The Standard has today received answers to a number of questions we posed to ForViva ahead of an article published online and in the newspaper yesterday. They are as follows:

Q: What measures are in place to ensure all the service users at Richmond Court will continue to receive the same level of support and accommodation at the end of March? Where will they go?

A: Following the decision to close Richmond Court, Cheshire West and Chester Council and FENW [Foundation Enterprises North West - the outgoing provider] have worked together with those people who were living at the property to secure them accommodation that suits their needs. All individuals will continue to be supported and provided with advice and opportunities to continue to thrive.

Many residents have already moved into their own home and were provided with furniture by FENW to help their move. We’ve also been working with individuals to ensure that the right support is in place to allow them to sustain then new tenancies.

This work is jointly led by CWaC and the outgoing provider FENW, and there is assurance that no resident will be left without somewhere to reside on 1 April.

Q: Where will the new accommodation units be provided, how many are there and how many beds will be available in each?

A: forfutures has been commissioned to provide a wide range of smaller units of accommodation across the borough to cater for the varying needs of individuals. Eighteen emergency beds, rather than ‘safe seats’ will be available across the borough for people who find themselves sleeping rough – 12 in Chester and 6 in Northwich.

The flexible nature of the service means there’s an option to increase this number to meet the need and demand for emergency beds.

ForViva will continue to work with Cheshire West and Chester Council and local partners to ensure a range of options to increase the supply of supported short term and direct access accommodation particularly during the Severe Weather Emergency protocol activation.

NOTE: The council has clarified that there will be more than 200 accommodation units at the provider’s disposal across the borough, although they will not all be in use at the same time. Exact locations are not being given to respect residents’ privacy. The 12 emergency beds in Chester will be scattered through the city, rather than being available in one building.

Q: How will service users access medical care and other support services? For example, will there be a specific building/facility where healthcare professionals will see them, such as the current one at Richmond Court?

A: Where people reside in locations across the borough forfutures will work with them to ensure they gain access to local medical care close to their accommodation?

The St Werburgh’s Medical Practice for the Homeless provides a dedicated health and wellbeing service for homeless people in the Chester area. Well established links with the St Weburgh’s Medical Practice will remain and in addition all service users will be supported to access medical care that best suits their needs through a GP of their choice.

ForViva are working closely with the practice to ensure the people living in accommodation supported by forfutures can access medical care.

Q: Currently homeless people are advised to present at Richmond Court as the main centre for helping them. Under the new model where will people be advised to present to access and engage with the ForViva service?

A: Forfuture’s Outreach team will be proactive and will work with other agencies to identify where people are sleeping rough and to engage with them to identify the most appropriate option for them at that time.

From 1 April 2018 new referrals or enquiries about the forfutures service can be made by:

  • calling 0300 123 2442 and selecting option 3 for forfutures,
  • emailing hello@forfutures.co.uk or
  • via www.forfutures.co.uk which will be live towards the end of the month.
  • 0300 123 2442 is the 24 hour number to call to advise the Outreach Team of someone rough sleeping.

NOTE: The council has clarified that homeless people will no longer present at a building, as they did with Richmond Court. They will access the service via the referral system outlined above or through the outreach team.

Q: Under the new model will people just go to the new 'advice and information hubs'? Where exactly in Chester and Ellesmere Port will these be based and how many people will man them?

A: The Advice and Information Hubs provide early intervention for people who are at risk of losing their home and to prevent them from becoming homeless. The Hubs will offer immediate advice and support.

From April 3 we will have an Advice and Information Hub offering immediate advice and support at the ForHousing and forfutures’ office: 7 – 9 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port CH65 0AX.

People can drop in and see us Monday to Friday between 10am - 4pm. Later in the month we will also be opening Hubs in Winsford and Chester, with a temporary Hub in Northwich available whilst the permanent Hub is being prepared.

Anyone in need of advice or information can contact us and we’ll arrange appointments to meet them.

NOTE: The council has clarified that the Chester hub, which will not be open at the launch of the service, will be based on St John Street.

Q: Will the outreach service be the same as FENW's?

A: Forfutures’ Outreach team is transferring over from FENW to deliver the outreach service. From 1 April forfutures will be looking to enhance the service to be more flexible to the needs of those people without a roof.

Q: ForViva says it has been working with existing service providers and partners to ensure a smooth transition but there has been some criticism that it has been poor in communicating its service plans. What exactly has been done to link up with those already providing homeless services in the city?

A: Over the past five months ForViva has met with representatives from many organisations, both statutory services and in the voluntary sector and since October 2017 have also regularly attended and contributed at the regular cross-service meetings.

More recently information has been sent out to stakeholders regarding the new contact details for the service and to reiterate that service users will continue to be supported and the current service will continue.

Our priority has been to ensure that people using the service continue to receive an excellent service and the transfer is as seamless as possible for them.

Service plans to integrate the four existing contracts will be led by the forfutures service managers from the 1 April who will be asking for input from all stakeholders, including service users.