Supported Lodgings Host

Supported Lodgings is for young people who may already be in care, be coming into care, be leaving care, or be young refugees. They are ready to take steps towards independence but are not yet ready to live entirely on their own. A safe and welcoming home, together with the guidance of a trusted adult, can give them the stability and confidence they need as they move towards adulthood. Could you be that person? Supported Lodgings is about creating a supportive home environment in which a young person can develop independence while knowing that encouragement and guidance are close at hand. What is Supported Lodgings? Supported Lodgings provides a young person with a room in a host's home and appropriate support to develop the practical and emotional skills needed for adult life. The young person has greater freedom and responsibility than a child in foster care, while benefiting from a stable home and a positive adult role model. This is a supportive hosting role rather than a parenting role. Hosts are expected to offer approximately 15 hours of support each week, encouraging the young person to make progress, take increasing responsibility and feel secure in their home and wider community. The role can be very suitable for people who work full-time alongside hosting. What would I do as a host?

• Provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming room within your home.
• Build a respectful and consistent relationship with the young person.
• Offer encouragement, advice and practical guidance without doing everything for them.
• Support the development of everyday skills, such as cooking, budgeting, managing appointments and looking after a home.
• Encourage education, employment, wellbeing and positive community connections.
• Work with the young person and professionals to support an agreed plan for increasing independence.
Who are we looking for? We want to hear from people across Sheffield who can offer a young person stability, patience and a respectful place to live. Hosts come from different backgrounds, cultures, households and life experiences. You do not need to have worked professionally with young people. It is important that you can listen, communicate clearly, maintain appropriate boundaries and help a young person learn through encouragement and everyday experience. What support will you receive? Sheffield City Council will support you through assessment and throughout your time as an approved host.
• A social worker to guide and support you through the assessment process.
• Ongoing support and supervision after approval, including advice when you need it.
• Training and development to help you understand the role and build confidence in supporting young people.
• Access to specialist advice within the wider service, including Speech and Language Therapy and psychological support where this is appropriate to the young person's needs.
• A Supported Lodgings allowance in recognition of the accommodation and support you provide.
• Access to host support groups, including daytime, evening, face-to-face and online sessions, making it easier to attend around work, family and other commitments.
• Opportunities to attend events held throughout the year to support, connect and celebrate our caring community.
An opportunity with lasting impact A Supported Lodgings Host can help a young person feel safe, welcome and capable. Your support could help them develop the confidence, skills and resilience to move successfully into independent adult life.