Would you be willing to offer space in your home and life to provide a stepping stone to a young person aged 16 and over? Can you offer a young person a safe and supportive environment where they can begin to prepare for adult life?
We are seeking Supported Lodgings Carers for young people from Perth and Kinross who are care-experienced and are moving towards adulthood and independent living, and Host Carers for our children alone seeking asylum (CASA). The progression to adult life can often be tricky for both these groups, and they would both benefit from the support you could offer.
As long as you have room for a young person in your home, and time to support them to gain the skills they need to be responsible for themselves in adult life, then you could become a Supported Lodgings/Host Carer provider with us. See our FAQ below for more information.
If you are interested in joining our team, please call 01738 474580 or email SupportedLodgings@pkc.gov.uk.
Host carer festive cabin
Meet our team at their festive cabin, located in King Edward Street, Perth from Monday 25 November to Thursday 28 November. This is a perfect opportunity to chat with them, ask questions, and gather all the information you need. Whether you're thinking about becoming a host carer or curious about what it entails, come along to meet them between 11am and 3pm.
Frequently Asked Questions - Supported Lodgings and Host Carers
How do Supported Lodgings carers help young people?
Supported Lodgings carers, alongside our Throughcare and Aftercare Team, provide guidance and support to help care-experienced young people to develop some of the more practical life skills for example, cooking, budgeting or managing appointments; you would also offer support with their emotional and physical wellbeing, for example, building relationships and supporting them to access health, work, education and training opportunities, all with a view to independent adult life. Training, ongoing support and a weekly fee to assist with living expenses are all provided to approved carers.
Why do we need host carers?
The Council, along with other local authorities, has a responsibility to meet the needs of children alone seeking asylum (CASA) who have arrived via a number of different routes in Perth. The majority of the young people are 16 or 17 years old and they may benefit from living with a host carer who could offer a safe and supportive environment for them, helping them to develop life skills, access key support services, and integrate and lead a full life in the UK.
Who are the young people seeking asylum?
These young people may speak little or no English when they arrive, and may have travelled for months at a time before arriving here. They may have experienced: living in refugee camps; physical and sexual assault; being the subject of human trafficking across Europe; living in war zones; not having their basic needs met (e.g. lack of food, shelter, clothing, warmth); and separation from their families.
Many of them also face uncertainty about their future life in Britain as their immigration status and right to remain are uncertain.
What are the criteria for becoming a supported lodgings or host carer with us?
- You must live in the Perth and Kinross area, with good transport links
- You must have a spare room in your home (if you rent, permission will be required from your landlord)
- Helpful to have relevant experience in caring for young people
- You can be single, married, from the LGBTQI+ community
- You can be working or retired
- Enquiries from all ethnic groups and cultures will be welcomed
A willingness to work flexibly and in partnership with social work/education professionals
What's involved in becoming a host or supported lodgings carer?
You will be invited to attend a group training session where you will receive information to help with looking after these young people.
We will also carry out a number of checks with you and any adult members of your household, including health, suitability to work with children/young people (PVG) and personal references as part of an assessment of you and your family. This assessment will collect evidence of your circumstances and ability to meet the needs of care-experienced young people or children alone seeking asylum.
A panel made up of professionals interested in the wellbeing of young people will then consider the assessment to determine if you can become a host family or supported lodgings carer.
Once approved, you and the young person living with you will receive ongoing support from us and we will pay you a weekly fee to help with living expenses. The young person may live with you until they are able to live independently.
How much is the allowance for being a host carer?
The allowance for being a host carer is £266.00 per week. This allowance is to assist with living expenses.
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