Household Support Fund referral form

Two awards for food and energy can be made between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2024. The second referral opportunity for this support opened on Monday 12 August 2024.

The aim is to provide support for food through supermarket vouchers and cash for energy payments via the Post Office.

The award granted will be based on household composition. See the table below for details.

Supermarket vouchers will be sent on behalf of Cheshire East Council from The Hawk Select Team (selectcode@select-essentials.co.uk) to the client email provided on the referral form.

Cash for energy vouchers will be sent on behalf of Cheshire East Council from the Post Office (donotreply@postoffice-payout.co.uk) to the client email provided on the referral form.

The family/adult must be able to access the voucher codes via a smart phone or be able to print from a computer. If the client is digitally excluded, please use your own email and print a copy to give to your family/adult.

Only one award within this category will be granted between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2024.

Wider essentials can refer to a range of items that a profession believes an adult, family and their children requires. Wider essentials however does not include support to pay day-to-day living costs e.g., paying a client's utility ongoing monthly bill or paying a client’s shopping bill on a weekly/monthly basis.

Financial support for wider essentials can be awarded up to £500.

Professionals will be given the opportunity to also apply for food and energy support if they are completing a referral for wider essentials support.

If funding is agreed, supermarket vouchers may be provided if appropriate to the identified item/need. If vouchers are not appropriate, the expectation is that Cheshire East Council staff will be required to order the item/service through their team and charge the cost to the  HSF programme. The expectation for external professionals would be that they work with the family to organise/order the item/service and an invoice would be emailed to the  HSF Panel Team to settle the payment.

This support is open to trusted professionals/practitioners working with vulnerable adults, families and their children.

Application for this award will be reviewed at the HSF Decision Panel, a panel of senior council officers from the children, family and adult services. This panel will meet weekly to consider applications made.

Applications will have up to a 15-working day turn around period from when the referral is received. If additional information is required to enable a decision to be made we will contact you via email.

Only one award within this category will be granted between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2024.

The aim of this support is to respond to urgent and immediate needs and promote sustainable change*.

Professionals will be given the opportunity to also apply for food and energy support if they are completing a referral for exceptional support.

Decisions to award within this category will be made by the HSF Decision Panel, a panel of senior council officers from the children, family and adult services. This panel will meet weekly to consider applications made.

If funding is agreed, the expectation is that Cheshire East Council staff will be required to order the item/service through their team and charge the cost to the  HSF programme. The expectation for external professionals would be that they work with the family to organise/order the item/service and an invoice would be emailed to the HSF Panel Team to settle the payment.

*Note that the  HFS Decision Panel cannot support paying homeowner mortgage arrears.

This support is open to trusted professionals/practitioners working with vulnerable families and their children.

This support is open to trusted professionals/practitioners working with vulnerable families and their children.

Accessing wider support is fundamental to the improvement of children and their family’s circumstance. A targeted plan is a key way to access this support. Although a targeted plan is not required to access this support, there is a high likelihood that if a family needs this level of support, a targeted plan will be requested by panel. In this situation the professional application would be deferred with a deadline for the professional to initiate a targeted plan.

Applications for larger costs received by close of play on Tuesday will be taken to panel on Friday.

Applications will have up to a 10-working day turn around period. If additional information is required to enable a decision to be made we will contact you via email.

Emergency applications can be accepted after close of play on Tuesday for panel on Friday, however they require management authorisation.

Professionals accessing this level of support will be working with an adult who has been referred by the Care Board or who has a Corporate Appointeeship.

Applications for larger costs received by close of play on Tuesday will be taken to panel on Friday.

Applications will have up to a 10-working day turn around period. If additional information is required about the referral this will be requested.

Emergency applications can be accepted after close of play on Tuesday for panel on Friday, however they require management authorisation

You will be asked to give full details of what support your client is requesting and how this support need has come about. Please include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

Example answer:

My client has a 6-year-old child who has no bed and is sleeping on the floor as their previous bed was broken. The family has no funding to purchase a bed.

HSF money provided by the Department for Work and Pension is public money being made available to support vulnerable residents. Therefore, any support provided must be cost effective and provide value for money.

You will be asked to confirm the specific cost of any items being requested and confirm where your client intends to purchase the service/items from*. You will also be asked to provide 3 quotes for the service/item being requested. Ensure that you have considered goods/services from charity organisations and have included a quote from a charity where appropriate.

Include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

• If the request is to support paying a debt, specific information needs to be provided about who the debt is with alongside contact details.
• You must take into account all costs making sure to include any additional fees. These could be, for example, delivery charges or the cost of installing a gas/electric oven from a registered tradesperson.

You will be asked to explain how receiving this support will help your client move forward and improve their ongoing situation. 

Provide the specific impact that this support will have on your client. Include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

Example answer:

My client’s child is not sleeping well and this is impacting their health as they are tired throughout the day, and in school are not able to concentrate. School staff had organised an appointment with my client and expressed their concern at their child being tired and their concentration levels being low . School staff believed this was impacting on their child’s education attainment and overall wellbeing.

The  HSF is not an ongoing continuous support scheme.

You will be asked what your client is going to do to avoid being in this situation again? Which agencies is your client working with/committed to working with?

Example answer:

Following discussions with the family they have realised the importance of having some emergency funds and they are now working with CAP (Christians Against Poverty) for budgeting advice to develop skills to better manage their money - this is allowing them to put a small amount of money to one side weekly to try and manage future one-off costs.

You will be asked if there is any evidence of any future cost saving/cost avoidance that providing this support will allow.

If this saving would be for a specific agency, please state which agency

Example answer:

NA - there is no specific cost saving to any agency with the purchase of this bed.

You will be asked to give full details of what support your client is requesting and how this support need has come about. Please Include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

Example answer:

My client would like support to pay their rent arrears of £1,200.

The rent arrears built up when my client was in an abusive relationship. My client became pregnant during this relationship, during which time my client’s mental health deteriorated . My client has attended her GP and has been diagnosed with depression.

HSF money provided by the Department for Work and Pension is public money being made available to support vulnerable residents. Therefore, any support provided must be cost effective and provide value for money.

You will be asked to confirm the specific cost of any items being requested and confirm where your client intends to purchase the service/items from*. You will also be asked to provide 3 quotes for the service/item being requested. Ensure that you have considered goods/services from charity organisations and have included a quote from a charity where appropriate.

Include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

• If the request is to support paying a debt, specific information needs to be provided about who the debt is with alongside contact details.
• You must take into account all costs making sure to include any additional fees. These could be, for example, delivery charges or the cost of installing a gas/electric oven from a registered tradesperson.

You will be asked to explain how receiving this support will help your client move forward and improve their ongoing situation.

Provide the specific impact that this support will have on your client.

Include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

Example answer:

After the client attended their GP and was diagnosed with ‘X’, they were prescribed medication to improve/manage their health. My client has also attended a domestic abuse programme. 

All of these are having a positive impact on my client and their ability to parent appropriately. Remaining in the parent and baby unit because of the rent arrears are a constant source of stress and being able to remove this would allow the opportunity for them and their child to move into their own property - this would have a further positive impact on their future and mental wellbeing.

The HSF is not an ongoing continuous support scheme.

You will be asked what your client is going to do to avoid being in this situation again?

Which agencies is your client working with/committed to working with?

Example answer:

My client would move forward with rental options that would be affordable so that they can manage their rental commitments. My client will be working with Cheshire Home Choice to look at other housing options.

My client is also engaging with their GP to review their medication and its effectiveness. After attending the domestic abuse programme, they have also continued to engage with a domestic abuse support group.

They have been taking this medication. In addition to this, with my support, my client has self-referred to the IAPT service . She has had her initial consultation and is awaiting further communication/follow up.

My client has also attended the local Family Hub and is engaging with this service.

You will be asked if there is any evidence of any future cost saving/cost avoidance that providing this support will allow. 

If this saving would be for a specific agency, please state which agency.

Example answer:

The child and baby unit cost of £750 a week would be saved and the accommodation would be available for a parent and child who needed this specific support.

You will be asked to give full details of what support your client is requesting and how this support need has come about. Please include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

Example answer:

Miss H is a 82-year-old lady who has been living alone in a small rented cottage for many years, she has had a fall and fractured her hip and needed to be admitted to hospital for repair.

She has multiple health conditions that have not been treated for many years due to her social isolation. Miss H had no family and lived alone with her 3 cats. She is aware that she is no longer able to care for them appropriately and has agreed to have them rehomed as she is going into a long-term placement.

However, for them to be rehomed they need to be fully vaccinated and treated by the vets for £100 each. Miss H only has a small pension and is unable to pay for the cost of the vets and this is causing her distress and she is reluctant to go into a care home due to this.

HSF money provided by the Department for Work and Pension is public money being made available to support vulnerable residents. Therefore, any support provided must be cost effective and provide value for money.

You will be asked to confirm the specific cost of any items being requested and confirm where your client intends to purchase the service/items from*. You will also be asked to provide 3 quotes for the service/item being requested. Ensure that you have considered goods/services from charity organisations and have included a quote from a charity where appropriate.

Include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

• If the request is to support paying a debt, specific information needs to be provided about who the debt is with alongside contact details.
• You must take into account all costs making sure to include any additional fees. These could be, for example, delivery charges or the cost of installing a gas/electric oven from a registered tradesperson.

You will be asked to explain how receiving this support will help your client move forward and improve their ongoing situation.

Provide the specific impact that this support will have on your client.

Include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

Example answer:

Miss H is aware that she can no longer care for her cats, and this has caused her a lot of distress about what will happen to them if she goes into a care home.

If they are able to be treated and rehomed, then this will then allow Miss H to move forward and not worry about her precious cats and enable her to focus on her own needs.

The HSF is not an ongoing continuous support scheme.

You will be asked what your client is going to do to avoid being in this situation again?

Which agencies is your client working with/committed to working with?

Example answer:

No specific future cost saving in this case, however, will provide Miss H peace of mind knowing her cats are well looked after.

You will be asked if there is any evidence of any future cost saving/cost avoidance that providing this support will allow. 

If this saving would be for a specific agency, please state which agency.

Example answer:

The child and baby unit cost of £750.00 a week would be saved and the accommodation would be available for a parent and child who needed this specific support.

You will be asked to give full details of what support your client is requesting and how this support need has come about. Please include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

Example answer:

Mr B is a 65-year-old gentleman who is at high risk of self-neglect and has complex mental health issues and depression.

Mr B is due to be discharged from hospital following a fall and head injury, however his home conditions are in a poor state and the environment is increasing his depression and needs addressing so that he can be discharged home with some care support. He may require a short stay residential placement whilst this is undertaken. 

HSF money provided by the Department for Work and Pension is public money being made available to support vulnerable residents. Therefore, any support provided must be cost effective and provide value for money.

You will be asked to confirm the specific cost of any items being requested and confirm where your client intends to purchase the service/items from*. You will also be asked to provide 3 quotes for the service/item being requested. Ensure that you have considered goods/services from charity organisations and have included a quote from a charity where appropriate.

Include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

• If the request is to support paying a debt, specific information needs to be provided about who the debt is with alongside contact details.
• You must take into account all costs making sure to include any additional fees. These could be, for example, delivery charges or the cost of installing a gas/electric oven from a registered tradesperson.

You will be asked to explain how receiving this support will help your client move forward and improve their ongoing situation.

Provide the specific impact that this support will have on your client.

Include any information of professional advice and diagnosis.

Example answer:

Mr B is agreeing to the support and recognises that he has not been coping that well recently due to his lack of motivation, he is agreeing to a period of support from the Mental health reablement service to encourage him with his motivation and a small care package maybe required to maintain his needs in the Home to ensure that he has ongoing support.

Assistance with finances is also being completed to maximise his benefits and his GP has referred him for some Talking Therapies support. Mr B is now keen to return home and wants to become more independent in his daily needs.

The  HSF is not an ongoing continuous support scheme.

You will be asked what your client is going to do to avoid being in this situation again?

Which agencies is your client working with/committed to working with?

Example answer:

Mr B is aware that the support that is being offered from health and social care is to enable him to return home and become more independent and that these services are encouraging him to be able to continue to live in a healthy, clean environment and to maintain his physical and mental health needs and hopefully reduce future hospital admissions and mental health deteriorations.

You will be asked if there is any evidence of any future cost saving/cost avoidance that providing this support will allow. 

If this saving would be for a specific agency, please state which agency.

Example answer:

Cost saving can be from prevention of being admitted to hospital and the cost of a long-term residential care placement due to severe neglect which could amount to approx. £850 per week to the Local Authority.