GUIDE FOR REFERRAL PARTNERS

Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

CONTENTS Introduction to Nightstop Introduction to Gloucestershire Nightstop Referral Guidelines Risk Assessment Criteria Other Questions Information for the guest Confidentiality Policy Referral Partner Agreement

INTRODUCTIONWhat is Nightstop?

Nightstop prevents homelessness through community hosting. It helps people who are in immediate housing crisis by providing free, safe, emergency accommodation in the homes of trained and vetted volunteers called ‘hosts’.

We support young people aged 16-25 yrs by offering them Nightstop accommodation on a night by night basis whilst appropriate longer term accommodation is sought.

Whilst staying on Nightstop, guests are provided with dinner, breakfast and a packed lunch as well as the opportunity to wash their clothes and take a shower or bath.

Gloucestershire Nightstop is part of a national network of Nightstop services, which are all accredited by Nightstop UK at DePaul UK. Nightstop UK are responsible for accrediting, supporting and developing the Nightstop network, ensuring high quality throughout the Nightstop network.

The service aims to work with referral partners to directly prevent rough sleeping or to prevent people sleeping in unsafe places.

Who are the Nightstop hosts?

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

Volunteer hosts are members of the local community who have agreed to provide temporary accommodation for people in need. They have a range of backgrounds and experiences, and do not necessarily have backgrounds in foster care or counselling or direct experience with at risk young people.

All volunteer hosts undergo the following recruitment and vetting procedures: Application form An Interview Two home visits including a home assessment Two character references from people who have known them for at least two years

(one professional and one personal) DBS enhanced check Thorough induction training On-going support, supervision and training

Volunteers are also committed to working within the policies and procedures of GNS and in accordance with the Nightstop UK Quality Standard.

INTRODUCTION TO GLOUCESTERSHIRE NIGHTSTOPIntroduction to GNS

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

History of the Nightstop service

Staff team

Where we work

Which organisations we currently work with

REFERRAL GUIDELINESWho can refer to Nightstop?

Nightstop takes referrals from a variety of partners, both statutory and voluntary,. GNS partners include schools, colleges, local charities, housing services and social care.

What Nightstop expects from referral agencies

Nightstop expects that:

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

All staff referring potential guests to Nightstop understand the Nightstop procedures, have read the guide for referral partners and have had training delivered by a Nightstop staff member.

The referral partner meets face to face with the potential Nightstop guests. The referral partner does not withhold any information from the Nightstop service

relating to the risk of potential Nightstop guests. The referral partner does not refer potential guests which are far beyond the level of

risk that Nightstop accepts. A referral partner agreement or other agreement such as a service level agreement

is signed (a referral partner agreement can be found at the back of this pack).

How the referral process works:

1 Referral partner contacts the Nightstop service on the referral telephone number, 01452 331330.

Referrals can be made between the hours of 10am – 4pm Mon – Thu and 10am – 3pm on Fridays unfortunately we are unable to take any referrals outside these hours at present.

2 Referral forms are available on the website under the refer button. We will then determine whether your referral is appropriate for Nightstop.

3 At this stage it is possible to have a discussion with a team member about the potential guest, to determine whether your referral is appropriate for the service, prior to completing any forms. If we think the potential guest is not suitable for Nightstop we will discuss alternative accommodation options in the area.

4 Should Nightstop have no vacancies with hosts at the time you contact the service, we will advise you of this immediately

5 If it is appropriate to proceed with the referral, we will proceed with the risk assessment. This will be completed by the on duty Nightstop staff member.

When Nightstop contact you we will need you to have the potential guest there so that we can talk to them.

6 At this stage we will usually inform you whether we are able to offer the potential guest emergency accommodation. Occasionally however, we may have to make further enquiries with other partners if there are any areas of the information provided that needs further exploration.

7 Please note that if you have not known the potential guest for more than 6 months then Nightstop will need to contact two other partners or professionals who have known the potential guest for longer, and can act as references. Please provide names and contact details on the risk assessment when you send it.

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

If there are no hosts available or the service isn’t suitable for the potential guest, then please be patient with us - we will still ask you for a few basic details about them. This is so that we can monitor the level of need and re-think our volunteer recruitment strategies accordingly.

RISK ASSESSMENT CRITERIAHow the Nightstop risk assessment works

At the time of the risk assessment the potential Nightstop guest must be present at the referral partner or the Nightstop office. Nightstop will ask a number of questions about the potential guest after which two references will be collected to confirm this information.

It is important these questions are answered fully and honestly in order to ensure the safety of both the people who use the service and the volunteer hosts.

Every potential guest referred to Nightstop must:

Be aged 16 yrs – 25 yrs Be known to the referral partner that is referring them and be returning there the

following day (unless alternative arrangements have been made). Be deemed suitable to stay in a volunteer’s home by the referral partner.

At the time of referral the Nightstop guest must not:

Be under the influence of any substance. Be showing obvious signs of violent behaviour. Be seeking a bail address or absconding custody. Have a high dependency need (e.g. an illness, mental or physical, which is

uncontrolled). Have a recent history of arson, sexual assault, violent behavior or other serious

crime.

Case by case basis

Nightstop deals with referrals on a case-by-case basis and will take into account the risks presented, the experience of the available host and what appropriate safeguards need to be in place.

The success of a Nightstop placement is dependent on the risk assessment and any additional information given by the referral partner during the referral process. The relationship between Nightstop and the referral partner is key in ensuring safe and successful placements through accurate sharing of information.

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

Risks that are assessed

Nightstop will consider accommodating all people referred by the referral partner who are aged 16-25, have a face to face risk assessment, can provide two references and are comfortable with the idea of staying in a host’s home.

If the potential guest has any risks flagged up in their risk assessment then Nightstop will assess these in consultation with the referral partner and where appropriate other agencies. If the risk is likely to be triggered or exacerbated during the placement with a detrimental effect on the guest or the hosts we will not accept that referral.

The risks that are assessed are:

Aggressive or violent behaviour Criminal activity Committed sexual offences Sexual offences committed against the potential guest History of allegations against or made by the potential guest Risk of exploitation or abuse Susceptibility to mental health/behavioural disorders History of self harm or suicidal attempts History of long term illnesses or current illnesses Allergies and medication Use of drugs and or alcohol History of drug or alcohol use, including overdoses History of arson Special requirements in relation to language, religion, culture, race, gender or

sexuality

Who Nightstop does not accept

Nightstop would not accept a potential guest if, through the process of assessment, it was considered that they were likely to:

Take drugs or alcohol before or during the placement. Be aggressive or violent towards the host. Harm themselves, the host or the host’s property during or after the placement. Lead aggressive, violent or dangerous people to the host’s home. Steal from the host or conduct other criminal activity during the placement. Have physical or mental needs that they are unable to manage.

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

Be unable to access the host’s home.

OTHER QUESTIONSWhat happens after the placement?

Nightstop does not offer accommodation during the day. Guests must leave at a set time agreed by the volunteer host, after which they must have somewhere safe to go such as the referral partner office.

Nightstop is not a long-term housing solution, such as supported lodgings, and offers accommodation on a night by night basis. Although guests may use Nightstop for multiple nights, the Nightstop team and referral partners will work with them to find an appropriate long-term housing solution. Nightstop may not accept guests whose move on options are limited.

The referral partner must inform Nightstop if alternative arrangements are being made, for example if the guest is returning to another organisation that will provide them with similar, ongoing support.

[If Referral Partner is responsible for move on] You, as the referral partner are responsible for sourcing a safe and permanent solution for the guest. Referral partners are expected to gauge:

Potential options for appropriate long term accommodation Level of risk or harm to the guest in that move on Level of support available at move on How healthy and positive relationships are if the guest is moving in with friends or

family

Does Nightstop accommodate couples?

The Nightstop service is for single guests. If we are presented with a couple we will be able to place them separately, in different host homes.

Can we accommodate guests with physical/mental disabilities?

It can be difficult for Nightstop to accommodate potential guests who have certain physical disabilities (e.g. wheelchair user) because host’s homes will not usually have the necessary facilities (e.g. ramps for entry to the house, a ground floor bedroom). We will try our best to accommodate any guest who meets the Nightstop criteria.

It can be difficult for Nightstop to accommodate a guest with mental disabilities as our hosts may be unable to provide the level of support required. Each referral will be considered on a case by case basis and where appropriate placements will be made.

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

Can a guest be placed for more than one night at a time?

Our general policy is to accommodate guests on a night by night basis. This is because we offer an emergency service only – we do not provide any sort of long-term housing solution.

What happens over the weekend?

If a referral is made on a Friday, Nightstop will attempt to arrange accommodation for the whole weekend, as it is unlikely that the guest being referred will be able to return to the referral partner on a Saturday or Sunday morning. During the daytime guests will still be expected to leave the accommodation and will be given a time to return in the evening.

INFORMATION FOR THE GUESTInformation for the guest being referred

[If the referral partner also does the risk assessment]

The referral partner needs to give the guests the following information before being referred / before their stay with Nightstop. Nightstop placements are organised on a night by night basis. The guest must leave

the house at the agreed time in the morning and must return to the referral partner each morning from Monday to Friday.

If they arrive at the host’s home under the influence of any substance or if their behavior becomes abusive/violent they will lose their Nightstop placement.

What will be provided for the guest

All Nightstop guests can expect the following on a Nightstop placement:

Clean, safe and comfortable accommodation including their own private bedroom.

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

A chance to spend time alone if they wish. The chance to talk, or be listened to in a warm, non-judgmental environment. For personal details and conversations with the host to only be shared with the

designated Nightstop staff member. An evening meal, breakfast and a packed lunch. Access to a 24 hour emergency telephone number. An opportunity to take a shower or bath. Provision of toiletries and night clothes (as required). Not to be left alone in the house at any time during their stay.

Nightstop rules

The guest must follow the following rules when placed on Nightstop:

We want you to enjoy your stay on Nightstop. This is an opportunity for you to relax in a friendly, safe environment. There are, however, some rules we will ask you to keep to ensure your own safety and that of the family you are staying with. If any of these rules are broken it could result in you losing that Nightstop place and prevent you from having any further Nightstop.

1. No drugs or alcohol are to be taken or consumed whilst on Nightstop (including in the daytime).

2. No illegal goods, substances or weapons are to be taken into Host’s homes.

3. You are not allowed to have your friends visit you at the Host’s homes. The location of each house you stay at must not be given out to anyone to keep these homes ‘safe’ houses for other young people.

4. You may not return to a Host’s home at any time after a Nightstop unless this has been arranged by a Gloucestershire Nightstop member of staff.

5. You must follow each individual Host’s house rules, for example, on smoking and times to be in at night.

6. You must do your best to be a good house guest and treat the Hosts and their homes with respect.

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

7. You agree to work with the staff at Gloucestershire Nightstop toward moving on into settled accommodation.

These Seven rules will help to make your stay on Nightstop a pleasant one.

I have read and understood the rules for staying on Nightstop and will not break them. I also understand there may be consequences should I break any of these rules.

Health & Safety

Clear information will be given about how to leave the house in an emergency. Nightstop carries out a full safety check of all homes including fire safety.

CONFIDENTIALITY POLICYConfidentiality Policy

Information obtained about a potential guest referred to Nightstop will be kept strictly

confidential within the service. We will share information with hosts on a need to

know basis.

Referral partners must only give out first names of the hosts (not their surname) in

order to maintain their privacy.

Any written records concerning the guest using the service should be brief, factual

and openly available to the guest. This does not include access to documents

originating from a third party and given in confidence.

Hosts are under an obligation to inform Nightstop staff of any potentially serious

disclosures made by people while in their care and of any visible signs of physical /

psychological abuse. Nightstop staff will take appropriate action regarding any such

disclosures/suspicions of abuse.

Hosts will not contact parents, guardians, friends or relatives of the guest.

Hosts will not disclose the whereabouts of the guest if they are asked for such

information by a third party. All such enquiries will be directed to the Nightstop office,

including police enquiries.

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

REFERRAL PARTNER AGREEMENTThe referral partner agrees to:

1 Ensure that everyone within their organisation who is responsible for making referrals to Nightstop is aware of the policies, procedures and risk assessment procedure and has had training with a Nightstop staff member.

2 Support guests in person and are expected to have an ongoing relationship with them in order to support them through their housing crisis.

3 Be responsible for sourcing suitable and safe move on accommodation for the guest.

4 Provide all the appropriate information regarding a guest’s history and current condition during the referral and risk assessment.

5 Refer appropriate guests, who are within an acceptable level of risk or liaise with the Nightstop team if unsure of the risk of placing a guest.

6 Inform Nightstop staff of any complaints made (for any reason) so that we can pursue the matter.

7 Seek feedback from those who stay on Nightstop.

We understand and agree to our responsibility as a referral partner to Nightstop

Name of organisation:

Signature of referral partner representative Date:

Signature of Nightstop staff member Date:

If you have any complaints about the referral process, please contact Nightstop and ask to speak to the Service Manager.

Please sign two copies, retain one for your own records and return one to Nightstop

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Nightstop Guide For Referral Agencies

Nightstop Contact Details

Nightstop referrals phone number: 01452 331330

This number is available for referrals between

10am – 4pm Mon – Thu / 10am – 3pm Fri

Office Phone number: 01452 331330

Nightstop staff are available from 9am – 5pm

Website: www.gloucestershirenightstop.org.uk

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