Resettlement provision for children and young ... - Ministry of Justice

Young people not living with family members
5.14 Twenty-four (39%) of the young people interviewed said they were not returning to live with
family members. This included three who had been living with their family prior to custody but
were unable to return there, and 17 of the 18 looked after children.
5.15 Seventeen young people said they did not yet know where they would be living. This included
13 of the 18 looked after children in our sample. Although most of the 17 young people had
some time before their release (ranging up to 60 days), two were due to be released within a
week and an additional three within the next 10 days. Only one of these young men had had
their final review meeting, which HMIP expects to take place at least 10 days prior to release.
The review meeting should confirm a young person’s release plan but for this young person his
accommodation had not been finalised in time. The notes for the meeting stated ‘X potentially
has no accommodation for release, Action by YOT… there is a possibility of X having to
present at the Homeless Persons Unit on day of release’. One looked after child had been due
to have his final review, with his YOT case manager and social worker attending, seven days
prior to his release, which was supposed to include an explanation about where he would be
living. This meeting had been cancelled at short notice and, at the time of interview, his case
supervisor was unsure of the rescheduled date.
5.16 Young people who had no accommodation arranged spoke about the realistic possibility that
they may have to report as homeless on the day of their release. Examples of comments
included:
‘Don't know [where I’ll be living]. I’ve had four different YOT case managers in two
years and no one has sorted out accommodation after the last one quit. I will be
taken to a homeless centre (hostel) on the day I leave.’ [Due to be released in four
days.]
‘Not sure yet, I've told my YOT case manager where I want to live. I was meant to
have my final review yesterday but the YOT and my social worker did not turn up.’
[Due to be released in seven days.]
‘I don’t know [where I’ll be living], and I don't know how I'm getting there.’
5.17 All young men interviewed were asked whether they felt the accommodation and the area in
which they would be living would be safe. Unsurprisingly, those who did not know where they
would be living on release felt unable to comment and were often concerned about where they
would be living.
5.18 Ten of the 17 young men felt that their views on where they would be living had been taken
into account while others said they had had little choice:
‘I’ve spoken to my resettlement broker about it, I told them I want to move out of area
as I have too many problems there.’
‘I do have a say but really it's where my social worker puts me.’
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