Local Solutions: Examples

Greater Manchester Probation Service together with Registered Social Landlords & Local Authority Housing Departments in Manchester have developed a protocol to ensure that information about risk is provided to agencies where it is in the interests of the public to do so. The aims are to: enable the allocation of appropriate housing to offenders & ex-offenders; enable housing authorities & RSLs to safeguard the interests of current & future tenants & protecting housing staff; & enable housing authorities & RSLs to safeguard the interests of offenders & ex-offenders applying for housing to those who are accepted as homeless. 

Contact:  Diane Barkley Tel:  0161 886 4814  Email:dbarkle@gmps.4.freeserve.co.uk[back to table]

Oldham Metropolitan BC Housing Dept., as part of its strategy to combat anti-social behaviour reviewed its tenancy agreement in Feb. 1998. The aim was to strengthen its capacity to deal with anti-social behaviour. The tenancy has been awarded the Plain English Campaign Crystal Mark Award. All existing tenants of the authority were formally consulted on the proposal to vary the tenancy conditions. The new tenancy agreement was sent to each tenant, asking for his or her views, with a minimum of 28 days in which to respond. Tenant’s Associations & Area Tenant Panels were also consulted. Greater Manchester Police also gave their views on the document, which were incorporated into the final agreement. The new agreement enables both the Council & its tenants to be aware of their rights & obligations. The agreement enables tenants to see that the Housing Dept. has the means to take effective action against anti-social behaviour. 

Contact: Simon Bunker - Assistant Director of Housing Tel: 0161911 4554 Email:HSG.sbunker@oldham.gov.uk[back to table]

The Monsall Future Partnership Council and three housing associations. It has produced a joint estate agreement, which is a common set of standards & targets for service delivery to tenants & residents of all the partner landlords. The agreement covers how residents can access services & what the service standards & targets are for each service - including sections on anti-social behaviour, allocation of properties, environmental maintenance, & customer care. Amongst other things, the landlord agrees to: keep an eye on each other's property & report any graffiti, vandalism or other problems within 24 hours; pick up litter from communal areas & sweep pavements & communal car parks at least once a month - more often when there is a particular problem; remove racist & offensive graffiti within one day & other graffiti within one week; inspect the estate monthly with volunteer residents; take legal action against residents who break their tenancy agreement where appropriate. In return tenants sign up to a Community Declaration, which includes their agreement to: use reasonable language with neighbours & visitors; try to help & support minority groups on the state; keep gardens & balconies tidy; make sure that they or their visitors do not damage other's property; and not in ways that damage the estates environment. [back to table]

Manchester Housing Dept. established a specialist team in 1995 to address anti-social behaviour on housing estates. It has secured, in just over 4 years, 964 successful legal actions (excluding Notices of Intention to Seek Possession); defined the individual tasks which must be undertaken by front-line officers or by specialists re surveillance & legal action to achieve & sustain the volume of action: & engaged witnesses in large nos. to participate in court action. Defining characteristics have been; relatively high volume (594) injunctions – providing urgent, effective protection for witnesses & securing an inexpensive & swift end to anti-social behaviour; the correspondingly low volume (95) of evictions for anti-social behaviour – ensuring maximum control of perpetrators & minimum exclusion of them & their families from housing provision; the development of the capacity of witnesses, the wider community & partner services to respond successfully to anti-social behaviour. The team has its own dedicated, in house lawyers and specialist in individual case development strategy. It provides a 24 hour, 7 days a week support for witnesses via planned programmes . It is not a reactive, call out service. The team is currently expanding its services to provide legal solutions on anti-social behaviour across all types of tenure. An information pack entitled 'Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour' has been produced, containing policy, procedures & documentation for staff, victims and witnesses.

Contact: Bill Pitt Tel: 0161 234 4611 Email: b.pitt@notes.manchester.gov.uk [back to table]

Westminster Support Service - Thames Reach provides a support & resettlement package for both new tenants who are likely to have difficulties sustaining their tenancies & tenants at risk of eviction because of their anti-social behaviour. Housing support workers monitor tenant’s progress & provide support for an agreed period . They liaise with other services & represent tenants at community care assessments & advocate for services such as funding for detox programmes. 

Contact: John Crowther Tel: 02074033848                       Email: john.crowther@thames-reach.demon.co.uk

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Nottingham City Council is developing a multi-disciplinary approach to providing integrated support for families & individuals who suffers a combination of problems & whose behaviour is causing concern. The initiative is being piloted in one area of the city, with the local area manager co-ordinating the work of a team including education, youth & social services, health, policy & probation staff. The group has developed joint working protocols & criteria for the identification of those families & individuals causing concern. Case conference known as Family Reviews will develop action plans which identify the level & type of support required , as well as identifying the lead agency. 

Contact: Peter Jackson - Assistant Director Housing     Tel: 0115 915 7352                                                        Email: peter.jackson@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

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Dundee Families Project – set up in 1996 to tackle problems of anti-social behaviour in families & the wider community. The project is run in partnership with NCH in partnership with Dundee City Council, offering a range of services to families who have either been excluded from mainstream housing, or who are placing their tenancies at risk because of anti-social behaviour Support is only offered to families who are committed to changing their behaviour. An admissions panel comprising senior representatives of NCH and Dundee City Council & housing and social workers meet every 6-8 weeks to consider all residential referrals. Families who are homeless & who need a high level of support are accommodated in the Project’s Core Block. A multi-disciplinary staff team offers a 24-hour intensive support service. As many of the behavioural difficulties have been entrenched through generations, the work is often long-term & the average length of stay is 9 months. Dispersed accommodation is accessed from Dundee City Council & offered to families who require less intensive residential support. The tenancy of dispersed accommodation is transferred to the family upon successful completion of work, thus enabling families to access permanent city council accommodation. The project also runs an Outreach Preventive Service.  This is an early intervention service offered to families at risk of eviction. Services are offered, both within the families’ current accommodation and the project base, to support & assist the family with the aim of preventing a tenancy breakdown & subsequent homelessness. Individual, family & group work support is tailored to individual need. Common issues addressed in care plan sessions include managing anti-social behaviour & developing positive parenting skills. The project’s group work programme includes tenancy workshops, anger management, and a young persons and children’s group.

Contact:  Gill Strachen: Tel: 01382828372 Email:scdfp@mail.nchafc.org.uk [back to table]

The Bell Farm residents’ association, the Council, police & Health Authority in York City have drawn up a comprehensive Service Level Estate Agreement for the provision of neighbourhood services, with the help of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The Agreement aims to enhance the partnership between residents & service delivery agencies & protect the improvements carried out under estate action. It is monitored through an estate agreement monitoring group & covers; community policing; crime; housing; environmental cleaning; dog warden service; adventure playground; jobs & training; leisure services; community education service; care & support services for older people/children & families/adults. 

Contact: Carol Johnson Housing Community Adviser Tel: 01904 613161 Ext.4103 Email: carol.johnson@york.gov.uk[back to table]