Section 17 Guidance - How to deal with Social Services

http://www.publiclawproject.org.uk/data ... t-2014.pdf

Contents:

PART 5:PROBLEM AREAS
5.1 Our local authority says “It’s not our responsibility, you need to contact another local authority” – can they do this?
5.2 Our local authority refuses to assess and/or provide support until all documents specified in their policy have been provided – can they do this?
5.3 Asylum seekers/failed asylum seekers/other migrants; our local authority will not assess; they say “It’s not our responsibility, you should contact the Home Office” – can they do this?
5.4 Our local authority says they do not have enough money to meet all the assessed needs so they are not going to. Can they do this?
5.5 Our local authority sometimes threatens to take the child into care rather than give support. Can they do this?
5.6 Social services have refused to help saying that they will accommodate the child only – can they do that?
5.7 Our local authority is accommodating the family together but says they only have to provide financial subsistence for the child. Can they do this?
5.8 Is there a minimum level of subsistence that should be paid to a family, and if so by what criteria should this be determined?
5.9 Our local authority provides a set rate of subsistence and they are refusing to even consider paying more. Can they do this?
5.10 The accommodation provided is totally unsuitable, is there a legal duty to provide a minimum standard of accommodation to the family?.
5.11 Our local authority will not provide any support because the family have no outstanding immigration application – can they do this?

CHALLENGING UNLAWFUL DECISIONS
6.1 Complaints
6.2 Judicial review
6.3 Bringing a judicial review challenge
6.4 Funding legal advice.
6.5 Checklist: When to refer a case to a solicitor.

Solicitors

The Public Law Project, 150, Caledonian Road, London N1 9PF; Tel 020 7843 1260;
Services offered; public law, including challenging s 17 assessments

Deighton Pierce Glynn, 8, Union Street, London SE1 1SZ; Tel 020 7407 0007

Hansen Palomares, 153 Kennington Road, Lambeth, London SE11 6SF; Tel 020 7640 4600
Services offered; Community care (including section 17 cases, obtaining and challenging
assessments), housing (including homelessness, judicial reviews and also disrepair). Free welfare
benefits clinic every two weeks by appointment.

Matthew Gold and Company, 1st Floor, 2d Lodge Lane, London N12 8AF; Tel 020 84459268

Maxwell Gillott, Sycamore House, 5 Sycamore Street, London EC1Y 0SG; Tel 01524 596080

Other
Project 17
144 Evelyn Street, Lewisham, London, SE8 5DD http://www.project17.org.uk; Tel: 07963 509 044, Email: info@project17.org.uk

Services Provided:

Advice and advocacy:
 Support for migrants unable to work or claim welfare benefits and facing homelessness and poverty.

Outreach advice:
Every Wednesday at Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network, 144 Evelyn Street, Deptford SE8 5DD; Call 020 8694 0323 to book an appointment
 Second Thursday of the month at Ann Taylor Children Centre, 1-13 Triangle Road, Hackney E8 3RP; Call 020 7275 6020 to book an appointment
 Currently seeking more outreach opportunities. Organisations that would like to host regular outreach advice sessions, please email info@project17.org.uk

Advice line for advisers: 07963 509 044
 For advisers helping migrant families with no recourse to public funds in relation to housing and financial issues;