How to apply for supported accommodation as a teenager?
Posted by Oku-zen@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 12 comments
If you have experience with this I'd really appreciate your response. I'm a teenager with a familial breakdown happening at home. Family/group therapy hasn't worked and I'm constantly stressed from the enviroment so I want to move out.
How do I apply? I have autism and trying complete something for the first time without a guide makes me very anxious. I tried going to my local council's website but they don't have any relevant links. The two websites for accommodation in my area I did find don't walk you through the process which is what I need.
What can I expect? I've heard that both staff and residents can be a mixed bag and that's it's not always safe. I don't have complex needs but I have "major depression" (cahms staff diagnosis) and I suspect adhd. I don't need physical help but my motivation is terrible and I procrastinate to my own detriment, will this affect my placement?
Veenkoira00@reddit
About your actual question. The accommodation in semi-independent should come via referral from the council SS (Children's Services). You should be classed as homeless* and dealt under the care system on account of your age – not necessarily "received to care" but "accommodated" (two different sections in the Children Act 1989).
Just about the terms: "Children" – there is no "teenager" in law. "Homeless" – includes situation, when it's not "reasonable" for you to stay there.
Try Citizens Advice if the SS–"accommodation" is not progressing.
If nothing works, try Centrepoint.
UrbanAlly@reddit
Ok, I am going to be brutally honest here and will get downvoted however here goes.
Supported accommodation is for people that have fairly significant learning disabilities or for people with extreme addiction issues in the short term.
The fact you can come on Reddit and are asking the appropriate questions means you will not be eligible.
Having anxiety about moving into your own tenancy is normal and not knowing how to do stuff is normal. However social services are usually dealing with people in critical need who are the most damaged people in society.
Nobody is going to hold your hand , you will just have to figure stuff out yourself
TeaPlenty3782@reddit
Are you still under CAMHS for support- do you have a lead practitioner or primary nurse you could ask?
You should not have to navigate this alone. And you are right, supported accommodation is an extremely mixed bag and but it is better than emergency accommodation.
Could you go to Citizens advice for help?
Could you ask someone at school/college- a teacher or guidance counsellor?
I think you need to have a social worker to guide you through this- are your family known to social services?
If not, please contact your local children’s social services and ask for help. If you are over 18 it would be adult social services. A GP or teacher could refer you if they don’t take self referrals.
Oku-zen@reddit (OP)
I'm not under cahms anymore but there is a social worker I think I could get in contact with. I'm technically a NEET because of my mental health, so I haven't gone to college (although I got in)
Veenkoira00@reddit
No CAHMS – why is that ? You are under 18.
Oku-zen@reddit (OP)
I dealt with them before and they were very unhelpful. It was clear the therapists they sent were unequipped to deal with my issues. The family support worker took my mum's words at face value and anytime I tried explaining that she would lie and wasn't in fact doing her best they would dissmiss it. It's hard to prove because it's emotional abuse & neglect so I just dropped it
Veenkoira00@reddit
How old are you ?
Oku-zen@reddit (OP)
I turn 17 in a week
Veenkoira00@reddit
Right. You are in the supported accommodation range. Now the question is, how much actual support you are going to get. Please, don't accept the bog standard (HMO/shared house style with flying visits). You need this year till you 18 birthday with some stability, with 24h staff availability.
DameKumquat@reddit
Do you have a social worker, or a support worker at school? Talk to them about options. If you're 18, then you or they can contact Adult Social Services for your council.
Thing is, in most of the country, accommodation is incredibly short supply,. Supported accommodation, even more so. So unless there is a major and immediate risk from you staying with a parent, like you've been hit enough to end up in hospital, it's very likely you'll be told to just stay put, as any other accommodation could be worse (eg full of teens who beat up their parents so had to be removed for everyone's safety).
So be prepared for that answer, or a waiting list. In the meantime, think of places to go to spend time that aren't home - long walks, libraries, voluntary work, school/college and friends houses, etc. There's a reason so many people used to sip one drink all evening in the pub - if home was a shared bedroom with nothing to do there anyway. Now people generally have more they can do at home, but it's good to have an option that isn't hiding in your room.
hollyyy16@reddit
Sorry that you’re going through this. You could maybe try contacting your local citizen’s advice bureau? They should be able to tell you what help is avaliable to you - and where to go to get it.
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