What is Floating Support?
Floating support is housing related support that is provided by several partner agencies of the council. It is a free service to the customer and it is for a temporary period, from just one occasion or a few weeks, to a maximum of two years.
Who can floating support help?
• People that are homeless or at risk of losing their home
• People that are experiencing problems becoming or staying independent
• People with all types of tenancies and housing situations
• Single people, couples and families.
• People moving on from supported accommodation into independent accommodation (resettlement)
• People living with a learning, physical or sensory disability
• Young people leaving care
• Teenage parents
• Older people
• People experiencing domestic abuse
• People living with mental health problems
• People living with drug or alcohol related problems
• People due to be or recently released from prison
Who decides what support is needed?
When a floating support service agrees that someone qualifies for help, they and the support worker will agree a support plan together. It will say what the customer wants to achieve through support.
A floating support worker can make home visits or arrange to meet outside of the home.
What can the support worker help with?
• Setting up a new home
• Understanding tenancy or license agreements
• Addressing rent arrears
• Applying for welfare benefits
• Budgeting and finances
• Staying safe at home
• Reading, writing, filling in forms or dealing with correspondence
In addition, some services may help with:
• Daily living skills
• Accessing services if the customer has mental health, alcohol or drugs problems
• Advocacy if the customer has a disability
• Advocacy if the customer is having family or legal problems or is in danger of losing their home
Floating support is not about providing care, formal counselling, helping with personal hygiene, cleaning properties or befriending individuals.
Can the customer choose who supports them?
There are a number of different types of floating support services available. Some are general and some are for people with specific needs. If the customer has a mental health problem or is experiencing domestic violence a specialist service may be available
Services will always try and find a support worker that will work well with the customer.
What happens next?
A Floating Support Referral can be made by any professional that is currently helping the customer such as (a probation officer, a support worker, a housing officer or a health visitor.) The referral form can be collected from the council offices or requested from the housing team by calling on 01256 844844. The completed form should be returned to:-
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Housing and Benefits Department
London Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG21 4AH
