Southampton City Council fact sheet
What is the taking control project?
Taking control is a support service specifically for families who are facing eviction from their home due to anti social behaviour (ASB) by members of their family.
The project’s aim is to help families to take control of their situation and work with us to stop them from loosing their family home. They can only do this by stopping the anti social behaviour, and by tackling the issues that have lead up to this unacceptable behaviour, affecting their family and the local community.
Do families have to accept our help?
It is their choice whether or not to take control of their situation and work with us. However, we are clear that the council is seeking possession of their home, and they must stop the anti social behaviour to prevent them from being evicted.
If they are evicted the family is likely to be prevented from renting another council home in the city so it is in their interest to accept the help that Taking control is offering.
How do families join up and what must they agree to?
Families will be referred to the Taking control project by Housing services or by the police, this will usually be because the council has applied for possession of their home. A taking control project officer will be assigned to the family and will make verbal contact to introduce themselves and the project. The family will then be sent a pack of information explaining the process further. Their project worker will then call to arrange the initial meeting.
Initially we will:
Assess the families suitability to joining the project
Set up a Family Behaviour Contract (FBC) with the family that all the family members must sign up to. This will detail:
The current unacceptable behaviour of the family
The key objectives of the FBC
What the family must do to resolve their behaviour
The actions to be followed by the individual family members
The support to be provided by other departments and support agencies
A statement of enforcement – that is the consequences of breaking the contract
A family acceptance statement – signed by all family members
Put the families in touch with appropriate support agencies
Monitor and review the family’s progress
If anyone from the family is on an Acceptable Behaviour Contract, then they must keep to that contract and this will be part of the action plan. There is no flexibility about this.
What departments or agencies could be involved?
Anti social behaviour team
Health and social care
Parenting project
Primary care trust
Community safety unit
Housing services
Benefits agencies
Citizens advice bureau
Substance misuse action group
Legal services
Career services
What kind of support could be given?
Employment advice
Benefit advice
Money management
Independent living skills
Domestic violence advice
Drugs and alcohol abuse advice
Parenting skills
What are the benefits of the project?
For the family:
If they commit to and follow the FBC they can avoid loosing their home.
They receive support to overcome the associated causes and issues faced by the family due to ASB
A change in the family’s behaviour that can lead to improved family relationships
For the council and support agencies
Reduction of ASB
Working towards the ASB strategy and government targets
Preventing homelessness
Improvements for the local communities
Reduction in the consequences of ASB
Reducing the number of children going into care
Reduction in legal costs of progressing to an eviction
Who is behind the project?
Taking Control is a project run by Southampton City Council.
The project is working towards Southampton City Council’s strategy on anti social behaviour (ASB)and homelessness strategy. The council’s vision on ASB for 2020 is that:
Southampton will be the safest of cities and will lead the way in tackling anti social behaviour
The people of Southampton will feel safe in their homes and out and about
Adults will provide a positive role model as responsible citizens to younger people
Interventions will be swift for the small minority of adults who commit ASB
The small minority of young people who previously drifted into crime will now be occupied with challenging and positive activities and feel a natural inclination to protect and preserve their city, its people and its built and natural environment.
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Last updated: 10 December 2007