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Housing Justice introduces a Quality Mark to ensure night shelters meet safety and service standards. Enhance your shelter with guidance on facilities and equipment. Contact us for collaborative support and assessment.
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Night Shelter Quality MarkAlastair Murray. Director of Projects
Housing Justice • National Christian voice on homelessness and housing need • Membership organisation • Ecumenical. England and Wales • Launched in 2003 from merger of CHAS and CNHC +UNLEASH 2007 • Vision: Everyone should have a home suitable to their needs • Campaigning, policy, information, influencing • Practical support to churches
What we already offer • Forum & Collaborative Network • National membership body • Advice. Training. Consultancy • “Shelter in a Pack” Good Practice Handbook • Political perspective: HJ stands between L.A. Housing / Homelessness Strategy and Church Mission
Why a Quality Mark? • Growing church and community responses to local need, such as night shelters • Requirement for Best Practice: e.g. safety standards for guests and volunteers • To address concerns of insurers, funders, statutory authorities and local community • Underpinning for partnership work with commissioned homelessness services
Quality Mark is likely to cover Detailed standards - still in consultation • Safeguarding e.g. risk assessments • Facilities and equipment – next slides • Health and safety • Policies and procedures • Staff and volunteers • Admissions / referrals • Communication and feedback
Facilities and equipment 1 • Separate sleeping areas for men and women? • Are sheets laundered daily and bedding laundered twice weekly? • Is there an emergency kit box available containing first aid kit and torches? • Are there materials and facilities to pass the time such as television, reading material and games? • Is tea, coffee and cold water available for guest's use throughout their stay? • Are there seating areas for guests to use before they go to sleep?
Facilities and equipment 2 • Are guest areas safe and free of trip hazards, damp and vermin with a locked external door? • Kitchen area made safe with PAT tested equipment, sharp knives removed and notice stating that guests are not to enter the kitchen? • Does the kitchen meet minimum hygiene requirements? Food Hygiene Certificate training for all cooks? • Is there a minimum of 1 toilet and washbasin per 6 guests? • Are guest menus varied, healthy and sustaining?
QM assessment process • Collaborative process: Not “top down”, but “getting alongside” • New Shelters – support from initial enquiry through to running pilot / season one • Established Shelters – objective, independently assessed national benchmark • Questions?
Keep in touch HJ Shelter Liaison Worker Paul Reily p.reily@housingjustice.org.uk HJ Director of Projects Alastair Murray a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk Housing Justice office 020 3544 8094 info@housingjustice.org.ukwww.housingjustice.org.uk