EAST LOTHIAN HOMELESS TEAM

Organisation Aims and Activities

1. Type of organisation

Public Sector statutory provider

2. Client Group

Homeless & potentially Homeless (except in most cases 16-21 yr olds - see 5 below)

3. Secondary advice?

No

4. Aims

East Lothian Council aims to help everyone deemed to be homeless or in danger of homelessness within the county. The level of assistance offered varies with personal circumstances.

5. Activities

The Department of Community Services has a team of officers, which specialises in homelessness and is able to provide advice and help to find accommodation on a temporary or permanent basis. Anyone who may be homeless or would like advice to prevent imminent homelessness, should call 0800 169 1611 during office hours for an appointment with a Response Officer. This number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 0800 169 1611 is also the number to call in an emergency. This number can be used after office hours if a client has nowhere to stay. The client will be given temporary accommodation but we will not be able to provide detailed advice. A Response Officer will see the client as soon as possible after they have been given temporary accommodation and will be able to provide advice and information. Please note that, if your client is aged 16-21 and their case is not an emergency, the work of the former Central Assessment Team has now been absorbed into the section as a whole.

6. Information and Advice services

Please see document Information and Advice Services in documents box at RHS of this page

Contacts and delivery methods

7. Contact details

Community Housing and Property Maintenance
Homeless Service
6-8 Lodge Street
HADDINGTON EH41 3DX
Tel 01620 826600       Fax:                              e-mail:

8. Service delivery methods

Telephone Advice: Yes in emergency
Appointments: Yes
Outreach: No
Home Visits: Depends on circumstances
Out of Hours: Call emergency 'hotline' 0800 169 1611
Via e-mail: Yes in some circumstances

9. Opening Hours

Monday-Thursday 9-5; Friday 9-4 (standard opening hours - for emergencies see 5 above)

Staffing, Funding and Training

10. Staffing

23 Full time

11. Funding

Local Authority

12. Quality Assurance

Looking to meet Communities Scotland's National Standards for Housing Advice

Referrals

13. Formal referral policy - receiving?

Yes

14. Formal referral policy - making?

Yes

15. Informal reciprocal referral arrangements?

Yes

16. Referral procedure

Anyone can approach the Homeless section. Callers are asked to fill in a form at Haddington reception which covers basic information such as name, DOB, current address, family compliment etc. These forms are now available at area offices as well.
If a client is being referred from another agency it is important to know what that agency has done, and what advice has been given to the client.
Use of referral forms depends on the agency involved. Some, such as Shelter have established referral forms and procedures, which can be used by the Homeless section. There are currently no formal referral arrangements between ELC Community Housing Service and the Homeless section

17. Requirements

As stated above, the Homeless Form covers what is required, but we also need to know about agency interventions.