I want to set up a supported house in the Midlands area.
Hello
I want to set up a project for women fleeing domestic violence, mental health difficulties, substance misuse, and women who have been trafficked. I would also like to set up to further projects for young homeless women and a project for men leaving prison.
I want to purchase a 3 bedroom house and can do this without financial backing (i.e. seeking a Landlord and consent). I have actually viewed a 3 bed house with 2 front rooms and 2 bathrooms. The first front room would be used as an office. There is room in the garden for a conservatory which I would use for group work, one to one therapy sessions, library and contact centre for supervised family visits. I am a registered a qualified social worker with a practice teaching award which would enable me to take a social work student from a local university in the west midlands areas. I may have a partner but if anyone is interested please reply. As we are trained social workers we would be able to offer a lot of in-house support which should save money. For the latter 2 projects I may rent 2 eight bed houses that have been adapted into flats.
My questions:
1. Do I have to register with any organisations such as QCC & HCPC?
2. Should I contact Women's Aid & Local Authorities to register my project so referrals can be sent to me?
3. Do you have any idea what the LA & Housing Benefit pay for each resident's stay which I will be proposing would be a minimum of a 12 week stay.
4. Who should I contact regarding renting houses and seeking consent?
5. Would I be eligible for government funding and charity funding from princes Trust for example?
Any help would be much appreciated. Debs
Hi Deborah,
Answers
1. You only register with CQC if you are providing one of the Regulated Activities service. No HCPC. The nature of your service user to make a good return you would go for the higher category and would be an advantage to be CQC registered.
2. Local authority have a registration facility for you to send your documents before referrals are sent to you. You will need to meet with the local authority service requirements and also to providing your costing for the care package.
3. The LA would pay Housing Benefit at the going rate per area and the clients would have to be eligible for it.
4. You would search property by contacting private landlords or lettings agents even then you will need to put your point across to what you intend to do with the property as both private landlords and lettings agents are not care sector savvy.
5. Prince's trusts would be at certain age and falls under certain criteria that's a different department completely as in giving funding for starting up your care business. The funding for accommodation you'll meet with the charity criteria.