NCH - NEW HORIZONS

Organisation Aims and Activities

1. Type of organisation

Voluntary Sector - Service provider

2. Client Group

Young single homeless adults aged 16-25 (21-25 with particular needs)

3. Secondary advice?

No

4. Aims

The project aims to provide supported accommodation to a range of young single homeless adults. The project provides counselling, support and practical assistance with a view to achieving long term solutions for young people.

5. Activities

Encouraging the development of independent living skills
Assisting young adults to find long-term solutions to their homelessness
Encouraging and assisting young adults in seeking and maintaining employment and training opportunities
Providing ongoing support to young adults after they have left the project to enable them to make a successful transition to independent living
Encouraging a multi-disciplinary approach and promote effective interagency working to assist young adults in meeting their objectives

6. Information and Advice services

Please see Information and advice services in the document box at the RHS of this page.

Contacts and delivery methods

7. Contact details

NCH, New Horizons Tel 01620 829807   Fax 01620 829781
e-mail: Paula.Gaunt-Richardson@nch.org.uk; Jane.Symon@nch.org.uk; Rita.Bradd@nch.org.uk

8. Service delivery methods

Telephone Advice: No
Appointments: No
Outreach: Yes - to provide post-project support for leavers
Home Visits: No
Out of Hours: Residential Unit
Via e-mail: No

9. Opening Hours

Office 9-5 Monday to Friday; emergencies by referral through ELC Homeless section

Staffing, Funding and Training

10. Staffing

1x project manager; 1x Depute managers; 2x Senior Project Workers; 6 Project Workers; 1x Administrator (PT); 1x Ancillary (PT)

11. Funding

Via Supporting People and Housing Benefit

12. Quality Assurance

NCH in house scheme

Referrals

13. Formal referral policy - receiving?

Via CAT team - see below

14. Formal referral policy - making?

No

15. Informal reciprocal referral arrangements?

No

16. Referral procedure

Referrals to the project come via the Central Assessment Team, in East Lothian Council's Department of Community Services. All referrals are planned and consequently young adults meet with staff prior to admission to ensure the criteria for admission is met.

17. Requirements

The following criteria for admission are required. The young adult must:

1. Live in East Lothian or have strong links through family, employment or support networks.
2. Be aged between 16-25 at the time of admission
3. Be willing to live in a communal setting while observing the rules and conditions as set down in the occupancy agreement.
4. Be committed to working alongside staff consistent with their mutually agreed support plan
5. Be assessed and accept that s/he requires professional support and guidance