Supportive Lodgings

[smileyforest]

Hello
Would just like to ask if anyone has any experience doing supportve lodgings. I'm just thinking about this
I do work also
Would be great to hear of the process and anyone successfully doing it
Thanks x

I have just had a quick search as I must admit I had never heard of this before. There is quite a lot of info on it on www.communities.gov.uk/youthhomelessness/accommodation/supportedlodgings seems a lovely thing to do. How long have you been thinking of this? Just like fostering but for the older teenager.... Good for those that can recognise boundaries. Let us know how you get on.

Sorry on iPad and link thingy won't work

My aunt did this for a few years and really enjoyed it, though it was quite challenging.

She found that when the teenagers funding ran out they often still weren't ready to move onto independence so they tended to stay with her for a couple more years in a private arrangement (ie: she rented them a room and they bought food for themselves) until they were independent enough to manage without her. This pissed Social Services off no end as they wanted her to be available for more placements, but she wanted to do the best by the young people.

Mostly she helped with teaching them to budget, how to cook, how to do housework. Quite basic stuff that they had never been taught. Helped them to apply for benefits and apply for jobs. Support them in accessing education.

Financially she just about broke even as the pay barely covers the cost of having the young person there. So you're more or less doing it because you want to help, not to make a bit of extra cash.

I think you need to be a strong but flexible person who has a lot of time and understanding. These are not "bad" teenagers, but they have often had a rough upbringing and have some challenging behaviours. They need boundaries and lots of support.

It's a great option if you like the age group and don't have the time for a younger child (although teenagers can be extremely time consuming!) Supported lodgings carers should be able to keep YP up to 21 so ideally they will be ready to move on before that but can stay that long. We would not object to our carers keeping YP post 21 if it was appropriate for them and not due to the carer not being able to 'let go'.

In a few years I will definitely think about it.

It isn't badly remunerated in my area either.