SAFE Protocol
Scroll down for our guidance for Local Authorities, Primary Care and schools ↓
The SAFE campaign, launched by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Households in Temporary Accommodation, aims to foster increased collaboration between local authorities and their support services, when a homeless household is placed in temporary accommodation (TA).
Currently, the Homelessness Code of Guidance details how local authorities should be notifying receiving councils when placing households in another local area. This guidance is not always followed, which can result in households, including vulnerable families with children, becoming lost in the system. This guidance should be more strictly followed, so that we can ensure those in TA don’t become forgotten, and instead continue to receive the support they are entitled to.
The SAFE campaign aims to expand this system of notification. It sought an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would place a duty on local councils to notify GP surgeries and schools as to the status of a newly homeless family.
Although the Government have felt unable at this time to accept this amendment, we are glad to see that the Government supports the need for a notification protocol and will look into finding the best method to implement it.
The SAFE campaign also hopes to encourage ongoing collaboration between these services and the local council, to offer a more holistic support package for households in temporary accommodation.
These changes would apply to all households who become homeless, whether they're placed in TA elsewhere, or remain in their local area.
We can’t continue allowing our children's health and education to suffer because of their homeless situation. We want homeless households to experience a continuity of support so that they can one day move back into settled housing.
While the SAFE campaign is working to change the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are hoping Local Authorities are able to take the brave new step in immediately implementing this new notification process. Some councils have already begun to notify and we welcome conversations with others to assist in this new process.
Shared Health Foundation, co-secretariat of the APPG, has worked in collaboration with local authorities, schools, health professionals and families with lived experience of homelessness, to develop Guidance for Local Authorities, Primary Care and Schools. We know that a little can go a long way in providing children and their families with a sense of hope during a very difficult time and that Health and Education services are well-placed to provide the stability that homeless families need to continue to thrive.