The House Project approach originated from a conversation between young people and staff in a Local Authority (LA). It has been subsequently developed by two pilot phases as part of the DfE Innovation Programme and the Charity was established to not only support Local House Projects but to gather the learning, codify the fidelity and drive improvements as a learning organisation.
Evaluations
Phase 1 - Making a House a Home
This evaluation aimed to understand the enablers and challenges involved in developing and implementing the HP model and to explore if and how it had effected outcomes for care leavers.Phase 2 - The House Project for young people leaving care
This evaluation aimed to understand the enablers and challenges of implementing and operating the HP incl. an impact strand to explore outcomes for young people and an economic strand comprising a cost benefit analysis.
CLNM Peer Evaluation 2021
Care Leavers National Movement worked with Partnership for Young London (PYL) over 3 months to research how the House Project is working and how it can be improved. It has looked at the impact of the House Project approach and the support it provides young people.Cambridge University - 2020/21
This study is looking at the effectiveness of the psychological framework that underlies the practice of the National House Project - to understand the context of the National House Project, what happens through practice, and how different practice relates to outcomes for young people.
STAF - Scotland House Projects 2021/22
Staf undertook a ‘Learning Project’ of the three Life Changes Trust Funded Local House Projects. They produced three in depth Case Studies (one for each project) to showcase their work, successes and make recommendations for future practice and development.EXIT Study - 2021/23
This study aims to investigate how the House Project has been adapted and implemented locally since its development in 2015 - to understand how the House Project can be supported to grow within and beyond the current local sites so it can have an impact for as many young people as possible.
Ofsted
Care leaver provision within the LA falls in to the regulatory inspection frameworks conducted by Ofsted and whilst not an evaluation partner we are interested on their feedback of LHPs services that they have inspected.
"Children in care who are moving towards adulthood are supported to prepare for greater independence. The local authority has invested in a bespoke housing project for children leaving care, to offer them extensive support in setting up home for the first time. A small number of children have started on this scheme, which offers a wraparound service, including therapeutic and peer support, so that they have the best opportunity to succeed in their new homes. While at an early stage of implementation, the project is showing positive signs of addressing care leavers’ needs in a holistic way.”- Lancashire Ofsted report 2022
"Children in care are supported to develop independence skills as they approach adulthood. They are offered options for accommodation, with a significant number choosing to stay with their foster carers. Children who access the House Project receive impressive support as they approach the age to leave care and beyond. Some care leavers who cannot access this project report that they believe that they receive a lower level of support than those at the House Project." - Rotherham Ofsted report 2022
"Some care leavers benefit from being able to access the impressive ‘House Project’ in order to gain independence skills and successfully move into their own tenancies" - Stoke-on-Trent Ofsted report 2022
"Working with the corporate parenting board and with the help of leaders, the House Project has transformed young people’s readiness for independence" - Islington Services Focused Visit 2022
"The House Project enables children to gain independence skills, including financial and practical support, through a team approach to testing the young person’s capacity before moving on to permanent accommodation" - Wolverhampton Ofsted report 2022
"Those care leavers who have additional needs benefit from involvement with the ‘House project’, which offers properties and intensive ongoing support to help them successfully maintain their tenancies" - Stoke-On-Trent Ofsted Monitoring visit - 2021
"When necessary, intensive support is provided, and some care leavers access a comprehensive pre- and post-tenancy training programme via the National House Project. The House project successfully supports young people to maintain their tenancies and live independently, which is valued by young people" - Warwickshire Ofsted report 2021
"The House Project is an innovative and highly valued service that is making a significant difference for care leavers. The service helps young people to build confidence and to make friends for life, through preparation for independence & the provision of secure and affordable accommodation. Young people said to inspectors that being involved in the project makes them feel like they have a family" - Islington Ofsted report 2020
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Why is it important?
Moving from care to independence is a huge step. Young people told us that in the run up to their 18th birthday they felt anxious and unprepared.
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What difference are we making?
The vision of the National House Project is for young people leaving care live independent and fulfilling lives. But what difference are we making?
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Finance
The cost of accommodation is one of the challenges to local authority budgets and often with little evidence of achieving good outcomes for the young people.
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