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Sam Austin LLAMAU LTD

Family Mediation and Homelessness Prevention. Sam Austin LLAMAU LTD. What is mediation?. Preventative service A way of resolving disputes Free and confidential service but we do pass on outcomes Impartial, non judgemental and independent

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Sam Austin LLAMAU LTD

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  1. Family Mediation and Homelessness Prevention Sam AustinLLAMAU LTD

  2. What is mediation? • Preventative service • A way of resolvingdisputes • Free and confidential service but we do pass on outcomes • Impartial, non judgemental and independent • Voluntary… but offered as only option in 1st instance • Promotion of service to parents and young people is key to success • Either party is free to stop the process at any time

  3. How can Mediation help Homelessness Prevention? • Working with families as early as possible is essential i.e. ideally before they present in crisis • Mediation intervention has happen early on in the homelessness process • Mediation has to be the only option offered initially

  4. Family Mediation • Developed in Wales as a response to lack of accommodation for 16/17 year olds and as a result of changes in priority need legislation • Primarily aimed at 16 & 17 year olds and their families • Now operating services to 14 & 15 year olds – makes big difference long term • One worker in Cardiff works specifically with over 18s • 7 Mediation workers – 6 LA areas in Wales

  5. FAMILY MEDIATION SERVICES Aims • to enable young person to return home • return home while planned move is facilitated • rebuild support links with family if cannot return home

  6. Examples of when mediation can help • Issues around parent’s new partner • Feels family has unrealistic expectations • ‘Problems’ at home because of young person’s behaviour e.g offending or substance misuse • Arguments about independence issues • Wants to leave home – educative role • Left home in crisis & wants to rebuild bridges • When a young person has been out of contact with their family e.g wants to see brothers, sisters, pets

  7. The Llamau Mediation Process • Family mediator sees all 16/17 year olds presenting as homeless • Estrangement is checked with all parents – phone / letter • Parents ‘encouraged’ to meet with mediator as soon as possible • Length of time varies per case • May trigger referrals to other agencies e.g child protection

  8. How Mediation works – a reactive service • Contact young person and arrange 1 to 1 meeting • Contact parent/s and arrange 1 to 1 meeting • Arrange joint session if both parties are in agreement • Further joint sessions if appropriate • An agreement is reached by both sides • Follow up calls to check on progress • Case closed if no further contact after 1 month. • This triggers survey to be sent out to all parties • NB Work flexibly, including out of hours or at weekends

  9. Statisticalinformation05/06 Across all LA areas: 881 of new cases 54% average returned/remain at home rate Torfaen: 69% Vale: 72% Caerphilly: 61% Savings to B&B/TA budget …… ££££££ • In 1 week – saved £68,220 • In 4 weeks – saved £272,880 • In 8 weeks – saved £545,760 • In 12 weeks - £738,360

  10. The key to success… • Successful mediation services need to adapt to meet local need • Working protocols and operational procedures need to be in place and regularly reviewed • The voluntary sector aspect is important so that families will talk • As a voluntary organisation it is essential to build up trust with the local authority • Outcomes must be passed on to referring agency / homelessness

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