Council opening hours throughout Christmas
Some Westmorland and Furness Council offices will be closed over the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays. Read the full list of Council opening hours during the festive period.
If a young person you know professionally is homeless or at risk of homelessness
Advice for professionals with concerns about a young person's housing (aged 16-24) and information about the council's homelessness protocols.
First Contact Script
The initial response in the case of a homeless young person is the First Contact Script – the initial conversation a professional must have with them.
The script must be completed by the professional/agency the young person speaks to, in conjunction with the young person, in the young person's own words, and with their consent.
The script is designed for the professional to ask questions and record the young person's answers, in their own words, so we have an accurate record of their wishes and feelings.
This forms the referral into our Positive Housing Pathway, which includes supported accommodation, support from a Youth Homeless and Housing Officer (including housing-related flexible support) and/or a referral to Nightstop emergency accommodation.
First Contact Script for 16- and 17-year-olds (online form)
First Contact Script for 18- to 24-year-olds (online form)
If the young person is 16 or 17
The referrer (professional) who has completed the First Contact Script must also complete a Multiagency Children's Hub referral via the Single Contact Form, and a copy of the script emailed to safeguarding.hub@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
When the professional has submitted the script, a PDF copy can be provided by the Youth Homeless and Housing Officer if this is requested.
For young people aged 16-24
A Public Duty to Refer form should also be completed, if the young person consents to this.
More information can be found by emailing your local area below.
● Barrow: dutytorefer1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
● Eden: dutytorefer2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
● South Lakes: dutytorefer3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Joint Protocol for Homeless 16- and 17-Year-Olds
Together with our partner agencies, we have developed a Joint Protocol to reference when a young person, aged 16 or 17, is homeless or at risk of homelessness.
If you would like to discuss the Joint Protocol in more detail, please contact one of the Youth Homeless and Housing Officers listed at the bottom of this page.
Care-Experienced Young Person's Protocol
The purpose of the Care Experienced Young Person’s Protocol is to set out how the Children’s and Homelessness Teams within Westmorland and Furness Council will work with our Choice Based Lettings partners to ensure that:
- care experienced young people across Westmorland and Furness get a consistency of service
- joint working between services is paramount and starts at an early stage
- as far as possible care-experienced young people are supported to make planned moves into accommodation, so they do not need to access the safety net offered through an emergency housing route
- when care-experienced young people are homeless or threatened with homelessness, we have a clear understanding of what support can be offered and by whom.
The protocol document also details the housing options available to care experienced young people, who are starting to live independently.
Westmorland and Furness protocol for care experienced young people, November 2024 (PDF , 406KB)
Contact us
For general enquiries, contact one of our Youth Homeless and Housing Officers:
Emmie Sutherland
Tel: 07825 313726
Email: emmie.sutherland@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Megan Walker
Tel: 07836 658909
Email: megan.walker@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
In case of emergency relating to a 16 or 17-year old, or if Emmie or Megan are unavailable, call:
Multiagency Children's Hub
Tel: 0300 373 2724