Home > Residents > Tenants Handbook > 1 - General > Tenancy Support Service

What is it?

• The Tenancy Support Service is a special service available to Hexagon Housing tenants who may need extra help at certain times.
• The service is provided by a specialist worker who is trained in working with people going through temporary difficulties.
• The Tenancy Support Worker can spend more time with people than the Housing Officer can.
• If the Tenancy Support Worker is working with you, he or she can provide assistance with:
  • Putting you in touch with voluntary and statutory support agencies in the community such as: health, social services, day centres etc., and with identifying any issue/s you may be presently experiencing and look at  ways of managing and/or rectifying these issue/s.
  • Understanding benefits, etc. This includes where applicable, supporting you with applications for financial assistance, i.e.
    Community Care Grants, charity applications etc. This can also include advocacy work on your behalf for benefit appeals, at court hearings and in debt management. Advice and support on transfers for appropriate accommodation, i.e. Sheltered Housing, Supported Housing, etc.

Who can get the service?

The service is available to Hexagon Housing tenants who are:

• Going through a temporary period of personal difficulty
• Not receiving support service from any other support provider
• Vulnerable due to issues such as mental health, substance misuse, age, learning disabilities, younger persons leaving care, leaving an institution and/or holding a tenancy for the first time, etc.

How much does the service cost?

The service is paid for by the Council’s ‘Supporting People’ scheme and by Hexagon Housing, and does not cost the individual tenant anything.

How do tenants access the service?

People who receive the Tenancy Support Service are normally referred to the service by their Housing Officer. The Tenancy Support Officer will then visit the tenant at home, talk about the services they can offer and agree with the tenant if he/she thinks they would benefit from the service.

How long does the service last?

The service is only for people with temporary or short-term difficulties – it is not meant for people with long term or permanent support needs. The service normally lasts as long as needed to help someone through a period of temporary difficulty. This is usually several months and can be up to 2 years.

Is it confidential?

The service is confidential and the Tenancy Support Officer will not discuss what goes on between him and the tenant with anyone – including other Hexagon staff – without the tenant’s permission. The only exception to this is where the safety of the tenant, staff, or anyone else is concerned. I think the service might be able to help me, what should I do?
If you think you could benefit from the Tenancy Support Service, you should get in touch with your Housing Officer in the first place. They will talk it through with you in more detail, and arrange for the Tenancy Support Officer to visit you at home.

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