Housing - Mediation
Mediation
As part of the Resettlement Service we also offer mediation visits for families where someone is at immediate risk of homelessness. Whilst most of these situations involve young people being evicted by parents or relatives/carers we have also provided interventions for couples, vulnerable elderly clients and in marital situations.
The aim of mediation is to -
- Prevent homelessness, and in particular reduce the risks to vulnerable clients associated with homelessness
- Contain or de-escalate crisis or emergency situations and work towards a planned move
- Maintain people at risk of immediate homelessness in safe accommodation until an appropriate place can be found
- Prevent vulnerable clients from being placed in B+B or other insecure accommodation
- Help all parties to understand the housing process, timescales and options
- Provide, or signpost on to, other sources of interim support whilst accommodation is being found
Once a crisis situation is identified by the Housing Advisers a Resettlement Officer (RO) will contact the family and arrange a home visit hopefully within 48 hours, or as soon as possible after that.
The RO will talk with the person facing homelessness and their parents/carers separately and together and look at how the situation by managed.
The emphasis is on a problem solving approach aimed at defusing the current situation and hopefully supporting the client to remain with friends or family for an agreed length of time (usually up to 28 days) until accommodation can be found.
This may mean a referral to supported accommodation through the brokerage service, help to look for private rented accommodation and linking into other sources of support e.g CAB 
, counselling services, Connexions or parenting groups.
Mediation is a short term intervention, usually between 1 and 3 visits. We do not provide family therapy or counselling but we can help clients access these sorts of services if they feel they need to.
If you would like any more information about Resettlement or mediation please contact Senior Resettlement Officer Sarah Sherran 01202 633415 s.sherran@poole.gov.uk.
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