Kent Housing Options Group Grant De-Negri Managing Director 15 th March 2018

1. Kent Housing Options Group Grant De-Negri Managing Director 15th March 2018

2. Mission Statement “Paramount work in partnership with local authorities to aim to reduce the requirement to place families in B&B type accommodation in Kent. We believe temporary accommodation should only be truly temporary. We are committed to assisting local authorities to providing permanent sustainable housing solutions for our clients”

3. Our Core Values • A commitment to providingbest value • A commitment to providing a transparent & accessible service • A commitment to treating our clients the right way • A commitment to investing in the community • A commitment to being flexible to the trends of homelessness

4. Background • Operating since late 2015, Paramount has grown to be Kent’s largest provider of temporary accommodation • We are able to offer over 450 properties in the South East • An “always open” 24/7 accessible service • Broad geographical spread across Kent • Working with all Kent local authorities • Also working with Kent County Council’s Social Services Team & NHS discharge team

5. The Paramount Family • Employ 43 staff many of which have an extensive social housing background • Dedicated Support Team that includes Floating Support & Family Liaison Officers • Use specialist housing management software and databases that meets Data Protection and Safeguarding requirements • Able to provide detailed audit trail of all client based activity • Dartford Borough Council currently piloting making referrals into TA via Locata – able to use journal notes to ensure excellent communication and transparency

6. Our Accommodation • We can offer self-contained, shared and specific tailored accommodation such as; Shared, single male, parent & child, mother & baby, and guesthouse/blocks of flats with a live-in manager • Our accommodation is all fully furnished including appliances • We use the latest technology, eg. body cams & wireless CCTV • 24/7 operation with comprehensive out of hours service • Additional support offered where needed – additional inspections, regular weekly visits, comprehensive signposting, support in applying for benefits etc • Dedicated in-house repairs and maintenance service

7. Reservation policy • One of Paramount’s key operational policies • Once property is vacant, it is automatically reserved for the host borough for 5 working days • This will not be offered to another LA during that process without permission – despite this potentially leading to a financial loss! • We hope this enables better partnership working • We try to minimise out of borough placements where possible • Happy to discuss and develop this approach further with LA’s if there is a need

8. YOUR QUESTIONS Answered: Reducing costs • Our costs reflect that we lease properties from landlords at market rents • Housing costs vary wildly from borough to borough – this makes it impossible to standardise costs and offer a uniform rate • However, we do reduce costs when we can and you will already have the cheapest price • We ensure that we offer good quality accommodation that meets a decent standard

9. YOUR QUESTIONS Answered: AST’s • Paramount already have a “move on” culture engrained through all our engagement with residents • We ensure that our residents understand that our accommodation is temporary in nature, and they need to actively pursue opportunities in the private rented sector and through Kent Homechoice • Paramount work with landlords we have existing relationships with as well as now seeking to offer ASTs within our own stock • Accessing ASTs in the current market remains an issue for us, we will later this year seek to launch our own Estate Agency in light of this

10. YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: EVICTIONS • Currently led by the placing local authority on this • We would like to develop a process with this group • Based on clear communication about when to instigate and on a case by case basis, sensitive to the circumstances • Fair, consistent, and transparent for the residents, placing authority, and Paramount as the accommodation provider • Clear paperwork and approach for our clients from the outset that refers to them as “guests” with no security of tenure

11. YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: OTHER • Currently going through a process to ensure that Paramount are GDPR compliant for 2018 and will be ready by end of April • Unannounced inspections: • A lot of local authorities ask for this as standard to ensure the accommodation is being used • We perform these to ensure the welfare of the residents, that you achieve vfm from your bookings, and to highlight any other safeguarding issues that may of otherwise have been hidden from us • If you specifically do not want this service, happy to explore

12. Contacting Paramount • allusers@pipservices.co.uk –to enquire about properties that we may have available for TA use. We aim to respond in 10 minutes • bookings@pipservices.co.uk - to place bookings/cancellations • repairs@pipservices.co.uk – highlight any repairs that need undertaking (manned 24/7) • cmt@pipservices.co.uk – for our Client Management Team. If you have concerns about a household or individual, such as a possible support need or whether they are using the accommodation • support@pipservices.co.uk – For our clients to contact us if they require any support from our Team • Or you can call us on our phone number 01634 733123

13. Questions?