Indicators of effective frontline delivery

While effective governance, strategy and processes are all important factors in the joint working agenda, integrated delivery is paramount. Frontline practitioners foster the relationships with families, children and young people and are often the ones who make the judgements and fundamental decisions about the advice and support needs of homeless and badly housed children, young people and families.

Clear lines of accountability, information sharing and communication between housing and children’s services will help all agencies to address the needs of homeless children in your area and will ultimately lead to improved outcomes.

Shelter's joint working indicators

The indicators of good practice outlined below can be used in benchmarking. You can also download our short case studies for examples of how joint working between frontline services has proved successful.

The needs of children from homeless families, including those deemed ‘intentionally homeless’, are assessed and met.
Children’s Services practitioners are co-located within Housing and Homelessness Services to support joint assessments.
Children’s centres provide access to specialist housing advice for families.
Housing and children’s services work together to provide greater provision of support and tenancy sustainment for families deemed intentionally homeless.
Identify opportunities for shared training across housing and children’s services to ensure professionals have clear insight and understanding of each other’s roles.
Additional support for homeless children is arranged through schools, extended schools and children’s centres.
Peer education methods are employed in schools and other young people’s settings, to prevent homelessness.
Housing and children’s services go out to provide support for children in their homeless settings, eg family hostels and B&Bs.

More information on each of these indicators can be found in our benchmarking guide for joint working between services: Improving outcomes for children and young people in housing.