Referrals

The purpose of the referral criteria and form, is to enable staff and volunteers to work with ex-offenders to overcome barriers in their lives in the most effective and safest ways. The referral and risk assessment form are to help our staff reach a decision on the level of acceptable risk to be able to benefit from our services.

The criteria for our supported housing schemes are as follows:

• Male or Female and over 18 years of age

• Single homeless, without dependent children

• Involved within the criminal justice system

• In need of housing and support with no legal right to be housed by the local authority

• With low to medium support needs, which prevent them from living independently

• In need of support and willing to co-operate with Ability to Change staff and their referring support worker

• Applicants who have misused drugs or alcohol in the past need to demonstrate that they have taken steps to deal with these problems

• Must NOT have a past history of Arson or Sex Offences

• UK & EU Resident with verifiable ID

• In receipt of or eligible for Universal Credit

All applicants must adhere to the following:-

Ability to Change provides both support and

accommodation - the two elements are combined together. Clients cannot access one without the other. Each client will have a designated support worker who provides regular client contact according to the support needs of each client. In addition to key work, support staff encourage service users participation and attendance to house meetings.  Clients must be prepared to engage with the support provided and to work towards the objectives of the support plan.  Failure to engage with support will result in the license to occupy being terminated and clients will have to find alternative accommodation.

The objective of the support plan is to allow for a period of stability and settled accommodation so that clients can receive support to develop essential living skills, with a view to addressing offending behaviour, moving onto a more independent setting, entering employment, education or training and finding meaningful occupation, and not being trapped in the Criminal Justice System and the revolving door scenario of repeat offending.

All properties are fully furnished houses. Each client has their own bedroom, with shared access to kitchens, bathrooms and laundry facilities. Each property also has a communal garden.

There is a designated Property Services Officer who manages maintenance and a Housing Support Officer who manages rent and tenancy issues.  Any accommodation offered will be for the sole use of the referred client, and must be used as the client’s sole or main residence.  They must reside at the premises for a minimum of 4 nights in any 7 day period.  Visitors are allowed between the hours of 10:00 am and 21:00 pm - no overnight guests are permitted.  No illicit drugs or alcohol should be in the premises under any circumstances.  No residents or visitors should be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the premises at any time.

If the applicant is a UK national and has always lived in the UK, they will have recourse to public funds. If the applicant is not a UK national or is a UK national who has lived abroad, they should provide a copy of their passport or visa and should be advised to apply for Universal Credit and the Department for Work and Pensions will determine whether or not they have recourse to public funds and are entitled to benefits. In such cases, the referrer should indicate on the application that this is yet to be determined.

Referral Applications should be completed in full, with no sections omitted, and be accompanied by comprehensive supporting information, including prison reports, details of any courses attended whilst detained, probation reports, pre-sentencing reports, any medical or psychiatric information, details of assessed support needs, risk assessments etc.  This is so that support needs are fully identified and addressed in the clients individual support plan.

To request for a referral form please email:

referral@abilitytochange.org.uk