Bridging the Gap to Independence

Enhanced Supported Lodgings for Care Leavers

What is ‘Enhanced Supported Lodgings’

Our model is different to most other Supported Lodgings services:
What makes us different?

The Progression Coach (Support Worker)

  • Our front-line staff (Progression Coach) support both the young person and the Host
  • Providing a minimum of 5 hours, face to face, 1:1 support for every young person every week
  • Our Progression Coaches have small caseloads enabling focussed attention on the needs of young people
  • The Progression Coach ‘does the heavy lifting’, supportin Social Workers and PAs
  • They attend all the meetings, Reviews, PEP, Health, MACE
  • They arrange changes and appointments with GP, Dentist, Legal, Education and support the young person’s attendance
  • They provide monthly progress reports for Social Workers
  • They do all the things you would expect in Semi-Independent / Supported Housing including:
  • Risk Assessment
  • Progression (Support) Planning
  • Placement Reviews
  • Move on and Independence
  • Life Skills
  • Sign-posting and referring
  • Listening, supporting and encouraging
  • Our staff walk alongside the young person every step

The Myth:

We regularly hear local authorities, and social workers say “Supported Lodgings is not for our young people, they are too high need”

The Reality

We have an enviable, successful, and demonstrable track record in supporting young people:

  • Children & Young people aged 16-24
  • With ‘Higher needs’
  • ASD, ADHD and other Neurodivergence
  • CSE and CCE
  • Youth Justice involvement
  • NEET to EET
  • Drugs and Alcohol
  • Mental health, self-harm
  • And young people can ‘STAY PUT’ post 18

Health & Safety? Housing Management?

3 Bridge Solution CIC Supported Lodgings has that covered too!
And: We accept UC/HB and we manage the rent account*

The Properties

All properties are Fire Risk Assessed and each has:

  • GSC
  • EICR
  • EPC
  • PATS
  • All are H&S checked (minimum) monthly

Young People have their own lockable room, with shared use of the communal areas, including a garden in most cases. We ensure young people have a quiet area for study, either in their room or elsewhere in their home.

Young people are provided with everything they need, WiFi, pots, pans, cutlery, duvet, pillows and covers, towels. Some rooms have their own tv set, and all have shared use of a lounge with TV, Freeview, Netflix and more in most cases.

“3 Bridge Solution engaged positively with a range of Council teams to explain their offer and the benefits of Supported Lodgings and happily accommodating Council staff on quality assurance visits. The 3 Bridge Solution team are clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about what they do.”
Senior Commissioner – Bracknell Forest Council

*3 Bridge Solution CIC manages the rent account in the same way as any other housing provider, except: The UC/HB is paid directly to 3 Bridge Solution CIC. We then pay the Host, who is paid regardless of any issues with UC/HB, meaning the Host does not need to have any difficult conversations with the young person regarding rent; 3 Bridge Solution does that instead.

Our Hosts

We recruit Hosts from the local community using the same methods as Foster Care. Our recruitment takes time, it is vigorous, it leaves no stone unturned and delves deeply into why applicants want to be a Host. The process includes:

  • Overview and initial screening
  • Assessments using the Form ‘F’
  • Independently verified, assessed, and approved (Panel style)
  • Enhanced DBS checks
  • All Family members and visitors DBS checked and Risk Assessed
  • References
  • Mandatory and ongoing training
  • Monthly Supervision
  • 1:1 Support from Progression Coach& team
  • Host Forums and Peer Support

Our Hosts support young people with a life skills program, their dayto-day needs and provide a listening ear. Hosts complete a written report every week highlighting developments, progression and any concerns/observations linked to Every Child Matters 5 key outcomes:

  • Be Healthy
  • Stay Safe
  • Enjoy & Achieve
  • Make a Positive Contribution
  • Achieve Economic Wellbeing

Feedback from a Local Authority

“I felt emotional hearing about the progress M has made since being with X, and how well matched they are. The trust they have been able to build in such a short space of time really is incredible. From seeing M when he first came into our care, with the concerns around under utilisation and the difficulties he had in building trusting and meaningful relationships in other provisions, this truly is a testament to both him and to you all as a service”

“We have received feedback from other young people who have shared with their social workers that they want, in their words, “a sound supported lodgings” like M

West Sussex County Council Commissioner

Host Training

Host Training includes the following Core Modules:

  • Trauma Informed Support
  • Mental Health
  • ‘Being a Host’
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Equal Opportunities
  • Safeguarding
  • CSE & CCE
  • Experience Sharing
  • Peer Support

“I always know there is someone on hand to talk to for advice if I need it. When I do require support, I always feel that I am listened to and the advice I receive is really useful. 3 Bridge Solution really cares about the young people they work with and genuinely want the best outcomes for them”.
Host LB

The Challenge

Facing the ‘Cliff Edge’
For many young people, leaving care or facing homelessness is a ‘Cliff Edge’ and a worrying experience. Local Authorities face the dual challenge of fulfilling statutory duties while managing shrinking budgets and a shortage of safe, high-quality accommodation.

The Solution

3 Bridge Solution CIC is a Community Interest Company (CIC) specialising in and dedicated to the provision of safe, secure Enhanced Supported Lodgings for young people aged 16–25. Unlike hostels, semi-independent and other shared accommodation, we provide young people with a stable, homely, family environment, matching them with fully vetted and trained local “Hosts” who provide a spare room and essential emotional guidance. This isn’t just a bed; it’s a foundation for life, and a Bridge to a Brighter Future.

Why Partner With Us?

A Proven Framework for Success

  • Quality Assured: 3 Bridge Solution CIC is an Ofsted-registered provider. We are a member of the Commissioning Alliance, contracted with several local authorities, and have been successfully Quality Assured on multiple occasions, ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding and compliance.
  • Cost-Effective Provision: Our Supported Lodgings model offers a significant cost reduction compared to residential care, emergency B&B placements, and other accommodation within the sector.
  • Young Person Centred: Every young person is assigned a Progression Coach who works on a bespoke “Progression Plan’, covering staying safe, budgeting, education, and health.
  • Measurable Outcomes: Weekly reports from Hosts, monthly reports from the Progression Coach. Weekly support and ‘Keywork Sessions’ all focussed on Progression and Independence.
  • 24/7 Support: We provide a 24-hour helpline for both young people and their hosts, reducing the out-of-hours burden on Social Work teams.

Our Impact

Don’t just take our word for it M’s progress reflects the hard work of the whole team, from the Hosts you onboard, their understanding of how to support young people, to your ethos and the way you run your service.

The positive outcomes we are seeing speak for themselves.

West Sussex – Local Authority
Commissioner

A bit more about us

3 Bridge Solution CIC is a Community Interest Company – any surplus is
re-invested into the service; we are committed to continuous improvement
and development. Our growing network of Hosts covers a wide area and is
always growing; currently we have Hosts in:

  • East & West Sussex
  • Kent
  • Hampshire
  • Berkshire
  • Greater London Boroughs

We are increasing the number of Hosts in current areas, as well as growing and expanding into further locations.

Our leadership team bring experience of Supported Lodgings, Supported Housing and Semi-Independent Living, Youth Work, Youth Homelessness, Youth Offending, Foster Care, Children’s Homes, Social Work, Counselling, Therapy and Child Psychology.

Our managers and front-line team have extensive experience working with Care Leavers and vulnerable young people, safeguarding, CSE, CCE, and more; all are recruited locally and bring extensive local knowledge.

We are a Trauma Informed service, embedded in restorative practice. The young person is at the centre of everything we do. Every referral is assessed on its own merits; the matching process is critical to success.

The service has been quality assured several times, with high praise, and no concerns or recommendations raised by the local authorities involved. We are proud of the high standards and fantastic outcomes achieved by our service and want to make it available to as many young people as possible.

If you would like to know more, please get in touch.
We would love to hear from you.

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