality, key worker implementation, and effective education provision during the pandemic.
PRISON
Key concerns
Chelmsford (2020)
HMP/YOI Chelmsford experienced a challenging year, with the latter half dominated by a restrictive COVID-19 lockdown which successfully prevented prisoner infections but curtailed regime activities. The Board raised significant concerns including overcrowding, the poor condition of A-wing, insufficient post-release accommodation, and issues with equality and mental health provision. Despite these failings, often attributed to government policy, the Board commended staff dedication and professionalism.
PRISON
Key concerns
Leicester (2021)
HMP Leicester is a well-run local male adult prison that maintained strong leadership and an engaged staff during a challenging year of COVID-19 restrictions. Despite prisoners being largely confined to cells for 23 hours daily, the prison saw significant reductions in violence, self-harm, and drug use, partly due to the restricted regime and enhanced security. The Board commended improvements in accommodation, healthcare, and resettlement support for homeless prisoners, though concerns remain regarding long waits for mental health transfers, IPP prisoner progress, and the impact of the ongoing restricted regime.
PRISON
Key concerns
Lincoln (2021)
HMP/YOI Lincoln is deemed a well-run Category B local prison, effectively managed by the Governor's team, which maintained a humane regime and kept prisoners safe despite severe COVID-19 restrictions. The reporting year saw significant reductions in self-harm and violence, coupled with improvements in the physical environment and infectious disease management. Key concerns include slow maintenance, high prisoner homelessness on release, long waits for mental health transfers, and the ongoing issue of IPP prisoners held beyond tariff.
PRISON
Key concerns
Bronzefield (2021)
HMP/YOI Bronzefield operated under severe Covid-19 restrictions, impacting prisoner well-being and regime delivery, exacerbated by staff absences. Despite these challenges, the prison managed the pandemic effectively, improved mental health transfers, and achieved Hepatitis C elimination. However, concerns remain regarding escalating self-harm incidents, a high number of prisoners released without accommodation, the prison's use as a 'place of safety' for mentally unwell women, and persistent drug ingress.
PRISON
Key concerns
Swansea (2022)
HMP Swansea is generally considered a safe and humane prison by the Board, with notable improvements in education, purposeful activity, and resettlement support. However, significant concerns persist regarding the inadequate mental health provision and the challenge of securing accommodation for prisoners on release. Other key issues include delays in cell refurbishment, poor disability access, and inconsistent reporting of segregation decisions to the Board.
PRISON
Key concerns
Bristol (2024)
HMP Bristol has made notable improvements in safety, regime consistency, and purposeful activity during the reporting year, with reductions in deaths in custody, self-harm, and violence. Staffing levels have reached full establishment, contributing to these positive changes. However, significant challenges persist, including severe overcrowding, limited mental health support for the general population, and issues with the physical environment, particularly a lack of in-cell sanitation in one wing. Resettlement support, the prevalence of illicit items, and the need for better IT infrastructure also remain key concerns for the Board.
PRISON
Key concerns
Leicester (2025)
HMP Leicester, a busy local male prison, continues to be well-led despite the challenges of an aging Victorian estate and high prisoner turnover. The reporting year saw a positive 33% reduction in self-harm incidents and no deaths in custody, alongside effective intelligence work to intercept illicit items. However, concerns persist regarding an increase in violent incidents, significant delays in mental health transfers, a lack of accommodation for 33% of prisoners on release, and the persistent availability of drugs.
PRISON
Key concerns
Low Newton (2025)
HMP/YOI Low Newton is a women's closed prison that has seen improvements in culture and regime under new leadership. While safety is prioritised, challenges remain with a high number of self-harm incidents and significant mental health needs among the population, often leading to the prison acting as a place of safety. Efforts are being made in purposeful activity, resettlement, and healthcare, with strong staff dedication noted.
PRISON
Key concerns
Thameside (2025)
HMP Thameside, a busy local Category B/C prison, faces significant challenges despite efforts to maintain safety. Key concerns include persistent issues with healthcare provision, delays in mental health transfers, and inadequate resettlement services leading to poor outcomes for prisoners. While there have been improvements in staffing levels and specific unit regimes, the Board remains concerned about the quality of ACCT documentation, inconsistent application of incentives, and late court returns.
PRISON
Key concerns
Stocken (2025)
HMP Stocken, a Category C training prison, maintained a generally safe environment for prisoners and staff during the reporting year, despite an increased population. The Board highlights persistent concerns including delays in mental health transfers, the loss of prisoner property due to inconsistent volumetric controls, and an insufficient number of cells for disabled prisoners. Positive developments include improved ACCT interactions, increased staff diversity, and effective key working, though staffing challenges and drone activity impacting regime remain.
PRISON
Key concerns
Leyhill (2021)
HMP Leyhill, a Category D open prison, maintained a safe and humane environment despite COVID-19 challenges during the reporting year. The Board commended the prison's response to the pandemic, its healthcare provision, and diverse purposeful activities. Key concerns persist regarding the unfair treatment and delayed resettlement of IPP prisoners and those awaiting approved premises, as well as recurring issues with prisoner property management and the need to restore creative arts programmes.
PRISON
Key concerns
Ranby (2021)
For the reporting period ending March 2021, HMP Ranby operated under severe Covid-19 restrictions, including a 22-hour lockdown. Despite this, the prison commendably controlled Covid-19 outbreaks and saw significant reductions in self-harm and violence. However, the Board highlighted recurring concerns regarding mental health provision, cell sharing, resettlement issues, and deficiencies in prisoner complaint handling and transfer processes.
PRISON
Key concerns
Foston Hall (2021)
HMP/YOI Foston Hall faced significant challenges in the reporting year ending November 2021, primarily from persistent Covid-19 restrictions and severe staffing pressures. The IMB acknowledged the dedication of staff and noted improvements in areas like induction and welfare checks. However, serious concerns remain regarding the prison's high self-harm rates, inadequate mental health provision, unsuitable accommodation, and the impact of staff shortages on regime delivery and prisoner resettlement.
PRISON
Key concerns
Northumberland (2021)
HMP Northumberland, a Category C prison, successfully managed the Covid-19 pandemic during 2021, maintaining a safe and humane environment with commendable staff dedication. While the regime was restricted, efforts were made to provide in-cell activities and gradually reopen purposeful activity. Key concerns remain around the lasting impact on prisoner mental health, insufficient opportunities for rehabilitation, and the unacceptable issue of prisoners being released into homelessness.
PRISON
Key concerns
The Mount (2022)
HMP The Mount experienced a second year of restricted Covid regimes (March 2021 – February 2022), leading to prisoners often being locked down for 23 hours a day, significantly impacting their mental and physical health. Despite challenges, the prison's management effectively controlled Covid outbreaks, and the new healthcare provider delivered a satisfactory service. Key concerns include insufficient Category D places, high staff turnover and low key worker engagement, inadequate estate maintenance, and persistent issues with property transfers and dentistry access.
PRISON
Key concerns
Wandsworth (2022)
HMP Wandsworth, a severely overcrowded reception prison holding 1,385 prisoners against a CNA of 961, faced significant challenges during the reporting period. Critical staff shortages severely impacted regime delivery and contributed to the prison being deemed unsafe due to rising violence and self-harm. Living conditions in the dilapidated Victorian buildings remained inhumane, while healthcare services suffered from long waiting times and poor inpatient facilities, and resettlement support for the majority remand population was inadequate.
PRISON
Key concerns
Wealstun (2022)
HMP Wealstun, a Category C training prison, experienced significant challenges during 2021-22, primarily due to severe staffing shortages that led to frequent regime curtailments and long periods of cell confinement. While healthcare provision was generally well-managed and positive work was noted in areas like substance misuse recovery and equality initiatives, major concerns persist regarding the inhumane treatment of IPP prisoners, the use of double cells, and the deteriorating conditions of older wings. The Board has made recommendations at national and local levels to address staffing, infrastructure, and resettlement pathways to ensure a humane and progressive environment.
PRISON
Key concerns
Wymott (2022)
HMP Wymott faced significant challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a restricted regime, staff shortages, and increased self-harm incidents. While the Board commended efforts to maintain safety and improve medication delivery, major concerns persisted regarding dilapidated accommodation, persistent issues with prisoner property, and limited access to healthcare, particularly mental health and dentistry. The increasing number of IPP prisoners and challenges with progression and resettlement, including releases without accommodation, remain significant issues for the Board.
PRISON
Key concerns
The Verne (2022)
HMP The Verne, an adult training prison for men convicted of sexual offences, has largely restored its 'core day' regime following COVID-19, maintaining a safe environment with good staff-prisoner relationships and high-quality healthcare. However, the report highlights critical issues, particularly regarding the inadequate 24-hour social care and onsite hospital provision for its growing elderly and frail population. Significant understaffing in the Offender Management Unit continues to undermine resettlement efforts for the substantial number of prisoners released directly from this training prison, alongside concerns about low prisoner pay and a third of the population lacking purposeful activity.
PRISON
Key concerns
Yarl’s Wood (2022)
Yarl’s Wood IRC experienced a shift to a male-only population, including a significant increase in foreign national offenders, during the reporting year. The Board noted an increase in violence, self-harm incidents, and use of force, alongside persistent challenges with staff recruitment, retention, and communication due to language barriers. While healthcare provision was largely commended, concerns remain regarding the length of detention, delays in bail releases, and the need for more comprehensive planning for release and resettlement, particularly for FNOs.
PRISON
Key concerns
Foston Hall (2023)
HMP/YOI Foston Hall has shown positive developments in regime provision and some safety initiatives, yet it continues to grapple with persistently high self-harm rates and increased use of force. Staffing shortages have impacted key work and overall experience levels, while healthcare faces challenges with recruitment, missed appointments, and inadequate facilities. The Board highlights significant concerns regarding accommodation decency, delays in parole and mental health transfers, and a lack of analytical focus on protected characteristics, affecting fair treatment and access to services.
PRISON
Key concerns
IMB individual recommendations(85)— showing 50 strongest matches
Birmingham (2021)
What will the minister do to ensure that prisoners on remand, on short sentences, reaching the end of their sentence and those released out of their home area who are not on probation are given access to accommodation on release, as at present, as this will not be covered by the new contract with Nacro?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Birmingham (2021)
Will the Minister improve the management of immediate releases from court to “no fixed abode” and will he ensure that the Courts have a role to play to help ensure better communication and co-ordination with their local resettlement services so that no-one is immediately released to sleep on the streets?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Norwich (2021)
How is the Government planning to build on the regional homelessness prevention taskforce (HPT) to eradicate homelessness for released prisoners and ensure that there is equity of accommodation provision for the homeless throughout the UK?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Northumberland (2021)
Additionally, the full effect of the transition to the new probation service has yet to be evaluated, but we are aware that men are released into homeless situations and we find this unacceptable. We would seek confirmation from the minister that those agencies charged with the responsibility of housing men on release are doing just that and, more importantly, that …
Ministry of Justice
Foston Hall (2021)
The IMB is concerned about: the increase in the number of prisoners being released without an address
Governor / Director
In Progress
Chelmsford (2021)
To exert influence to ensure provision of suitable permanent accommodation for prisoners upon release, so that no prisoner ends up on the street.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Cardiff (2021)
The Board was pleased to hear that support for men who are leaving prison without settled accommodation is being extended until April 2022. However, there appears to be a lack of available and suitable accommodation, particularly in certain areas, and we would be interested to see what steps the Welsh Government is able to take, jointly with local authorities, to …
Other
In Progress
Swansea (2022)
The Board continues to be concerned around prisoners leaving custody without accommodation in future. The good work being undertaken in preparing prisoners for release and with employment on release has the potential to be undone by the lack of suitable accommodation.
Other
Bronzefield (2022)
What has the Mayor’s office for policing and crime done in the last year to increase the availability of accommodation for those prisoners who leave prison with no fixed abode? Will the Mayor provide a response to this issue which the Board has raised annually since 2017? (See paragraphs 7.5.1 and 7.5.2, 7.5.3.)
Other
Swansea (2023)
Post-release accommodation remains a significant problem. We understand this is not an issue that can be easily resolved but would like to see the targeting of funding towards the resolution of this particular problem. The Board is very clear in its view that lacking a ‘roof over your head’ is a major contribution to reoffending.
Other
In Progress
Foston Hall (2023)
How will you address the problem of prisoners being homelessness on release?
Governor / Director
Bronzefield (2023)
What has the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime done in the last year to increase the availability of accommodation for those prisoners who leave prison with no fixed abode? The Mayor will note from the ‘Progress’ column in paragraph 3.3 below, that none of the initiatives in the ‘Summary Response’ have had any material or lasting positive impact on …
Other
Bullingdon (2024)
How will the Minister work with others to find accommodation for men at risk of being homeless on their release from Bullingdon?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Bronzefield (2024)
How does the Minister plan to improve the support of prisoners released from court or at short notice, who are discharged without suitable accommodation? (7.5)
Ministry of Justice
Implemented
Bullingdon (2025)
how will the Minister work with others to find accommodation for men at risk of being homeless upon their release from Bullingdon?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Cardiff (2020)
We would ask whether this scheme will be continued for prisoners leaving custody without accommodation?
Other
In Progress
Bedford (2020)
Ensure that no prisoners are released without stable accommodation.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
New Hall (2021)
The Board remains concerned about the lack of appropriate resettlement accommodation.
Ministry of Justice
Lewes (2021)
Will the Minister engage with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to improve the coordination between the prison service and local authorities so that pre-release assessments are completed by both parties in advance of prisoner release in all cases?
Other
In Progress
Exeter (2021)
Intensify efforts to support individuals who are at risk of homelessness on their release from prison and increase the level of expectations on local authorities and the Probation Service to improve accommodation outcomes (see 7.4).
Ministry of Justice
Brixton (2021)
increasing the supply of accommodation for men released from prison is urgently required.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Belmarsh (2021)
Will the minister look urgently at the provision for those prisoners on remand in order to • speed up the courts process so that prisoners are not kept on remand for a prolonged period • ensure that those prisoners on remand who stand to lose their accommodation due to longer stays in prison, have housing support from St. Mungo’s or …
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Wandsworth (2022)
At the time of this report, housing services are only offered to sentenced prisoners. When will this be extended to unsentenced prisoners?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Low Newton (2022)
The Minister should make an assessment of the effectiveness of current contracts for the resettlement of prisoners who have no permanent home to go to upon release, given the importance of this issue in reducing re-offending.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Bronzefield (2022)
Following reunification of the probation services in June 2021, the survey undertaken by the Board in early 2022 found there continued to be a significant problem in the provision of accommodation for prisoners on release. What are the Minister’s plans for this issue to be addressed urgently? (See paragraph 7.5.3.)
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Brixton (2022)
The provision of accommodation for men released from prison during Covid was most welcome but, since the relaxation of restrictions, the number of men with no accommodation to go to has again risen. The scarcity of affordable accommodation in London in particular militates against successful re-entry into the community and undermines good work undertaken in prison. Accordingly, increasing the supply …
Other
Bronzefield (2024)
How does the Minister plan to improve ‘through the gate services’ to ensure that discharged prisoners are properly supported in the community? (7.5)
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Wandsworth (2020)
The poor quality of the resettlement provision continued to be of serious concern. What is being done to improve this?
HMPPS
In Progress
Swaleside (2020)
In our report last year, we mentioned that it is essential that residents are provided with resettlement services, preferably in a prison nearer to their home as they reach the end of their sentences. This service has not been provided from Swaleside. Though there were only 17 residents released from the prison in the last year, none of them were …
HMPPS
In Progress
Nottingham (2020)
We also report the significant Board concern in relation to the number of prisoners released without accommodation, and the inadequacy of bail hostel accommodation availability, preventing prisoners from securing home detention curfew (HDC) for which they might otherwise have been eligible. This situation results from failings in the wider community and is beyond the control of the prison and the …
Other
In Progress
Lincoln (2020)
Despite the great efforts made locally, the Board remains concerned about the high level of homelessness of discharged prisoners (see paragraph 11.16).
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Exeter (2020)
Will the Secretary of State exert influence to ensure the provision of suitable permanent accommodation for prisoners upon release, so that no prisoner ends up homeless or with no fixed abode?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Dovegate (2020)
The Board asks the minister to encourage the government to continue the National Homelessness Task Force after the pandemic, so that resettlement departments have this additional help to provide settled accommodation on release to prisoners without strong family ties.
Other
In Progress
Bedford (2020)
Take a lead in addressing the ongoing problem of prisoners being released into the community with no stable accommodation.
HMPPS
In Progress
Moorland (2021)
Can the increased accommodation provision for released prisoners being piloted be rolled out as swiftly as possible to all areas?
HMPPS
In Progress
Hollesley Bay (2021)
That particular attention is given to prisoners when they leave prison having access to suitable accommodation and employment opportunities.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Bedford (2021)
The performance of the new contract for accommodation on release is less than encouraging, and the management arrangements make it difficult for the prison, locally, to influence outcomes. As with all the outsourced services, the prison Governor is accountable for the outcomes without the responsibility for delivery. Clear and quick mechanisms need to be in place for the resolution of …
HMPPS
In Progress
High Down (2022)
Without accommodation on release it is difficult for people to find a job, support themselves and make a fresh start, avoiding a return to prison. What steps does the minister intend to take to ensure that everyone leaving custody has somewhere to live immediately on release? (see section 7.5.)
Ministry of Justice
Hewell (2022)
The Prison Service should recognise the gap between rhetoric and reality in respect of their national aspirations for resettlement and reducing reoffending. However good the education, vocational training and employment support in prison, homelessness, poverty and the current economic situation makes many of the stated aspirations totally unrealistic. This is exacerbated by the high number of remand prisoners in local …
HMPPS
Accepted
Belmarsh (2022)
Will the Minister act upon the issues noted last year, which have not progressed as yet: ensure accommodation support for prisoners on remand (see section 7.5 Resettlement planning)
Ministry of Justice
The Mount (2023)
The Board is concerned that, as a training and resettlement prison, the prison is failing to provide meaningful education, employment and training. This is made worse by the prison having a number of short-term prisoners arriving. Too many prisoners are released before completing their offending behaviour programmes and with no accommodation on release.
Ministry of Justice
Exeter (2023)
Address the lack of accommodation available for some prisoners on their release from prison?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Ashfield (2024)
In common with other prisons, a small number of prisoners released from Ashfield in the last 12 months did not have suitable accommodation arranged prior to release. What solution is the Minister proposing to resolve this matter?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Lincoln (2025)
The Board recommends that the Minister addresses the issue of accommodation for prisoners being released with no fixed abode (NFA).
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Doncaster (2025)
The Board remains concerned about the high number of prisoners being released with no fixed abode? What steps will the Minister take to work with the relevant government departments to develop and implement a coordinated plan to address this serious issue?
Other
In Progress
Rochester (2020)
Re-offending rates cannot be reduced unless there is suitable accommodation for all prisoners who have completed their sentence; too many prisoners are released from Rochester to become homeless rough sleepers. The recent initiative for prisons to refer those at risk of homelessness to local authorities, as referred to by the Minister in replying to previous reports, does not seem to …
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Ranby (2020)
Will the minister explain why 36% of prisoners are released with no fixed abode, and why for the same reason prisoners suitable for home release are not being allowed out of HMP Ranby?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Peterborough (Women) (2020)
The Board remains concerned about the lack of suitable accommodation for women on release (see paragraph 11.3), as proper resourcing of accommodation could be cost-effective in reducing reoffending.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Chelmsford (2020)
to exert influence to ensure the provision of suitable permanent accommodation for prisoners upon release, so that no prisoner ends up on the street
Other
In Progress
Wayland (2021)
The Board urges the minister to charge the public sector successors to the community rehabilitation companies with ensuring that, for all prisoners, there is effective planning for, and confirmed accommodation upon, their release (see section 7.5).
Other
Implemented
Health investigations(15)
Independent investigation: WPC Nina Mackay, Stratford, London (1997) — Rec 4
Westminster City Council should review its housing allocation policy and its use of Bed & Breakfast hotels for vulnerable homeless persons with mental health problems, with a view to increasing the supply of appropriate supported accommodation within the borough, and reducing reliance on out-of-borough placements. This review should include a …
london
Independent investigation: Kyle Maher, Tooting (2017) — Rec R7
EIS and the housing charity should ensure that all staff are aware of all emergency accommodation options available to them.
london
Independent investigation: Valerie Thomas, Cardiff (2005) — Rec 5
Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and Cardiff County Council should: (a) develop structures, systems and procedures which will require, encourage and support active engagement of those health and social care services with patients/clients who may have difficulties in complying with rigid, formal arrangements for contact, including people who are homeless, …
wales
Independent investigation: Valerie Thomas, Cardiff (2005) — Rec 2
Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and Cardiff County Council Social Services and Housing Departments should ensure that integrated and co-ordinated services are provided for those experiencing mental health problems of whatever severity or duration, including for homeless people experiencing such problems. In particular: (a) the matter of management arrangements for …
wales
Independent investigation: Hugh McCaffrey, Willesden — Rec 5.78
A copy of the Vulnerability Report should be sent directly to the Homeless Unit to alert it to pending requests for help.
london
Independent investigation: Hugh McCaffrey, Willesden — Rec 5.77
When submitting a Vulnerability Report, Social Services should ascertain whether the individual had afterwards presented themselves to the Housing Department’s Homeless Unit.
london
Independent investigation: Beatrice Hughes, Harrow (1997) — Rec a.
Harrow Council ensure that its Housing Department and all local Social Landlords consult with the mental health services prior to issuing a Notice to Quit to a tenant who has complex needs;
london
Independent investigation: Hugh McCaffrey, Willesden — Rec 5.79
Through joint planning and the development of the housing resource base, there should be greater clarity as to the accommodation needs of vulnerable adults living in the community.
london
Mental health homicide investigation legacy report into the care and … — Rec 6
The Trust will work with the Local Authority to participate in a scoping exercise of housing need, reviewing need against current provision. The Trust will work with the Local Authority to use this information to develop a Mental Health Housing Strategy to include a strong focus on individuals with severe …
south_west
Accepted
An independent investigation into the care and treatment of a … — Rec 8
The Trust must ensure that an appropriate prescribing plan is developed and implemented when patients are at risk of becoming homeless or not registered with a GP.
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
north_west
Accepted
An independent inquiry into the care and treatment of Mr … — Rec 1
Solent and SHFT should develop a written service specification to set out clearly the relationship between the homeless health care service and the secondary mental health component, to be reflected in specific job descriptions as part of defining the role and functions. This should be completed by 6 months following …
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
south_east
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of P in … — Rec 22
Forward Thinking Birmingham, HMP Birmingham (Healthcare) and HMP Hewell (Healthcare) should review the new service provision, to ensure that the referral and homeless pathways are effectively utilised to identify and support young offenders being released into the community.
midlands
Accepted
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of Mr N — Rec 21
The Trust must ensure that there are effective processes in place for working with the local authority to meet the accommodation needs of young people with mental health problems.
london
Accepted
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of Mr N — Rec 20
The Trust must provide assurance that appropriate accommodation is addressed in all patients’ care planning at the point of discharge from out of area CAMHS forensic admissions.
london
Accepted
An independent investigation into the care and treatment of Christie … — Rec 12
TEWV and CNTW must ensure the organisational approach to safeguarding young people proactively involves and informs the relevant local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership of all instances where a young person is placed at risk, including the use of unregulated and unsupported accommodation in the community.
An independent investigation into the care and treatment of Christie at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
north_east_yorkshire
Independent reviews(12)
Selous Review — Rec 7
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to facilitate speedy eligibility for and access to social housing via local authorities for partners of Serving personnel who have no accommodation to go to and no local connection when they leave SFA following separation and/or divorce.
Other
Selous Review — Rec 6
The Ministry of Defence to: • reconsider the three month rule on a case-by-case basis when families split up and ensure every possible assistance is given to the non-serving partner to access accommodation for themselves and their children in a timely manner • ensure appropriate family accommodation and contact facilities …
Other
Selous Review — Rec 17
The Ministry of Defence to ensure that SFA is allocated as soon as possible when a posting in England is known, to enable families to select and apply for the most appropriate school.
Other
Selous Review — Rec 12
The Ministry of Defence to: • reconsider the expectation that families are required to move SFA on assignment • promote geographical clustering of military bases where operationally possible • retain sufficient SFA to enable families to remain in the same SFA while the Serving partner commutes between different military establishments …
Other
Farmer Review (Women) — Rec 16
Allocation of accommodation guidance for local housing authorities in England to recognise the prospective housing needs of women leaving prison who are otherwise able to be reunited with their children, so local authorities can make these needs the basis for assessment.
Justice & Legal
Farmer Review (Women) — Rec 12
Residential women's centres to have places for women to bring their children, if they would not otherwise have sufficiently stable accommodation in which to complete community orders.
Justice & Legal
MacAlister Review — Rec 52
Introduce a stronger safety net against care leaver homelessness by removing the local area connection test, ending intentionally homelessness practice, providing a rent guarantor scheme and increasing the leaving care grant to £2,438 for care experienced people.
Education
Prison Capacity Review — Rec 4
I recommend that both the Chief Inspector of Probation and the third sector should be involved in discussing the design, as well as the delivery, of community services. This should include the engagement and resourcing of essential non-criminal justice support such as addiction, health, housing, and employment services.
Justice & Legal
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 82
Following major flooding events, the Government should publish monthly summaries of progress of the recovery phase, including the numbers of households still displaced from all or part of their homes.
Other
Glover Landscapes Review — Rec 18
Proposal 18: A new National Landscapes Housing Association to build affordable homes There is a clear need for a steady supply of a small number of affordable homes to rent in many national landscapes. More sites are available which could be granted planning permission than there are being utilised to …
Other
Corston Report — Rec 16
The accommodation pathway is the most in need of speedy, fundamental, gender-specific reform and should be reviewed urgently, taking account of the comments in my report. In particular, more supported accommodation should be provided for women on release to break the cycle of repeat offending and custody and the intentional …
Justice & Legal
Gauke Review — Rec 4.5
Improve investment in and access to accommodation in the community for offenders leaving prison and those serving sentences in the community
Justice & Legal
LGO / SPSO decisions(810)
21-018-788 — London Borough of Lambeth
Summary: We shall not investigate Mr X’s complaint about what happened when he asked the Council for help to move home. This is because the Council has agreed my invitation to provide a suitable remedy for Mr X.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Sep 2022
21-016-752 — Basildon Borough Council
Summary: Mr X complained about how the Council dealt with his homelessness application between August and October 2021. He says the Council’s poor service led to a hospital admission and has had an enduring impact on his mental health. The Council was at fault. It did not do enough to …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Sep 2022
22-006-191 — London Borough of Lewisham
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to pay Mr X the financial remedy it agreed in its complaint response. That is because the Council has now processed the payment and apologised for the delay.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Sep 2022
24-017-655 — London Borough of Redbridge
Summary: Mr F complains about the Council’s handling of his homelessness. There was some delay and poor communication but the Council has already apologised for this which is an appropriate remedy for the injustice caused. I do not find fault in the rest of the complaint.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Oct 2025
24-014-942 — Newcastle upon Tyne City Council
Summary: Mr D complained the Council failed to accept a homelessness application, provide a decision or provide emergency accommodation. I have found the Council at fault because it failed to follow the correct process. The Council has agreed to make service improvements, and will pay redress to Mr D.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Oct 2025
24-020-904 — London Borough of Redbridge
Summary: Mr X complained the Council housed him and his family in unsuitable accommodation and had poor standards of communication and complaint responses. He said this caused significant uncertainty, frustration and distress. We find the Council at fault for housing his family in unsuitable accommodation and some of its communication …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Oct 2025
25-006-792 — Harborough District Council
Summary: We have upheld Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her homelessness application because it delayed accepting a main housing duty, failed to keep her personalised housing plan under review and failed to offer temporary accommodation when it should have done. The Council has agreed to take appropriate …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Nov 2025
25-004-222 — London Borough of Barnet
Summary: The Council was at fault for giving Mr X incorrect information about whether it could offer him financial assistance with securing private rented accommodation. As a result Mr X signed a tenancy agreement he otherwise would not have accepted and has gotten into debt. The Council agreed to apologise …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Dec 2025
24-015-013 — Thurrock Council
Summary: Miss X complained that the Council delayed accepting a homelessness application referral. We found fault by the Council which caused Miss X avoidable distress and meant she lived in an unsuitable property for longer than necessary. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to Miss …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jan 2026
20-012-056 — Horsham District Council
Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to act when it became aware his temporary accommodation was unsuitable due to an inadequate water supply. He said this caused him an injustice as his medical condition meant the lack of water supply caused him severe difficulties. He was also upset …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Feb 2022
21-005-670 — London Borough of Lambeth
Summary: Mrs X complained the Council wrongly placed her in a temporary accommodation which was not properly set up for the individual billing of utilities and council tax. We found the Council at fault for placing Mrs X in the accommodation without ensuring it was properly set up for individual …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Feb 2022
21-005-238 — London Borough of Southwark
Summary: Miss K complained the Council abruptly moved her without enough notice to another temporary accommodation. She also said the new accommodation was unsuitable. We found the Council at fault for failing to give Miss K enough notice about the move and properly consider the impact this caused her. The …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-011-385 — Brighton & Hove City Council
Summary: Miss X complains the Council delayed deciding her mother’s homelessness application and placed her family in unsuitable accommodation. Miss X says this caused her and her family significant distress and caused them to live in unsuitable accommodation for longer than necessary. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jun 2022
21-007-352 — Milton Keynes Council
Summary: Miss Y complained the Council failed to provide her with suitable interim and temporary accommodation and about its assessment of her bedroom entitlement. We have found fault by the Council in the provision of suitable accommodation and in delays and the way it considered Miss Y’s request for an …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jul 2022
22-006-602 — London Borough of Ealing
not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the suitability of temporary accommodation offered to Miss X and the Council’s removal of her application for the housing register after she took a tenancy outside the Borough in 2019. The complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Sep 2022
21-017-005 — London Borough of Brent
Summary: Ms X and Mrs P complained the Council failed to properly manage their homelessness and housing register applications since 2020. We have found the Council to be at fault because there was some delay and Ms X was prevented from joining the housing register at the right time. There …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Sep 2022
22-001-951 — Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
Summary: The Council failed to deal properly with Ms B’s homelessness application and left her and her child in unsuitable accommodation for 10 months longer than necessary causing them distress and anxiety. The Council also failed to communicate with Ms B and keep her updated. In recognition of the injustice …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Oct 2022
22-008-850 — Salford City Council
Summary: A woman complained about the Council’s decision to end its homelessness duty in her case and its refusal to accept another homelessness application. But we will not investigate these matters because the woman had statutory review and potential court appeal rights she could have used to challenge the Council’s …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Nov 2022
22-000-755 — Manchester City Council
Summary: Miss E complained the Council failed to deal with disrepair issues in her temporary accommodation. We find the Council delayed following up on some disrepair issues. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address the injustice caused by fault.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Nov 2022
21-017-877 — Tandridge District Council
Summary: Miss B says the Council failed to tell her about the rent and service charge amounts before she moved into her accommodation failed to provide her with weekly or monthly statements, withheld service charges from her housing benefit reimbursement, failed to explain how the service charge amount had been …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Nov 2022
21-017-670 — London Borough of Newham
Summary: Miss X complained about how the Council dealt with the long‑term disrepair and management issues at her temporary accommodation. The Council was at fault with how it dealt with Miss X’s concerns. This caused Miss X distress, time and trouble, frustration and she remained in an unsuitable accommodation for …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Nov 2022
24-000-812 — Runnymede Borough Council
Summary: Mr X says the Council did not give him enough time to consider its offer of a property. We will not investigate as Mr X has made his complaint late and there are no good reasons to investigate now.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
May 2024
23-021-004 — Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of the Council before and during Mr Y’s homeless application. This is because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
May 2024
23-021-249 — London Borough of Enfield
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a home Mr X leased to the Council. This is because it is reasonable to expect Mr X to use his right to take court action.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
May 2024
23-020-254 — Thurrock Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision on a homeless application. It was reasonable for Mr X to ask for a statutory review of the decision and appeal to the County Court if this was unsuccessful.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
May 2024
23-015-333 — London Borough of Southwark
Summary: Miss X complained the Council has provided temporary accommodation that is unsuitable for her and her family. We found fault by the Council because it did not consider its legal duty to find Miss X and her family suitable temporary accommodation, and they remain in unsuitable accommodation. The Council …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jul 2024
23-020-078 — Watford Borough Council
Summary: Miss D says the Council failed to correctly assess her housing needs. We have found evidence of fault by the Council. We have completed the investigation and upheld the complaint. The Council has agreed to our proposed remedy including paying redress to Miss D.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Sep 2024
24-009-457 — London Borough of Lewisham
Summary: The Council was at fault for delays and poor communication regarding repair issues Ms X raised regarding her temporary accommodation. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Ms X to acknowledge the additional frustration and distress caused, beyond that already remedied through its complaint responses. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jun 2025
25-003-739 — London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her homelessness and housing register applications. This is because further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Sep 2025
24-023-098 — Birmingham City Council
Summary: Mr B complained that the Council failed to properly deal with his housing and homelessness complaints. We find that the Council failed to carry out a homelessness review, determine what duty it owed him, issue a written decision and appropriately address Mr B’s complaints. This caused him avoidable distress, …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Sep 2025
23-018-027 — London Borough of Lambeth
Mr X complains the Council has housed him in unsuitable temporary accommodation and is in the wrong banding for his medical priority need. We find fault with the Council for failing to find suitable alternative temporary accommodation for Mr X. We agreed a financial remedy for the frustration and distress …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Oct 2024
25-000-506 — Basildon Borough Council
Summary: The Council was at fault for failing to house Miss X in suitable accommodation after she became homeless. It later moved Miss X but failed to properly consider if that new accommodation was suitable for her and delayed carrying out a review of one of its decisions. The Council’s …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Dec 2025
25-002-098 — London Borough of Lambeth
Summary: Ms X complains the Council has delayed in offering new temporary accommodation despite accepting the current accommodation was unsuitable. Ms X says this has caused her and her family a great deal of distress. We have found fault in the Councils actions for delaying in reviewing Ms X’s accommodation …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Dec 2025
25-002-805 — London Borough of Lambeth
Summary: We found fault and service failure by the Council on Mr Y’s complaint about it failing to transfer him and his large family from his accommodation which it accepted was unsuitable. The Council failed to consider the suitability of the accommodation sooner when alerted to problems. It delayed carrying …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jan 2026
24-022-711 — Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Summary: Ms D complains the Council delayed considering her homelessness application and left her in unsuitable interim accommodation. I have found extensive fault by the Council meaning Ms D was left in unsuitable accommodation. I have asked the Council to pay redress to Ms D.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jan 2026
25-002-741 — London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Summary: Mr X complained the Council delayed assessing his homeless application and in providing him with accommodation and failed to respond to his communications. The Council delayed dealing with the homeless application, delayed providing interim accommodation and failed to respond to communications from Mr X and his representatives. That caused …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jan 2026
25-001-063 — Gosport Borough Council
Summary: Miss Y complained about the Council’s response to her report of disrepair at her private rented accommodation and request for housing assistance. We have found fault, causing injustice, by the Council in its response to the report of disrepair. We have not found fault with its response to the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jan 2026
25-000-676 — West Lindsey District Council
Summary: Mrs X complained on behalf of her husband about the Council’s actions when they became at risk of homelessness. I find no fault in the Council’s actions leading up to the family’s eviction, nor in its actions in trying to secure suitable temporary accommodation. However, I do find fault …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jan 2026
25-012-003 — Reading Borough Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Feb 2026
25-006-631 — London Borough of Lewisham
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Feb 2026
25-006-066 — London Borough of Wandsworth
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Feb 2026
25-003-153 — London Borough of Lambeth
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Feb 2026
PSOW-202407485 — Cardiff Council
Ms A complained that in February 2024, when she was assisted by Cardiff Council (“the Council”) to complete a housing benefit application, she was not informed that she could not apply, needing to apply for Universal Credit instead. The Ombudsman found that Ms A had been assisted to complete a …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Apr 2025
21-013-368 — Westminster City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Miss X’s homelessness application. This is because Miss X had the right to go to court.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Jan 2022
21-013-294 — Westminster City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s homelessness application. The Council has offered a suitable remedy for some faults dealing with the application. It is now for the Council, not the Ombudsman, to decide what homelessness duties the Council owes Mr X.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jan 2022
20-013-904 — Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Miss C complained the Council refused her housing application based on incorrect information and delayed awarding her the right housing priority. Miss C says she experienced distress and injury because she had to live in an unsuitable property. We found fault with the Council because it delayed referring Miss …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Jan 2022
20-010-367 — Birmingham City Council
Summary: The Council delayed processing a change to Mr and Mrs B’s housing circumstances which meant they were unable to bid on properties of the size they needed. The Council also delayed dealing with their complaints about this. There was no fault in the way the Council decided which housing …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Feb 2022
21-004-362 — Royal Borough of Greenwich
Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council dealt with his homelessness applications and discharged it duties. The Council’s delays and failures to properly advise Mr X amount to fault. This fault has caused Mr X an injustice.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Feb 2022
21-014-390 — London Borough of Haringey
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with Miss X when she was homeless. This is because she has not been caused a significant injustice in relation to the Council’s action in providing her with temporary accommodation. The Council has also acknowledge delays in responding …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-008-627 — London Borough of Newham
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council managed temporary accommodation for homeless households. This is because the complaint relates to issues raised in 2018 and 2019 so it is a late complaint and there are no good reasons to investigate now. The Council has also not …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Mar 2022
Domestic Homicide Reviews(33)
Solihull — recommendation 6a
Safer Solihull Partnership seeks assurance from Solihull Community Housing that the Sanctuary Scheme is fully embedded as a response to the prevention of homelessness and that referrals into the scheme are being made by a broad range of agencies including those that have a responsibility to refer under the Homelessness …
Safer Solihull Partnership | Solihull Community …
Norfolk — recommendation 15
Local Authority Housing Departments when making enquiries to establish the status of a homeless applicant claiming to have been excluded from home, should ensure that the person said to have excluded them, and/or the accommodation owner should be spoken to independently to confirm whether they freely agree for the applicant …
Local Authority Housing Departments
Kent — recommendation 10
Disseminate the learning from this review with local Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) and highlight the risks associated with allowing rough sleepers to congregate in makeshift camps for a prolonged period.
Kent Community Safety Partnership (KCSP)
Kent — recommendation 3
There are clear benefits to having a dedicated IDVA available in Accident and Emergency, along with a dedicated Homeless Practitioner role and bespoke processes in place to deal with homelessness. This good practice should be disseminated to other Acute Hospital Trusts.
East Kent Hospital University Foundation Trust
Norfolk — recommendation 15
Local Authority Housing Departments when making enquiries to establish the status of a homeless applicant claiming to have been excluded from home, should ensure that the person said to have excluded them, and/or the accommodation owner should be spoken to independently to confirm whether they freely agree for the applicant …
Local Authority Housing Departments
Leicester — recommendation Sunflower Centre - 2
More outreach attempts could have been made or attempts to proactively engage with homeless support organisations who might have been able to assist.
Sunflower Centre
Manchester — recommendation 10.1.3.2
Improve information sharing with Manchester Homeless Families Unit
Adactus Housing Association
Impact Housing Association
South Worcestershire — recommendation 14.14
Share learning regarding the importance of having a clear re-engagement plan for service users who are NFA (No Fixed Abode) or rough sleeping, as per Service Engagement Policy. Identify any training requirements for staff on this issue.
Cranstoun Worcestershire
Tewkesbury — recommendation 17.7.2
There should be in depth housing and homelessness expertise available to clients at the point of first contact. This is necessary to extract relevant information from clients, and offer the most appropriate advice for a range of situations. Customer Services Officers have a generalised knowledge of council services and cannot …
Gloucester City Council Housing Service
Tewkesbury — recommendation 17.7.1
There is a need to ensure that written consent from every adult, listed as an applicant on any approach for homeless assistance, is obtained. This is currently the case for all households approaching for statutory homeless assistance, but not for those who do not meet the vulnerability homeless criteria (as …
Gloucester City Council Housing Service
Tewkesbury — recommendation 17.4.3
Review existing processes and guidelines where “housing debt” may be a barrier to a victim receiving appropriate support of obtaining a move to a safe environment and to ensure each case is given appropriate consideration.
Cheltenham Borough Homes
Doncaster — recommendation 3
Services to explore ways in which to engage / communicate with patients of no fixed abode and consider how multi agencies can support in this.
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS …
Rotherham Doncaster and South …
Gloucester — recommendation 1
Upon breakdown of the Homeless Hostel placement due to non-engagement, GCH should make a referral to a homeless rough sleeping outreach service, if available, to flag the vulnerable person to attempt further follow-up engagement.
Gloucester City Housing
Gloucester — recommendation 1
Gloucestershire Criminal Justice Board to use this case to review with multi-agency partners how people in Scott’s situation – in and out of prison, with mental ill health, using substances, a history of homelessness and domestic abuse -- get identified and supported by the system, including getting consistent proactive support …
Gloucestershire Criminal Justice Board
Gloucester — recommendation 1
The National Criminal Justice Board use this case to review with multi-agency partners how people in Scott’s situation – in and out of prison, with mental ill health, using substances, a history of homelessness and domestic abuse -- get identified and supported by the system, including getting consistent proactive support …
National Criminal Justice Board
Plymouth — recommendation 5
PATH to review their referral forms and include a section requiring referrers to declare that they have provided all relevant Needs and Safety Assessments and the copy of the homeless application.
PATH
Coventry — recommendation 7
Coventry Police and Crime Board to assess whether there is sufficient multi-agency support and co-ordination for the resettlement of homeless individuals with multiple and complex needs.
Coventry Police and Crime Board
Oxford — recommendation 1c
Undertake a management review of the roles and locations of specialist housing workers (Southwark) to ensure young people's safeguarding needs are addressed as well as their need for accommodation.
Oxfordshire County Council Children’s Social Care …
Buckinghamshire — recommendation 4
Buckinghamshire Council Housing Services and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust to provide assurance to Safer Buckinghamshire Partnership concerning how the revised Memorandum of Understanding: a) has ensured that the mental health needs of homeless people within temporary accommodation are identified, supported and where necessary, disputes escalated to resolution b) that …
Buckinghamshire Council Housing Services | Oxford …
Oxford Health NHS Foundation …
Kent — recommendation 1
Records maintained by GP Surgeries need to be current and reflect information that they are privy to from other NHS Organisations. Where a patient is homeless, the record should be flagged as such and contribute to a Surgery based risk register of vulnerable patients.
Kent and Medway ICB Now the …
NHS Kent and Medway …
Leicester — recommendation 5
Ensure the learning from this IMR is shared amongst Homelessness Services Management Team.
Leicester City Council Homeless Prevention & …
Leicester City Council
Leicester — recommendation 3
Ensure that Homelessness Services staff are fully aware of ASC responsibilities for vulnerable adults.
Leicester City Council Homeless Prevention & …
Leicester City Council
Northampton — recommendation 8
NPH to provide training and increase awareness to Housing Officers that tenants can make homeless applications to other local authorities if at risk with support.
Northampton Partnership Housing
South Cambridgeshire — recommendation 10
To publish and disseminate the Home-Link scheme and lettings policy to partner agencies, together with the referral mechanism for the Residents at Risk group and the Problem-Solving Group.
South Cambridgeshire District Council
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Manchester — recommendation 3
That Manchester Community Safety Partnership requests the MCC Homelessness Service to review the support they provide to the victims of domestic abuse who present as homeless, including the support they provided to victims of domestic abuse with complex needs and any adjustments they make to policy to accommodate complex needs.
Manchester Community Safety Partnership
Gloucester — recommendation 2
Probation services to develop a pathway with P3 to effectively challenge each other’s risk assessments when looking at a service user’s suitability for accommodation. This may prevent delays in the system for vulnerable service users. The first step in this process will be to engage with the Gloucestershire Reducing Reoffending …
BGSW CRC
Somerset — recommendation 2
Procedures should reflect that options such as homelessness applications, access to private sector options, staying with friends, injunctions etc. should always be discussed in parallel with any refuge offer, with these options confirmed in writing.
Mendip District Council Housing Department
Kent — recommendation 6
That agencies should ensure they have up to date contact details for a client to ensure that correspondence or telephone calls are sent to the appropriate location or telephone number. This is particularly relevant where it is apparent that a client may not have stable accommodation arrangements in place.
All Agencies
Leicester — recommendation North Northants Home
Create a factsheet for housing staff outlining the entitlements for foreign nationals and with details of where to obtain further information for inclusion on the council intranet.
North Northants Homelessness
Wiltshire — recommendation 4
Concerns about the vulnerability of customers are shared with other departments and services, particularly Adult Social Services and the homelessness teams.
Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council
Broxbourne — recommendation 2
All frontline professionals within the agencies participating in this review should consider victims’ additional support needs when competing domestic abuse risk assessments. Awareness needs to be raised regarding the links between, and impacts of, substance abuse, mental health, homelessness and domestic abuse. There should be a clear process in place …
All agencies
Welwyn Hatfield — recommendation R9
Local Housing Authorities, their agents and partner Registered Providers, should review their approach to managing tenancies, assessing housing needs and homelessness a) to ensure safeguarding referrals are made if there are any indicators of domestic abuse, b) that advice given to a tenant takes account of the consequences to a …
Local Housing Authorities | their agents …
Fenland — recommendation 7
Clarion Housing to revise the Homelink housing application to include the applicant to comment on ‘You or a member of your household needs to move away from another area to escape violence or harm.’
Clarion Housing