Peter has been a supported lodgings provider for Caerphilly County Borough Council for nine years. In that time, he has housed six young people for between one and two years. He has also accommodated emergency placements, sometimes for as short as a weekend or up to a few weeks.
We spoke to Peter about his experiences and what it means to him.
To become a supported lodgings provider, I had to undergo a fostering assessment and training and had to be approved at a panel.
I am able to accommodate young people aged 16 and over, both young men and young women. I am currently housing two young people as Social Services asked for an emergency placement with me recently, but I generally just have one young person.
“Sometimes it takes time to build a trusting relationship”
As you can imagine, it’s not always plain sailing as, with all young people, they’re negotiating the difficult period of their lives between childhood and adulthood, plus they have the added challenges of being in care.
Sometimes it takes time to build a trusting relationship and can take time to negotiate a constructive living environment for us both.
I’ve housed young people where it has really worked and at other times where it hasn’t. In difficult periods it can be quite challenging but overall, it has been a positive experience for me.
I also need to have a degree of flexibility as sometimes young people make mistakes or don’t have living skills when they arrive.
Also, when a young person moves on, I use that as an opportunity to have a break for myself for a few weeks.
“We cook each other meals”
We do everyday stuff – trips out, they help with cooking, laundry, learn life skills, we chat about their day and well-being – it’s just living together. Sometimes we have meals together and we cook each other meals, it just depends on the day.
My own children who are in their 20’s have always supported me, there have never been any issues, we include the young people into family life. There have been young people who have joined us for Christmas dinner.
“It takes a team approach to make it work”
I feel like part of a team with Caerphilly, I know there’s people I can call if I need to and I have regular supervision with my social worker.
I’ve found that with support from Social Services, the young person has been carefully chosen to fit with me from the beginning and the one thing I always insist upon is that the young person is in employment, education, or training.
I have a social worker and the young people have their own social worker as they need their own support.
I’ve found the support from Social Services vital for both the young people but also for me.
I wouldn’t still be doing this if I didn’t feel supported and also the extra payment helps with living costs. It tales a team approach to make it work.
When things don’t work, I’ve found, it’s generally down to one of these not being in place. On the whole things do work or otherwise people decide that supported lodgings is not for them. That is quite understandable and it’s not for everyone.
“I’ve stayed connected with young people that have lived with me”
Supported lodgings provides young people with a homely environment and can secure better outcomes for the young person. I’ve stayed connected with young people that have lived with me and generally they are all now doing constructive things with their lives.
The young woman who has been living with me recently has recently achieved her A levels and I moved her into University this week! She was previously in foster care, needed a stable homely living environment and first came to me as a respite placement for a few weekends.
Another young person, he lived with me during Covid, he had moved from abroad to the UK and came into care. He is now in secure employment and has got his own flat. He’s doing really well and we still keep in touch. Last year he won student of the year award at college for overcoming barriers in his life.
It’s about dispelling the myths around young people, they’re not all drinking, smoking cannabis or engaging in anti-social behaviour!
“Supported Lodgings really works”
My experience has been positive, but it does take work and time to find the right balance. It’s a much better option and constructive environment for young people than other forms of accommodation such as hostels.
I would encourage people to do it, go through the training and hear from other supported lodgings providers. I really believe in it. Supported lodgings really works.
Could you provide a young person with supported lodgings like Peter?
Living in Caerphilly, Wales? Why not get in touch with Foster Wales Caerphilly today? We can provide further information and answer your questions.
Send us a message or give us a call on 0800 587 5664 Text ‘foster’ to 78866 and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
