Homefinder

Public Services with Duty to Refer

The following services have a duty to refer customers if they are homeless or at risk of homelessness

• Youth offender teams and institutions

• Secure training centres and colleges

• Probation services including rehabilitation companies

• Job centre plus

• Social services authorities

• Accident and emergency services provided in hospital

• Urgent treatment centres

• Hospitals when providing in-patient care

• Social Services Authorities

The Secretary of State for Defence is also subject to the duty to refer in relation to members of the regular forces (Royal Navy, Royal Marines, the regular army and the Royal Air Force).

If your agency is not listed, you may still refer customers providing your customer agrees to be referred.

Somerset public authority referrals procedure

This page is for Public Authorities wishing to make statutory referrals as required under the Homelessness Reduction Act.  

Under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 public authorities have a statutory duty to refer customer to us they believe to be homeless or at risk of homelessness (for example, it is likely they will become homeless within 56 days). The statutory duty came into effect from October 2018.

It is important that agencies refer homeless customers to us so that we can prevent and relieve homelessness effectively.

 

Make a Homelessness Referral

Public Authorities should use this form to refer to customers they believe to be homeless or at risk of homelessness to one of the 5 Local Authorities:

Referral to …………………..District Council (Duty to Refer, Homeless Reduction Act)

YOU

Your agency
Your name
Your contact details (phone and email)

CLIENT

Name of client being referred
Date of birth
National Insurance Number
Current address
Reason for referral
Medical details
Any risks to the client or to others

CONSENT

Client’s signature to give consent for this referral

OR

Referrer’s signature to confirm client has given consent to make this referral

 

Date of referral

CONTACT US

Please email this form to either dutytorefer@mendip.gov.uk dutytorefer@sedgemoor.gov.uk,, dutytorefer@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk or dutytorefer@southsomerset.gov.uk with a subject heading “DTR”

 

The information provided on the form will be processed and stored for the purpose of the homelessness referral and in line with the privacy policy (see homefindersomerset.co.uk).

(The email links below include the pre-populated form):

Mendip District Council – dutytorefer@mendip.gov.uk

Sedgemoor District Council - dutytorefer@sedgemoor.gov.uk

Somerset West & Taunton Council – dutytorefer@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk

South Somerset District Council - dutytorefer@southsomerset.gov.uk

 

Before you start

A referral does not in its self, trigger a homelessness application. The referred person(s) will still need to be assessed in line with current homeless legislation.

Before making a referral, a public authority must:

• Have consent to the referral from the person(s) being referred

• Allow the individual to identify the housing authority in England which they would like to be referred

• Have consent that the customer’s contact details can be given so the housing authority can contact them regarding the referral

 

You will need:

• Details of the customer including their name, date of birth, address (if they have one), including their preferred method of contact

• The reason for referral

• To confirm that you have consent to the referral from the person(s) being referred

The information provided on the form will be processed and stored only for the purpose of the homelessness referral and in line with our privacy policy

 

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