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SCDT provides a wide range of housing and support services for homeless and vulnerable people with many different needs. Some will need high support on a long-term basis and others who need low support and can progress fairly quickly to independence.
Clients usually come to SCDT after a referrral by the local council housing or social services dept or from probation. We work in all 11 Surrey boroughs, Sutton and Wokingham in Berkshire.
Each resident has their own named keyworker; they will work out a support plan, together with other professionals, such as workers from the Community Mental Health Team or probation officers etc.
The level of support will be different for each client and can change throughout the time that the client is with SCDT. They may get lots of support when they first come to SCDT but, once some routine and commitment is established, a client might only need low support and guidance.
Clients will also receive help, support and guidance with issues such as lifeskills, cooking, budgeting and finance.
Our aim is to boost people's confidence and encourage them to add to their skills, so that when they leave SCDT, they will be able to live independently or with minimal support. Our work helps people live more fulfilled lives and brings huge benefits to the wider community.
Homeless People
Homeless people often have complicated and related problems such as mental and physical illnesses, learning disabilities, alcohol and/or substance abuse problems. SCDT provides homes and support appropriate to each person, based on their individual needs.
Young people
Our staff teams help many young people who often have a variety of support needs. Some properties also have "residential volunteers" who are working adults, who live in the house with the young people and are there to help provide stability, support and day-to-day advice.
Higher levels of support are offered to young people in our 24-hour staffed hostel. Self-contained flats are also available to those able to live more independently.
Young people are referred by Social Services and other agencies and SCDT support staff help them develop necessary life skills until they are able and ready to live independent lives.
People with mental health issues
Over 50% of SCDT's residents have mental health issues. Residents may live in a 24-hour hostel, shared houses or self-contained flats according to their needs. We work closely with other professional from housing departments, social services and primary health trusts to ensure that residents get the most appropriate care and support possible. Many of our residents with mental health problems have been able to move on to more independent living after receiving support, stability and help from our staff.
People with learning disabilities
A key task for support workers is to help people with learning disabilities gain life skills that they may not have been taught in the family home or previous accommodation, so that they may be able to move on to live more independently.
At some of our properties, staff visit the residents every morning and every evening to help and supervise at mealtimes, in addition to keywork sessions during the day.
Staff work with residents to improve their basic living skills, such as cooking, budgeting and shopping and other issues such as meal planning, making shopping lists, improving social skills and making friends. 
Ex-offenders
Ex-offenders are referred by the Probation Service. Our aim is to help residents make use of the support that we and other agencies offer to move away from a life of crime.
Working with their SCDT keyworker, residents will discuss the causes behind their offending and are encouraged to take responsibility for their own actions. Emphasis in keywork with the resident is placed on preparing them for moving on to independent living.
People with substance and alcohol misuse problems
We provide four types of “dry & drug-free” accommodation from high to lower support to reflect the different stages in recovery. We work with people who are already committed to a dry/drug free life so they can continue to progress in their recoveries and rebuild their lives. We work with many other agencies, including SADAS (Surrey Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service), Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous.
Temporary Accommodation in Spelthorne
Our staff team works with families and single people to help them get free of their debts which have often caused them to be evicted. We also help a lot of single-parent families who urgently left their homes because of domestic violence and abuse. We will work with clients to sort out a repayment plan where appropriate or to sort out claims for benefits to which they are entitled. They will help in the complex "maze" of information and forms that have to be completed so that tenants can be quickly housed in permanent accommodation. Keyworkers will try to help residents learn new lifeskills to help them maintain their tenancies in the future so they will not be threatened with homelessness.
Floating support
"Floating" support is where we help people in their own homes (rather than housing them in SCDT properties). This means we can help people who are in council or other accommodation but need some extra support. The main aim is to ensure that they can maintain their tenancies and, in due course, manage without additional support. We offer this service in Elmbridge, Spelthorne and now, from summer 2007, in Wokingham, Berkshire.
Older People and those with Disabilities
SCDT supports people of all ages but we will now be helping older people who also have other support needs and physical and sensory disabilities. We will assist them to maintain their independence in their own homes and liaise with other agencies to see that their needs are met.
Woking Churches Tenancy Support Scheme
SCDT manages the Woking Churches Tenancy Support Scheme at The Crescent in Woking. WCTSS assists single homeless or potentially homeless people who are not deemed vulnerable or in priority need, into private rented accommodation. It provides low level support, concentrating on helping people set up and maintain a tenancy. The scheme provides the vital first month's rent and a "bond" to the landlord in place of a cash deposit.
Move-On Accommodation
Once residents have been with SCDT for a while, they can often move-on to self-contained flats where they can live almost independently, but with a low level of support from our staff when and if they need it. We also help residents when they move on to their own flats (often council or rented). We keep in touch with them and provide small grants to help them buy essential items that will make their new house into a home which increases the chances of their move being successful.
Please click here to see our Service Standard.
Helping over 1,200 homeless and vulnerable people every year.
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