GLA 80860 - Safe Connections

The Safe Connections service will:
• comprise of a specialist UK ‘reconnections’ team to work with new rough sleepers to reconnect them to their ‘home’ area and provide them with an effective route off the streets.
• cover rough sleepers in London who:
a) have, or are likely to, have a local connection with a London borough other than the one in which they are rough sleeping or another local authority in the rest of the UK (in some cases, a local connection may not be established for the client, but it will remain the role of Safe Connections to work towards an offer off the streets)
b) have been on the streets for less than three months
c) have between two and ten bedded down contacts on the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN - http://www.mungos.org/chain)
d) are willing to engage with the team and an initial Single Service offer (SSO), or local connection assessment.
• allow for flexibility in criteria if referral numbers are low, or there is a significant change in demographics of the rough sleeping population
• further assess the needs, and identify the barriers to accommodation, of those who are referred, to develop and carry out the single service offer (SSO), to provide an exit from rough sleeping and prevent them from returning in the future
• support clients to access support and/or accommodation in their home areas, or an alternative safe area, advocating with housing providers in those areas and providing the practical support for people to reconnect where it is safe to do so
• develop and sustain effective partnership working with outreach teams, local authority services across the UK, health services, the police, and other statutory and voluntary service providers
• work with partners to provide a safe and secure environment for clients and minimise any negative impact on the local community
• ensure that clients’ urgent physical, substance misuse and mental health needs are addressed and stabilised
• ensure that clients are supported to obtain ID and claim appropriate welfare benefits to support an onward move
• protect the vision, integrity and reputation of Safe Connections in London.