Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request detailed information regarding your local authority’s commissioning and delivery of supported accommodation and support services for children in care and care leavers, including Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC).

1. Providers and Service Models
a) List all providers currently delivering supported accommodation and/or support services for:
• Children in care aged 16–17
• Care leavers aged 18+
• UASC (if applicable)
b) For each provider, specify:
• Type of provision (e.g. 24/7 staffed, floating support, outreach, safety pods)
• Ofsted registration status (registered, pending, exempt)
• Number of units or placements available
• Number of young people currently placed
Loddon Homes Ltd is a provider of supported accommodation for care leavers on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council, including former Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC). The following information pertains to Loddon Homes Ltd only. Loddon Homes provides the following types of accommodation:
Supported transitional accommodation for care leavers aged 18-25
A supported housing scheme providing 9 accommodation units, consisting of 7 en-suite rooms and 2 self-contained bed-sit flats with a communal kitchen, lounge and garden. Currently, the scheme is fully occupied.
24-hour support provided by P3.
P3 have achieved their OFSTED registration status.
Supported transitional accommodation for former Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) and young care leavers aged 18-25
Two 5 bedroom houses providing 10 accommodation units, consisting of 4 en-suite bedrooms and 2 bedrooms with exclusive use of a separate bathroom. Each house has a communal kitchen, lounge and garden. Currently the scheme is fully occupied.
Each occupant has a Personal Assistant provided by Wokingham Borough Council’s Here4U Children in Care and Care Leavers team.
2 hours’ floating support daily, 5 days a week, provided by Optalis.
Ofsted registration not applicable as all care leavers are over 18.
WBC Housing department advised to their knowledge, there is only one supported scheme for young people that is managed by WBC Housing (see below). Note this is not traditionally classified as supported accommodation regulated by Ofsted
Wokingham Borough Council operates a Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP) funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This is a Housing First scheme designed for young people under the age of 25 who have multiple and complex needs and are furthest from resolving their homelessness. Although the scheme is not specifically targeted at care leavers, they are included as eligible participants. The eligible cohort are young people aged 18-25 at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping or who are currently rough sleeping, have severe multiple complex needs and require intensive housing support to sustain their tenancies. There are no exclusions for age, past behaviour or offending history. There are no exclusion criteria, other than a willingness to sustain a tenancy.

The provision consists of four purchased, self-contained one-bedroom units, supported by a dedicated Housing First specialist support worker from Two Saints, who works exclusively with these clients. The support worker can support up to seven clients at a time. Once the four purchased units are occupied, the Council will seek to offer accommodation through the housing register.
The intensive floating support offer is provided up to multiple, and in some cases, daily visits per week, following the core principles of the Housing First model. There are seven placements available under the scheme, with six currently occupied by young people. The scheme is exempt from Ofsted regulation.

2. Costs and Funding
a) Provide the average weekly cost per young person;for each type of supported accommodation and support service, broken down as follows:
• Accommodation cost
• Support cost
• Additional costs (e.g. contingency placements, interpreters, transport)
b) Confirm whether young people are expected to contribute to accommodation costs (e.g. via Universal Credit housing element). If so:
• How is this managed and monitored?
• What is the average amount recovered per young person per week?
Loddon Homes:
Average weekly cost for transitional accommodation for 18+ care leavers:
Accommodation cost: £105.10
Support cost: no cost to Loddon Homes; support costs are funded by WBC Children’s Services
Additional costs: none
Average weekly cost for supported accommodation for former UASC:
Accommodation cost: £95.49
Support cost: no cost to Loddon Homes; support costs are funded by WBC Children’s Services
Additional costs: none
All young people are expected to pay a service charge which covers utilities costs relating to their personal use.
Charges are set as part of young peoples’ licence agreements, collected through their rent accounts and managed through housing officer and personal advisors/care provider.
Average amount recovered per young person per week: £28.74

WBC Housing: Each young person under the scheme is accommodated in social tenancies. In line with Housing First principles, they are treated the same as any other tenant in terms of tenancy rights and responsibilities.
There are no additional support costs for the young people, as support is fully funded through SHAP. This funding also covers any additional associated costs, although these are not itemised.
The properties are offered at social rent levels, with an average weekly cost of £133.15.

Young people are expected to contribute to their accommodation costs, either through their own income or via benefits where applicable. The properties are always deemed affordable and are offered at social rent rates. This is managed and monitored by the Council’s in-house rental income team. The average weekly contribution is £133.15.

Two Saints work closely with the Council’s rents team and each client to ensure that all rent is collected appropriately. This includes setting up alternative payment arrangements so that benefits are paid directly to the landlord, helping to secure consistent rental income. If a resident falls into arrears, the rents team will notify Two Saints immediately, allowing prompt action to prevent further arrears from accruing. Clients will also receive support when making changes to benefit claims, particularly during transitions such as starting employment. All available benefits and grants will be explored to maximise income, including Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), Rent in Advance, Homelessness Prevention funding, and Household Support grants. Rent account balances are monitored regularly as part of the Housing First Panel meetings.

3. Numbers of Young People
a) As of the most recent reporting period, how many young people are placed in:
• Supported accommodation (16–17-year-olds)
• Transitional accommodation (18+ care leavers)
• Emergency or contingency placements (e.g. safety pods)
b) Provide a breakdown by:
• Provider
• Placement type
• Age group
• UASC vs non-UASC
Loddon Homes:
Non-UASC: 9 Young People accommodated
Placement type: Pathway housing – rooms are let on a licence to occupy for one year with the possibility to extend for a further six months. Bedsit flats are let on tenancy agreements.
Age group: 18-25
Former UASC: 10 Young People accommodated
Placement type: Pathway housing – let on licence to occupy
Age group: 18-25
WBC Housing: For this specific scheme, provision is made for up to seven young people under the age of 25 with complex needs.

4. Contractual Arrangements
a) Specify the commissioning route used for each provider:
• Block contract
• Spot purchase
• Open or closed framework
• Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)
• Other (please specify)
b) For each contract or framework, provide:
• Provider name
• Contract start and end date
• Extension options
• Total contract value or annual spend
• Whether the contract is exclusive or non-exclusive
c) Provide a copy of the service specification and/or contract summary for each current contract or framework.
See Contracts Register can be found on the ProContract website - Wokingham Borough Council Contracts Register

5. Procurement and Renewal
a) Confirm:
• When your current contracts or frameworks are due for renewal or re-tender: Our Contracts Register can be found on the ProContract website - Wokingham Borough Council Contracts Register.
• Whether you plan to re-procure these services in the next 12–24 months
• How providers can express interest in future opportunities (e.g. market engagement events, PIN notices)
Contract or tender opportunities are generally advertised through the relevant channel(s) according to the value and nature of each project. Possible channels may include the following:
• ProContract website - view tender opportunities on the ProContract website
• The Contract Finder website - select 'start now' on the first page
• Where Public Contracts Regulations thresholds apply, we will post a notice in Find a Tender (FTS) - accessible on the new UK e-notification service Find a Tender website

6. Quality Assurance and Young People’s Feedback
a) Describe how you monitor the quality of supported accommodation and support services, including:
• KPIs used
• Frequency of audits or inspections
• Use of external regulators (e.g. Ofsted)
b) How are the views of young people captured and used to inform:
• Service delivery
• Contract management
• Provider performance reviews
a) The quality of Loddon Homes’ supported accommodation and support services is monitored as follows:
• KPIs: KPIs are used to monitor all compliance and repairs elements of the building, the outcomes of which are communicated to residents bi-annually through the bi-annual report to residents and to the Board every quarter.
• Audits and inspections: Properties are inspected weekly by a housing officer and quarterly by WBC’s Compliance team.
• Use of external regulators: Ofsted registration gained for one scheme but not necessary in the other (please see section 1. above).
b) The views of young people are captured by our bi-annual resident survey and after any service provision such as repairs, complaints or ASB.
WBC Housing: We use a range of outcome measures to assess support outcomes. One of the primary tools is the Outcomes Star, a complex needs assessment tool designed for individuals experiencing homelessness. This tool is currently used by our support provider, Two Saints, to track a variety of recovery metrics. These include managing tenancy and accommodation for a minimum of 12 months, motivation and taking responsibility, self-care and living skills, financial management, social networks and relationships, substance misuse, physical health, emotional and mental health, meaningful use of time, and offending. The Outcomes Star is a valuable resource for young people with support needs, enabling both the service users and the Council to monitor progress and identify areas requiring further support. It also assists the support provider in assessing client needs and developing tailored support plans.

In addition, the Housing First Panel plays a key role in monitoring the progress of individuals within the scheme. This panel meets regularly and includes representatives from Housing, Community Safety, Health, Substance Misuse services, and other partner agencies. Together, they review each case to ensure coordinated actions are in place to maximise the chances of sustaining tenancies.

The Council assesses the effectiveness of the Young Persons Housing First Programme by monitoring a range of key outcomes. These include the number of service users who are able to maintain their tenancy for at least 12 months or who choose to move on to alternative accommodation in a planned and positive way. Additionally, the Council will track the number of young people who engage in meaningful occupation or successfully complete their education. Feedback from service users, gathered through customer surveys, will also form an important part of the evaluation process.