A partnership approach to delivering tenancy training courses for young
people and vulnerable adults
Since 2006 Kettering Borough Council has been successfully running a
programme of tenancy training courses; Move On, Move In for young people,
and New Opportunities, New Skills for vulnerable adults. The courses are
managed by Kettering Borough Council and delivered in partnership with a
variety of agencies who have all committed resources and worked together to
provide this unique opportunity for local young people.
Background
In May 2006, the first Move On, Move In course began in Kettering. Move
On, Move In is a tenancy training course for young people in the Borough.
Since the course began there have been seventeen courses and 138 young
people have successfully completed it.
The course is aimed at people aged 17-27 who have had problems
maintaining a tenancy in the past, or who will be likely to benefit from some
training and advice to help them make a successful move from supported
accommodation into independent living.
In 2008 a further course was added to our training programme for vulnerable
adults called New Opportunities, New Skills. Since this date there have been
five courses of New Opportunities, New Skills and 28 vulnerable adults have
successfully completed it.
The courses – Move On Move In
Move On Move In runs for two/three weeks and is held on a Tuesday and
Thursday evening between 5.30pm and 8.30pm. The course includes the
following sessions:
 managing your tenancy (tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities,
anti social behaviour)
 home maintenance
 money and budgeting
 first aid
 health (fire safety in the home, local leisure and sporting activities, age
progression software package)
The success of Move On Move In depends on engaging and enthusing young
people. The emphasis therefore is on providing hands-on experience and
giving the young people the opportunity to interact with their peers and
professionals in an informal setting.
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The courses – New Opportunities, New Skills
Our New Opportunities, New Skills runs during the day between 11am and
2.30pm. In 2010 we ran a course specifically for Kettering Mind clients. The
trainers were given advice on how to deliver training courses tailored to the
needs of people with aspergers syndrome and other mental illnesses.
The course tutors
Each of the course sessions is delivered by the most appropriate individuals
and organisations for the subject in the Borough:
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managing your tenancy is delivered by the Council’s Anti Social
Behaviour Officer and Accommodation Concern (a local housing
charity);
home maintenance is delivered by the Council’s Housing Maintenance
and Investment Manager;
money and budgeting is delivered by Accommodation Concern;
first aid is delivered by the British RedCross;
health is delivered by Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service, and
the Council’s Community Services team.
The Council has found this partnership approach to be very successful. It has
helped to keep the cost of the course low as many partners do not charge for
running sessions because the course helps them to achieve their objectives of
reaching socially excluded clients.
During the courses young people and vulnerable adults also get to meet
support agencies that will assist them when they have their own tenancies.
Partners not only help in delivering the sessions but they are also play an
important role in promoting the course to young people and vulnerable adults
and gathering referrals. Partners involved in this process include:
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English Churches Housing Group
Connexions
Social Care & Health
Local housing associations
Kettering Mind
Move On Move In - Supporting the young people on the course
The majority of young people on Move On, Move In are vulnerable individuals.
It is important therefore to support and encourage them throughout the
programme and it is essential that a professional person provides this.
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Kettering Borough provides a Move On, Move In Support Worker who is
expert in working with young people.
The Support Worker speaks to the young people before the course beginshelping to allay their concerns about attending and she provides a familiar
face when they arrive at the venue. The Support Worker also monitors the
young people’s personal progress throughout the course. At the end of the
course she provides a detailed assessment of the progress of each of the
young people.
Specifically, the Support Worker:
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Attends every Move On, Move In session;
Attends Move On, Move In planning meetings;
Collates referrals to Move On, Move In from partner organisations;
Meets with young people accepted onto the course prior to the start of
the course;
Writes an evaluation of the course.
On the day of the course the Support Worker:
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Arranges transport for the young people if required;
Receives phone calls/texts from the young people who cannot attend;
Contacts the young people who have failed to turn up;
Offers emotional/practical support to the young people who require it
(including helping students with reading/writing difficulties);
Deals with any problems that arise between the young people during
the sessions;
Ensures the tutors are aware of any young people who have special
needs.
Incentives
People who complete the courses are given a generous amount of incentives.
The Council believes it is important to reward their enthusiasm and
commitment to the course and the incentives and presented during the last
session at an informal award ceremony.
Once the young people and vulnerable adults have completed the course they
are given a certificate, a £15 gift voucher, and a tool box full of tools they will
need to maintain their own homes.
The course attendees are also given a meal at every session; this is usually a
finger buffet.
Top tips
The Council’s top tips for running a tenancy training course are:
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Keep the sessions interactive and practical
Be flexible during the sessions
Ensure tutors are aware of the support needs of the young people
Think carefully about the order of the sessions – have the least popular
session on the last session
Choose a venue which is comfortable and relaxed
Ensure your partners are aware of the course so they can promote it to
their clients
What has made Move On Move In and New Opportunities, New Skills
successful?
The Council believes the courses have been successful because of the
following:
 Commitment of the young people and vulnerable adults
 Expert and enthusiastic course tutors
 Referrals from partner agencies
 Young Person’s Support Worker
 Support from the management team and members of the Council
Conclusion
Move On, Move In and New Opportunities, New Skills has not only provided
training and advice on housing and health issues that will help prevent
homelessness among young people and vulnerable adults but it has also
helped them to build their confidence, increase their self esteem and
encouraged team-working.
The future
For some time we have been thinking about how we can take our tenancy
training courses onto the next level. We know that for some people attending
a training course can be challenging and so we wanted to explore new ways
of delivering our tenancy training alongside Move On, Move In and New
Opportunities, New Skills.
To compliment our Tenancy training courses Kettering Borough Council are
now delivering Amber Practical Housing Units (PHUs).
PHUs are training packages that focus on the basic skills, knowledge and
understanding that underpin a tenant’s ability to sustain a tenancy. Tenants
work through practical tasks and complete a module workbook. Upon
completing the workbook to a satisfactory level they will be awarded a PHU
certificate.
These units give tenants and prospective tenants the opportunity to gain new
skills through completing units which are individually accredited by the
awarding body AQA (which awards GCSEs and A-levels).
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Tenants and prospective tenants can complete the
following units:
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Maintaining a tenancy - underpinning knowledge
Maintaining a tenancy
Budgeting and debt management
Managing utility accounts
Managing receipt of social benefits
Planning for education, training and employment
Tenants will be required to complete a workbook for each
unit and there is no time limit to complete these.
Tenants can complete the workbooks either in their own
time, with their support worker, or during group training
sessions. Our LifePlan Advisor offers these units as part of
her support packages.
For each unit
tenants
complete they
will be awarded
a certificate
from AQA.
Tenants can complete as many PHUs as they like, depending on their needs.
They will receive a certificate for each workbook they complete. The workbooks
are practical and straightforward and can be tailored to match their situation.
For example, when completing the budgeting PHU, a tenant’s own budget will
be discussed.
Information correct at 23 August 2013
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