Guidance for voluntary and community sector organisations

For the 16 and 17-year-olds who are homeless, there are legislations to support them and it could make potential changes to their life, however, the research by the Just for Kids Law indicated that the authorities do not provide adequate information to help the youths making informed decisions.

Approximately 2,500 of them are being accommodated every year and some 16- and 17-year-olds choose not to enter care even with full information. Yet, there are youths who are not informed about the options and it could lead to consequences in the future. Also, the majority of the young people were rejected to be accommodated without any further judicial actions and they were considered as "looked-after children".

Voluntary sector organisations should support the 16- and 17-year-olds by cooperating with the local authorities, provide the needed information and make sure that they are housed. And the report provides the right information to help and educate the professionals in order to support the homeless young people. To receive the support, the young people need to take the "child in need" assessment and it is likely to be upsetting and disturbing for them. Therefore, the professionals should question themselves if they are in the best position to support the young people and it is crucial that they know the rights the young people are entitled to.

Main topics covered in the report:

  • The legal entitlements of 16- and 17-year-olds who become homeless and of care leavers, and how this translates to the different roles and responsibilities of children’s services and housing services.
  • Advice on supporting young people to approach their local authority.
  • Practical advice on supporting young people and facilitating informed decision making, in a trauma-informed way.
  • Supporting young people with specific circumstances, such as young people leaving institutions, young people with insecure immigration status and young people with children.
  • Information on where to get further support and resources

Childhub

You might like..

0
3
Media regulator Ofcom interviewed 3,200 children and parents around the UK as part of a 2019 study on children’s electronic device usage habits.  Here are some of the results: Mobile phones are the most commonly used devices among…
0
199
Kujtim Veseli, a child from Fushë Kosova, was found dead in front of an apartment on 11 July last year. Kujtim was sexually abused for some time before his death; the police and prosecution were informed about this by Kujtim himself, his mother and…
0
144
Research from 2010 showed that in one year alone, 13 per cent of UK children aged 9-16 experienced something on the internet as a whole which upset or worried them. This new research shows that over one in four children aged 11-16 with a profile on…
no
0
Recently, two cases involving children (the disciplinary case of European figure skating champion Júlia Sebestyén and the dismissal of swimming coach Ferenc Pass) have received media attention in Hungarian sport, in connection with which Dóri…
0
94
Oumar, a 16 year old boy, survived a terrifying journey from Ghana to Italy.  Now he lives in a foster family in Italy and he was rescued twice - once by the Italian coast guard, and once by his new foster family.  
0
77
There are many Romani children in Hungary, who drop out of school at the age of 16. According to the law, this is when they are not bound to stay in school anymore. A new initiative wants this law to be modified. Kids would then have to study until…
0
122
WHO’s report examined the physical and social relationships of adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15, from 45 countries. It showed that most of adolescents’ mental well-being declined, frequently feeling anxious and low. It is sad news because…
0
26
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) had released its 2017 issue outlining state security expectations as well as a guide to assist non-legislative actors to implement well defined youth-protection protocols…
yes
0
368
The well-known psychologist, Denata Toce shares her professional opinion on the case of violence of a mother against her 13-year-old daughter, a case that became mediatic during January 2020. She says that the violence seen in the video was multi-…
0
6
This manual is not intended to be an academic report but instead is a practical guide that we hope will be of use to people working directly in the field. The aim is to provide fundamental information to assist personnel working in emergency…
0
29
During the COVID -19 pandemic, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Serbia found several ways to serve the three most vulnerable groups in society, such as homeless people, children from the Roma…
0
4
3,200 children and parents filled out an Ofcom survey about the use of media and digital devices. Based on the survey, almost half of children aged 3–4 use tablets, and 20% of them use mobile phones. Unlike in previous years, more children use…
0
27
Cafe Bar 16 was founded by the Center for Youth Integration, to ensure children leaving the Drop in Shelter when they turn 16 would not be left to fend for themselves. The Drop in Shelter in Belgrade has been working with street involved…
0
48
This National Plan for Safeguarding Children from Commercial Sexual Exploitation is an important part of the Government?s drive to improve safeguards for children. It focuses on a particularly vulnerable group of children those who are induced or…
0
9
This guidance aims to support the Child Protection and Education practitioners who respond to the needs of children in humanitarian crises. This includes relevant government line ministries, national civil society organizations, community and faith-…