Ellie Ames 10 January 2025

‘Serious concerns’ about council’s homelessness service

‘Serious concerns’ about council’s homelessness service image
Image: Brentwood Borough Council

Brentwood Borough Council has been putting ‘unnecessary barriers’ in the way of people accessing its homelessness services, an investigation has found.

According to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, the Essex authority has been asking for unnecessary information when approached for help, including bank statements and a five-year address history.

Brentwood has also put an arbitrary limit on the time people have to make an application, and often closes cases when this limit passes, the investigation revealed.

Over six months, the council closed 216 out of 326 cases, even though the applicants met the legal threshold at which it should have made inquiries.

In some cases, this meant vulnerable people, such as those threatened with domestic abuse, or people who were rough sleeping, were dismissed without proper consideration.

Ombudsman Amerdeep Somal said: ‘I have serious concerns about the way the council has been managing its homelessness service, in a way that suggests it has been artificially restricting numbers by putting unnecessary barriers in the way.

She said: ‘This overly-rigid approach amounts to gatekeeping – and it is likely the council has been failing in its duties to the people most at risk in the borough.’

Brentwood chief executive Jonathan Stephenson said: ‘We accept the findings of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and acknowledge there were failings with the past triage process, which we sincerely apologise for.

‘I can confirm that we have already undertaken a review of the service and have implemented a range of measures to improve the triage process.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Residential Assistant

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £25395.00 per annum
Residential AssistantPermanent, Full Time£25,081 up to £25,395 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Planning Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
Durham County Council is looking for experienced and knowledgeable Senior Planning Officers to join our vibrant Development Management team. Our team Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Head of Service – Social Care

Wrexham County Borough Council
G15 £63,148 - £67,058 per annum
There is an exciting opportunity within Children Social Care to join the senior management team Wrexham (Wrecsam)
Recuriter: Wrexham County Borough Council

Head of Service Social Work & Specialist Support

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Grade M scp 60 £72,118 - scp 64 £77,293
There couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us. Blackburn, Lancashire
Recuriter: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Cafe Assistant - Weald Country Park

Essex County Council
Up to £13.3000 per hour
Café Assistant (Weald Country Park)Contract
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner