Before I came to Ashwood Supported Housing, I had been homeless on and off since I was 17. I used to steal food and things just to survive. I got involved in drugs heavily when my mum died and got in trouble with the police. When I was last in prison, I made a decision I wanted a new start and to turn my life around.

Ashwood and the staff have helped me in trying to fulfil my dreams. I have learnt how to cook with the Learning Centre, done voluntary work and painted the reception at Arch with a mural that I designed. The Rehabilitation Officer has helped me access services and I have recently got my forklift licence renewed through progress to work. My Key Worker is really supportive and is helping me to find my own place to move in to.

Richard Queen, Ashwood Resident

Ashwood Services (Offenders)

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What is Ashwood Supported Housing?
What are the aims of Ashwood Supported Housing?
What support will you receive?
Our accommodation
Who is eligible to access the service?
How can you make a referral to the service?

What is Ashwood Supported Housing?

Ashwood Services offer people who have a history of offending a period in supported accommodation during which they will be provided with the support they need to break the cycle of offending and achieve a new life in the community.

What are the aims of Ashwood Supported Housing?

To provide a high quality supported housing service for ex-offenders
To empower clients to participate in the decision making of the property
To provide a holistic assessment of the needs of the individual to arrive at a mutually agreed action plan that will promote independent living. These needs can include:

budgeting
offending behaviour
substance misuse
personal hygiene
training and leisure activities

To provide appropriate support and practical advise to all service users to assist them through the varying stages of resettlement, from supported housing into suitable accommodation
To allocate a Key Worker to each service user to provide one to one support and develop an Independent Living Program
To provide access to learning and development activities
To appropriately refer to other support agencies
To commit to equality of access to the services we offer, within the stated referral criteria.

What Support will you receive?

The work of the Ashwood Supported Housing Team is challenging and varied. In addition to offending behaviour, service users may also have issues with substance misuse alongside other needs; some very practical such as budgeting, menu planning, paying household bills and other less visable needs such as family breakdown, lack of confidence and self worth.

Each service user is allocated a Key Worker on admission to the project. The Key Worker will meet the service user on a weekly basis in order to carry out a joint assessment of need and to construct appropriate action plans which are reviewed every 12 weeks or at the service user's request. All support meetings and house meetings are compulsory. Service users are expected to fully participate in the Independent Living Plan process and will be provided with a copy of their Independent Living Plan as part of the working partnership.

Our Accommodation

The Ashwood Supported Housing Team manages three units and three shared houses in the Longton and Hanley area of Stoke-on-Trent.

The units are respectively ten bedroom, seven bedroom and six bedroom properties and are available to men and women. The shared houses are two bed terraces and are single gender only. Accommodation is provided on the basis of a Licence Agreement which outlines the rights and responsibilities of both the service user and their service.

Service users in the units have personal use of a single lockable room and shared communal areas such as kitchen, bathrooms and toilets. The share houses have lockable bedrooms, shared kitchen, toilet and bathroom. The units and houses are fully furnished and provided with bedding, kitchen utensils and cleaning materials.

Meals are not provided and service users are expected to keep their rooms in a clean and tidy state and participate in the general cleaning of the communal areas of the house.

The rental payment for all properties varies and a full rent breakdown will be explained on admission. If a service user is in receipt of welfare benefits, then Housing Benefit can be claimed. There are ineligible rental charges, not covered by Housing Benefit and these need to be paid by the service user. For people who are in paid employment, the amount of rent they will need to pay will depend on their income.

Who is eligible to access the service?

Ashwood Services will support people who meet the following eligibility criteria:

Single people
Aged 18 - 65
Have a history of offending behaviour
Are willing to accept housing related support

How can you make a referral to the service?

Referrals can be made by individuals or professionals from the Probation or Prison Service. All applicants will be interviewed within 5 working days, however, if the individual is in custody, we will endeavor to interview within 2 weeks of their release. All applicants will be subject to a Risk Assessment as part of the referral process.

Following the interview, references will be sought and a decision made following a review of all information. A positive decision will be made if the applicant can demonstrate that they are eligible for the service, they are willing to take advantage of the support provided and any identified risk can be managed. Any professional involved with the applicant will be informed of the outcome of the referral interview, provided consent has been obtained.

Successful applicants to the service will be offered accommodation immediately or placed on the waiting list until suitable accommodation becomes available.

If the applicant is unsuccessful, Arch will advise of other organisations that may be able to resolve their housing and support needs.

If you believe you are eligible for Ashwood Services, please call us on 01782 204479 or complete the Referral Form and return it to the below address.

To download a referral pack click here.

Arch (North Staffs)
Accommodation Services
Canalside
Pelham Street
Hanley
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 3LL

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