Safeguarding Spotlight: Homelessness

The Safeguarding Adults Board have conducted a multi agency audit to look at the safeguarding responses to homeless adults in Brighton & Hove. The audit assessed whether the needs of vulnerable people who self-neglect, misuse substances, have come to the recent attention of Police, have poor mental health and/or have had a recent health crisis, are being appropriately addressed. The key findings can be broken down into the following areas:

  • Multi-agency working & information sharing
  • Safeguarding & self-neglect procedures
  • Working with clients with multiple and complex support needs

Read more about the findings in the Staff Briefing: Homeless Audit 

  • 1. Universal

    Has needs met within universal provision. May need limited intervention within the setting to avoid needs arising.

  • 2. Early Help

    Has additional needs identified within the setting that can be met within identified resources through a single agency response and partnership working.

  • 3. Early Help Partnership Plus

    Has multiple needs requiring a multi-agency coordinated response.

  • 4. Specialist Services to address Acute & Chronic need

    Has a high level of unmet & complex needs, or is in need of protection.

  • Child developmental needs
    • Good attendance (above 90%)
    • ×

      Good attendance (above 90%)

      ×

      Good attendance (above 90%)

    • Meeting developmental & learning milestones
    • ×

      Meeting developmental & learning milestones

      ×

      Meeting developmental & learning milestones

    • Has emotional well-being
    • ×

      Has emotional well-being

      ×

      Has emotional well-being

    • Ability to protect self and be protected
    • ×

      Ability to protect self and be protected

      ×

      Ability to protect self and be protected

    • Resilient and able to adapt to change
    • ×

      Resilient and able to adapt to change

      ×

      Resilient and able to adapt to change

    • Physically healthy
    • ×

      Physically healthy

      ×

      Physically healthy

    • Age-appropriate self care & independence skills
    • ×

      Age-appropriate self care & independence skills

      ×

      Age-appropriate self care & independence skills

    • Ability to express needs
    • ×

      Ability to express needs

      ×

      Ability to express needs

  • Child developmental needs
    • Absence/truancy from school    
    • ×

      Absence/truancy from school

      ×

      Absence/truancy from school

    • Incidence of absence/missing from home    
    • ×

      Incidence of absence/missing from home

    • Persistent poor behaviour in school  
    • ×

      Persistent poor behaviour in school

      ×

      Persistent poor behaviour in school

    • Risk of social exclusion    
    • ×

      Risk of social exclusion

      ×

      Risk of social exclusion

    • Poor relationships  
    • ×

      Poor relationships

      ×

      Poor relationships

    • Language and communication difficulties  
    • ×

      Language and communication difficulties

      ×

      Language and communication difficulties

    • Disability or additional special educational needs    
    • ×

      Disability or additional special educational needs

      ×

      Disability or additional special educational needs

    • Difficulty in achieving in education  
    • ×

      Difficulty in achieving in education

      ×

      Difficulty in achieving in education

    • Potential for becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)    
    • ×

      Potential for becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)

      ×

      Potential for becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)

    • Slow in meeting developmental milestones    
    • ×

      Slow in meeting developmental milestones

      ×

      Slow in meeting developmental milestones

    • Missing health checks/immunisations    
    • ×

      Missing health checks/immunisations

    • Minor health problems  
    • ×

      Minor health problems

      ×

      Minor health problems

    • Early signs of offending/anti-social behaviour  
    • ×

      Early signs of offending/anti-social behaviour

      ×

      Early signs of offending/anti-social behaviour

    • Underage sexual activity    
    • ×

      Underage sexual activity

    • Early signs of drug/alcohol misuse    
    • ×

      Early signs of drug/alcohol misuse

    • Poor self-esteem    
    • ×

      Poor self-esteem

    • Low level emotional & behavioural issues that may be linked to attachment and/or emotional development delay    
    • ×

      Low level emotional & behavioural issues that may be linked to attachment and/or emotional development delay

    • Young carers    
    • ×

      Young carers

    • Bullying    
    • ×

      Bullying

      ×

      Bullying

    • Children who have previously been in Care, and children living away from their birth parents e.g adopted children, Special Guardianship Orders, Kinship Care.  
    • ×

      Children who have previously been in Care, and children living away from their birth parents e.g adopted children, Special Guardianship Orders, Kinship Care.

      ×

      Children who have previously been in Care, and children living away from their birth parents e.g adopted children, Special Guardianship Orders, Kinship Care.

  • Child developmental needs
    Despite intervention at 2, there is evidence of continuing and escalating need:
    • Persistent absence from school    
    • ×

      Persistent absence from school

      ×

      Persistent absence from school

    • Missing from school/ home regularly with no explanation    
    • ×

      Missing from school/ home regularly with no explanation

    • Fixed Term exclusions/no school place  
    • ×

      Fixed Term exclusions/no school place

      ×

      Fixed Term exclusions/no school place

    • Social exclusion    
    • ×

      Social exclusion

      ×

      Social exclusion

    • Poor relationships  
    • ×

      Poor relationships

      ×

      Poor relationships

    • No access to universal services / “Hidden Children”    
    • ×

      No access to universal services / “Hidden Children”

      ×

      No access to universal services / “Hidden Children”

    • Significant disabilities    
    • ×

      Significant disabilities

    • NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)    
    • ×

      NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)

      ×

      NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)

    • Developmental milestones not being met due to persistent parental failure/inability    
    • ×

      Developmental milestones not being met due to persistent parental failure/inability

      ×

      Developmental milestones not being met due to persistent parental failure/inability

    • Chronic/recurring health problems    
    • ×

      Chronic/recurring health problems

      ×

      Chronic/recurring health problems

    • Regular missed appointments affecting developmental progress    
    • ×

      Regular missed appointments affecting developmental progress

      ×

      Regular missed appointments affecting developmental progress

    • Teenage pregnancy    
    • ×

      Teenage pregnancy

    • Drug/alcohol misuse impacting negatively    
    • ×

      Drug/alcohol misuse impacting negatively

    • Risky sexual behaviour (e.g. unprotected sex)    
    • ×

      Risky sexual behaviour (e.g. unprotected sex)

    • Offending / anti-social behaviour resulting in risk of entering Youth Justice System  
    • ×

      Offending / anti-social behaviour resulting in risk of entering Youth Justice System

      ×

      Offending / anti-social behaviour resulting in risk of entering Youth Justice System

    • Emotional / mental health issues    
    • ×

      Emotional / mental health issues

      ×

      Emotional / mental health issues

  • Child developmental needs
    Persistent/continued/severe:
    • Chronic persistent absence, permanent exclusions or no school place that risks entry to the care system  
    • ×

      Chronic persistent absence, permanent exclusions or no school place that risks entry to the care system

      ×

      Chronic persistent absence, permanent exclusions or no school place that risks entry to the care system

    • Persistent social exclusion    
    • ×

      Persistent social exclusion

      ×

      Persistent social exclusion

    • Poor relationships  
    • ×

      Poor relationships

      ×

      Poor relationships

    • Complex / multiple disabilities    
    • ×

      Complex / multiple disabilities

    • Complex mental health issues affecting development needs, including self harm    
    • ×

      Complex mental health issues affecting development needs, including self harm

      ×

      Complex mental health issues affecting development needs, including self harm

    • High level emotional health issues and very low self-esteem    
    • ×

      High level emotional health issues and very low self-esteem

    • Non-organic failure to thrive  
    • ×

      Non-organic failure to thrive

      ×

      Non-organic failure to thrive

    • Inappropriate sexual knowledge / sexualised behaviour for age.    
    • ×

      Inappropriate sexual knowledge / sexualised behaviour for age.

      ×

      Inappropriate sexual knowledge / sexualised behaviour for age.

    • Harmful Sexual Behaviour / Peer on Peer Abuse    
    • ×

      Harmful Sexual Behaviour / Peer on Peer Abuse

    • Teenage parent/pregnancy under the age of 13    
    • ×

      Teenage parent/pregnancy under the age of 13

    • Concerns about exploitation (including sexual exploitation/ abuse, radicalisation; criminal exploitation; gang affiliation)    
    • ×

      Concerns about exploitation (including sexual exploitation/ abuse, radicalisation; criminal exploitation; gang affiliation)

    • Child victims of modern slavery or human trafficking    
    • ×

      Child victims of modern slavery or human trafficking

      ×

      Child victims of modern slavery or human trafficking

    • Unaccompanied minors    
    • ×

      Unaccompanied minors

    • Drug/alcohol use severely impairing development    
    • ×

      Drug/alcohol use severely impairing development

    • Frequently missing from home resulting in self-neglect    
    • ×

      Frequently missing from home resulting in self-neglect

    • Relationship breakdown between child & parent    
    • ×

      Relationship breakdown between child & parent

    • Offending and in the criminal justice system    
    • ×

      Offending and in the criminal justice system

      ×

      Offending and in the criminal justice system

    • Unexplained / suspicious injury    
    • ×

      Unexplained / suspicious injury

  • Family & Environment
    • Positive relationship between parents
    • ×

      Positive relationship between parents

      ×

      Positive relationship between parents

    • Stable & affectionate relationships with caregivers
    • ×

      Stable & affectionate relationships with caregivers

      ×

      Stable & affectionate relationships with caregivers

    • Housed, good diet and kept healthy
    • ×

      Housed, good diet and kept healthy

      ×

      Housed, good diet and kept healthy

    • Supportive networks
    • ×

      Supportive networks

      ×

      Supportive networks

    • Access to positive activities
    • ×

      Access to positive activities

      ×

      Access to positive activities

    • Positive sense of self and abilities
    • ×

      Positive sense of self and abilities

      ×

      Positive sense of self and abilities

  • Family & Environment
    • Children of prisoners/ parents subject to community orders    
    • ×

      Children of prisoners/ parents subject to community orders

    • Low income affects achievement    
    • ×

      Low income affects achievement

    • Parental conflict and risk of relationship breakdown    
    • ×

      Parental conflict and risk of relationship breakdown

    • Concerns about possible domestic abuse    
    • ×

      Concerns about possible domestic abuse

  • Family & Environment
    • Housing tenancy at risk    
    • ×

      Housing tenancy at risk

      ×

      Housing tenancy at risk

    • Harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown    
    • ×

      Harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown

      ×

      Harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown

    • Transient families  
    • ×

      Transient families

      ×

      Transient families

    • Domestic abuse & coercive control    
    • ×

      Domestic abuse & coercive control

    • No recourse to public funds    
    • ×

      No recourse to public funds

  • Family & Environment
    • Significantly harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown    
    • ×

      Significantly harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown

      ×

      Significantly harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown

    • Suspicion of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect    
    • ×

      Suspicion of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect

      ×

      Suspicion of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect

    • Domestic abuse resulting in child being at risk of significant harm    
    • ×

      Domestic abuse resulting in child being at risk of significant harm

    • Homeless Child/Young Person    
    • ×

      Homeless Child/Young Person

    • Family intentionally homeless    
    • ×

      Family intentionally homeless

    • Extreme poverty affecting child well-being    
    • ×

      Extreme poverty affecting child well-being

      ×

      Extreme poverty affecting child well-being

    • Forced Marriage, Honour Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation    
    • ×

      Forced Marriage, Honour Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation

  • Parents & Carers
    • Protected by carers
    • ×

      Protected by carers

      ×

      Protected by carers

    • Secure and caring home
    • ×

      Secure and caring home

      ×

      Secure and caring home

    • Receive and act on information, advice and guidance
    • ×

      Receive and act on information, advice and guidance

      ×

      Receive and act on information, advice and guidance

    • Appropriate boundaries maintained
    • ×

      Appropriate boundaries maintained

      ×

      Appropriate boundaries maintained

  • Parents & Carers
    • Inconsistent care arrangements  
    • ×

      Inconsistent care arrangements

      ×

      Inconsistent care arrangements

    • Poor supervision by parent/carer    
    • ×

      Poor supervision by parent/carer

      ×

      Poor supervision by parent/carer

    • Poor response to child’s physical, emotional or health needs    
    • ×

      Poor response to child’s physical, emotional or health needs

      ×

      Poor response to child’s physical, emotional or health needs

    • Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)  
    • ×

      Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

      ×

      Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

  • Parents & Carers
    • Parental learning or physical disability, substance misuse, or mental health impacts on parenting    
    • ×

      Parental learning or physical disability, substance misuse, or mental health impacts on parenting

    • Inconsistent care arrangements  
    • ×

      Inconsistent care arrangements

      ×

      Inconsistent care arrangements

    • Poor supervision by parent/carer  
    • ×

      Poor supervision by parent/carer

      ×

      Poor supervision by parent/carer

    • Poor response to identified needs    
    • ×

      Poor response to identified needs

      ×

      Poor response to identified needs

    • Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences  
    • ×

      Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences

      ×

      Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences

  • Parents & Carers
    • Edge of care  
    • ×

      Edge of care

      ×

      Edge of care

    • Parental encouragement of abusive/offending behaviour
    • ×

      Parental encouragement of abusive/offending behaviour

      ×

      Parental encouragement of abusive/offending behaviour

    • Continuing poor supervision in the home    
    • ×

      Continuing poor supervision in the home

    • Parental non-compliance / superficial co-operation    
    • ×

      Parental non-compliance / superficial co-operation

    • Inconsistent parenting affects child’s developmental progress  
    • ×

      Inconsistent parenting affects child’s developmental progress

      ×

      Inconsistent parenting affects child’s developmental progress

    • Private fostering    
    • ×

      Private fostering

  • Level of assessment
    No formal assessment
  • Level of assessment
    Consider commencement of Early Help Assessment / Pastoral Support Plan
  • Level of assessment
    Strengthening Families Early Help Assessment and Plan
  • Level of assessment
    Strengthening Families > Child in Need Plan or Child Protection Conference
  • Go direct to Service or search the Family Service Directory for the Local Offer, or call the Family Information Service on 01273 293545
  • Early Help Strengthening Families Assessment & Plan. If you require advice or guidance in respect of the child needs contact the Front Door For Families on 01273 290400
  • Contact Front Door For Families on 01273 290400 or if the child is at immediate risk call the Police on 999