Supported Needs Assessment and Placement (SNAP) team

The Supported Needs Assessment and Placement (SNAP) team is the first port of call for those requiring housing related support services. The team is funded by Lambeth's supporting people services.

The role of the SNAP team

The SNAP team is responsible for assessing the housing-related support needs of vulnerable people, and for arranging access to supporting people and other services to meet those needs.

The main aim of the housing-related support is to develop and sustain an individual's capacity to live independently in their accommodation. This may include:

• learning domestic, life or social skills in order to help achieve greater independence
• applying for benefits, budgeting and managing debts
• finding somewhere to live and setting up home
• gaining access to other support or community services
• finding out about work or training
• dealing with other professionals, family and neighbours
• monitoring general wellbeing
• providing alarm systems to enable people to call for help in an emergency
• resettlement support to help set up and manage a new tenancy

The level of support provided will very vary according to the person's needs. This can range from supported housing with staff on-site, to occasional planned visits to the persons home.

There are two types of housing related support:

Supported Housing

Supported housing is accommodation provided with support from a team of people funded to help tenants at the scheme to live in the community. As opposed to other types of support services, clients will be required to move house into the scheme to get the support available. There are other services that can work with you in your current home.

Tenancy support

Tenancy support is available to help tenants who might be experiencing difficulty in managing their tenancy. The service provides short term support to tenants with low level needs that do not meet the criteria for existing statutory support. The support is provided by trained tenancy support officers who will visit you at your home to discuss the help you need, what you want to achieve and what can be done to help you.

Who can be referred for assessment?

Referrals can be made to SNAP where initial assessment indicates that the person will need housing-related support. The team works with a range of vulnerable people, including those who:

• are homeless (individuals and families)
• have mental health problems
• have a learning disability
• are ex-offenders
• have substance misuse issues
• are vulnerable young people aged 16 to 17-year-olds
• are teenage parents
• have a physical or sensory disability
• have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS
• are refugees
• are escaping domestic violence
• are travellers
• are older people

An appointment system is in operation.