Duty to refer

As part of the Homelessness Reduction Act, specified public bodies have a duty to refer people to the relevant authority if they are:

  • at risk of being made homeless within 56 days
  • currently homeless.

Who has to refer to us?

  • Prisons and youth offending institutions
  • Secure colleges and secure training centres
  • Youth Offending Teams
  • Probation Services
  • Job Centre Plus
  • Social Service Authorities
  • Urgent Treatment Centres and Accident and Emergency Departments
  • Hospitals providing inpatient care
  • Secretary of State for Defence in relation to the Regular Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and the Air Force.

 

Making a referral to Broxbourne Council

Before a referral is made, the service user's consent must be obtained. Please ensure that the service user understands the purpose of the referral, and consents to information and contact details being passed onto Broxbourne Council. Referrals without consent may be made in order to safeguard children or vulnerable adults, in accordance with local procedures. 

It is adviseable to obtain the service user's written consent to a referral being made, however oral consent is acceptable. Consent should be informed, taking into account circumstances where the service user would not benefit from a referral being made, e.g. because the user already has an open application for assistance from Broxbourne Council. Public authorities are advised to record on the service user's records if a referral has been made and if consent to a referral is refused. 

There are two ways to make a referral to the Council: 

  1. Complete the online referral form here. You will be asked to confirm that you have obtained the service user's consent. If the user is present, they can complete the remainder of the form once you have provided your organisation's details. 
  2. Download and complete Broxbourne Council's Duty to Refer form, available here, which contains space for you to indicate whether and how service user consent has been obtained. Completed forms should be emailed to: dutytorefer@broxbourne.gov.uk.