Purpose and background

All staff involved in receiving, completing, assessing, or making decisions about self-referrals must read this Self-Referral Policy and acknowledge their understanding and commitment to it.

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear guidelines for how Open Homes Nottingham receives, assesses and responds to self-referrals from young people who may require emergency accommodation through Nightstop. Self-referrals are not the standard referral route but may be accepted in limited circumstances where a young person cannot reasonably access a council, local authority housing options service, or referral agency at the point of crisis.

This policy applies to young people aged 16–25 who may require emergency accommodation through Nightstop. It should be read alongside Open Homes Nottingham policies on safeguarding, boundaries, confidentiality, data protection, volunteer hosting, lone working and referral procedures.

Self-Referral Principles

Open Homes Nottingham recognises that some young people may be experiencing homelessness or immediate housing crisis and may not be able to access a formal referral route in time to prevent rough sleeping or unsafe accommodation. The self-referral process must therefore be proportionate, respectful, trauma-informed and focused on understanding both need and risk.

A self-referral should not replace statutory homelessness duties or local authority assessment. Where a self-referral is accepted, it is an emergency and temporary response only. The young person must be supported and directed to attend their local council or relevant housing options service as soon as possible, normally the next working day.

When a Self-Referral May Be Accepted

Open Homes Nottingham may consider a self-referral where the young person has been unable to access a formal referral route for reasons outside of their control. This may include where the young person has approached a council, local authority housing options service, or referral agency and has been turned away, not progressed, or not treated as a priority through no fault of their own.

A self-referral may also be considered where it is late in the day and the young person has no safe or practical access to transport to attend their local council or referral agency before closure. In these circumstances, Nightstop may be considered only where staff are satisfied that the young person has no safe alternative for the night and that the placement can be made safely.

Where a self-referral is accepted because the young person could not access the council or a referral agency, the young person must attend the relevant council or housing options service the next working day and request a housing assessment and named casework officer. Staff should explain that Nightstop is not a substitute for statutory assessment.

Self-Referral Route and Initial Screening

Self-referrals may be received directly from the young person by phone, email, in person, or another agreed contact method. Staff must gather enough information to establish whether the young person is eligible for Nightstop, whether the self-referral criteria are met, and whether there are immediate safeguarding or safety concerns.

Before progressing a self-referral, staff must be satisfied that the young person understands the basic Nightstop model. The young person should understand that Nightstop is based in volunteer hosts homes, offered on a night-by-night basis only, that they will need to follow household and service boundaries, and that they must continue to pursue more settled accommodation, including through their own research, support through their local council or through Open Homes’ Support Pathways.

Where staff believe the young person should instead be supported through a formal referral route, staff should explain this clearly and signpost them to the relevant council, housing options service, referral agency, safeguarding service, or emergency service as appropriate.

Consent, Privacy and Information Sharing

Staff must explain why information is being collected, who may access it, how it may be shared and how long it will be retained. The young person’s consent should be recorded before assessment continues, unless there is an immediate safeguarding concern that requires information to be shared without consent.

Relevant information may be shared with Nightstop staff, appropriate volunteers, council or housing options staff, referral partners, safeguarding agencies and Nightstop UK where required for safe placement, safeguarding, monitoring or compliance. Information shared with hosts should be limited to what they need to know to provide a safe and appropriate overnight placement.

Information Required for a Self-Referral

·         Young person’s name, date of birth, contact details and current location.

·         Reason for homelessness and why a formal referral route is not available at the time of self-referral.

·         Details of any council, housing options service or referral agency already contacted, including the outcome and any reasons given for not progressing the young person.

·         Whether it is too late in the day to access the council or referral agency, and whether the young person has access to safe transport.

·         Last permanent address and any unsafe areas or people to avoid.

·         Physical description and current clothing, where needed for safe collection or identification.

·         Education, employment, social care, housing, youth work or support worker involvement.

·         Health, mental health, substance use, offending, domestic abuse or exploitation concerns relevant to placement safety.

·         Emergency contact details where available and appropriate.

·         Any dietary, medical, mobility, communication, pregnancy, pet, smoking or religious/cultural considerations that may affect hosting.

Identity Checks

Open Homes Nottingham will request a form of identification for every young person where available. Acceptable identification may include a passport, driving licence, biometric residence permit, birth certificate, benefits letter, NHS letter, college ID, official correspondence, digital account evidence, or confirmation from a trusted professional.

A lack of photographic identification should not automatically prevent a self-referral from progressing. Where the young person has no ID, staff should seek alternative verification through a professional, agency record, local authority record, education provider, health service, social worker, youth worker, police, probation, supported accommodation provider, outreach team or other reliable source. Staff must record what has been seen, who verified it and any remaining uncertainty.

References and Verification

For self-referrals, Open Homes Nottingham will ask whether the young person can provide two references. The purpose of references is not to make a judgement about the young person’s worth or character, but to help confirm identity, understand current circumstances, assess risk and identify how a placement can work safely.

Open Homes Nottingham recognises that many homeless young people may not have access to education, workplace, or close family references. Suitable references may instead include a housing officer, social worker, personal adviser, youth worker, support worker, teacher, college tutor, GP, nurse, mental health practitioner, police officer, probation worker, substance misuse worker, faith or community leader, outreach worker, hostel or supported accommodation staff member, employer, training provider, trusted adult, ex-carer, family friend, or another professional who knows the young person.

Where two references are not immediately available, staff must consider whether there is enough risk information to make a safe decision. Any decision to proceed with fewer than two references must be recorded with the reasons, the risk assessment, and manager approval obtained.

References from someone currently in conflict with the young person, someone alleged to have caused harm, or someone who may place the young person at further risk should not be relied on unless there is a clear safeguarding reason and the decision is approved by a manager.

Risk and Suitability Assessment

Staff must complete a risk and suitability assessment before any placement is confirmed. This should consider offending history, violence or aggression, exploitation, domestic abuse, unsafe areas, substance use, mental health, self-harm, suicide risk, physical health, medication, pregnancy, communication needs and any risks associated with the host household.

Where risks are identified, staff should consider whether they can be reduced through practical measures such as matching the young person with an appropriate host, sharing relevant information with the host, agreeing arrival and departure times, arranging safe transport, setting clear boundaries, providing on-call support, involving partner agencies, or declining the placement where risk cannot be safely managed.

Placement Decision

A self-referred placement may go ahead only when staff are satisfied that the self-referral criteria are met and that the placement is safe and appropriate for the young person, the volunteer host, any household members and the wider service. If staff are uncertain, the case must be escalated to a manager or the CEO before a placement is confirmed.

If a self-referral is declined, staff should explain the reason clearly and respectfully where it is safe to do so, record the decision, and provide signposting or referral to alternative emergency accommodation, local authority housing options, safeguarding services or other relevant support.

Next-Day Council Attendance

Where a young person is accepted through self-referral because they could not access a council or referral agency, staff must make clear that the young person is expected to attend their local council or housing options service the next working day. The young person should request a housing assessment, explain their homelessness situation, and ask to be allocated or connected with a casework officer.

If a self referral has occurred due to a young person being turned away from the council, and therefore the young person feels this will happen again, staff must ask the young person for the contact details of the case worker who they interacted with, as well as all relevant paperwork and contact information about the interaction. This is important to give Open Homes accurate information about the young person’s situation, and must be followed up by an Open Homes staff member.

Staff should record this expectation and, where appropriate, support the young person to plan how they will attend, including transport, opening times, contact details, and any information they need to take with them. Failure to engage with the council or housing options process may affect whether further Nightstop placements can be considered.

Placement Boundaries

·         The young person must not use, possess or be under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances during the placement.

·         The young person must respect staff, volunteers, household members and other people’s views and identities.

·         The young person must arrive and leave at the agreed times.

·         The young person must not share the host’s address, invite anyone to the host’s home or ask hosts for money, favours or ongoing contact.

·         The young person must respect the host’s home, property and possessions.

·         The young person must continue to engage with agreed next steps, including attending the council or housing options service the next working day where this has been required.

Safeguarding and Escalation

Any safeguarding concern relating to a child, young person, adult at risk, volunteer, staff member or member of the public must be acted on in line with Open Homes Nottingham safeguarding procedures. Where there is immediate risk of harm, staff should contact emergency services. Where a young person is under 18, staff must consider statutory safeguarding duties and involve children’s social care where appropriate.

Recording, Review and Updates

Staff must keep accurate records of the self-referral, consent, identity check, references or verification, reasons why a formal referral route was not available, risk assessment, decision making, information shared with volunteers, safeguarding actions, next-day council attendance expectations and any follow-up required.

This Self-Referral Policy will be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. Staff and volunteers will be informed of any changes promptly.