Caritas runs three residential homes in Manchester, Blackburn and Bolton for young mothers aged up to 25 and their babies providing a family atmosphere for women often alienated from their own families or who have experience of violence, disruption, substance abuse, physical or mental health issues, loneliness, fear and/or loss. We provide a nurturing, safe and secure supportive environment where young mothers can regain control of their lives and can be assisted to move on to independent living. This is an accommodation, resettlement and aftercare support. 

Access to the service

Access to the service is via a referral system.  We do not accept emergencies and are not a direct access service as such, although we can admit a young woman at short notice if we have space and can meet her needs.

Accommodation Service and How It Works

Once the young woman has been accepted, she is allocated a Key Worker and an Assessment of Need and Risk is undertaken which leads to a Support Plan being compiled.  The young woman is central to all of this and the plan takes into account her domestic, social, personal and care needs as well as those of her child(ren).  For example, cooking, budgeting, general housekeeping, keeping appointments and attending clinics and dealing with Benefits Agencies.

The Key Worker works closely with the young woman and a review of the Support Plan is held on a regular basis.  This meeting can include relatives, partner/boyfriend and appropriate professionals.  This is to ensure the young woman is benefiting as much as possible from her stay with us.

Staff Teams

The service is managed by a Service Manager and each project has a Unit Manager, a Deputy and a team of Support Workers.  There is a minimum of one member of staff on duty during the day and sleep-in cover is provided during the night.

Finance

These homes are financed through the Government’s Supporting People Strategy and purchased at a local level by the Supporting People Commission within each Local Authority where a project is based.  Housing Benefit is also part of the funding package which we claim on behalf of the young woman.  However, we also fundraise for holidays, outings and leisure activities. 

Update: We have just found out that our Manchester and Bolton Unit has lost its Government funding.

Bolton

The project is situated in the Haulgh area of Bolton, in its own grounds and is not far from Bolton town centre.  There is easy access to bus routes and there are shops close by. The project is run in partnership with Bolton Metro Housing Department and has been providing support to young women for more than 15 years.

The house has nine units of accommodation and all are self-contained as bedsits. Shared facilities are the lounge, bathrooms, resource room, laundry room and pram room.

CASE STUDY:

“I have been the named Health Visitor for the Caritas Bolton Young Parents’ Unit for about five years now, visiting weekly to offer support to the residents and working with the staff towards preparing the young women for independent living. Our joint working relationship has developed and there is scope and potential for more. This is a unique facility and an example of good practice and I leave each week wishing there was more of the same available, its beauty being its small, homely size and loving, secure and non-judgemental atmosphere – something that many of its residents have not experienced before.”

Manchester

The project is situated in the Victoria Park area of the city and has been providing support to young women for the past 25 years. Since 1998 the project has been run as a partnership with Arcon Housing Association.

The project comprises 11 units of accommodation, one of which has been adapted to be used by a young woman with a disability.  The bedsits and flats are fully furnished and self-contained.  The shared facilities are bathrooms, living areas and the resource room which has IT equipment.

The project is within easy reach of shops, bus routes, GP surgeries and St Mary’s Hospital.

CASE STUDY:

We help young women like Ellie who became pregnant when she was 15 years old and had to leave home when the birth drew near. She knew nothing about being a mother and felt overwhelmed by her situation. Her Health Visitor referred her to our supported accommodation unit in Bolton where she lived for a year, receiving the support, encouragement and help she needed to live independently with her baby daughter, Jade.