HM Prison & Probation Service employs strategic housing specialists (SHS) to identify, develop, and deliver a range of solutions that remove barriers to prisoners’ securing accommodation on release.

There are nine SHS based in the London (male) prisons, with a plan to increase this to 10.5. They work closely with the London Probation Homelessness Prevention Team and have established pre-release panels with the local authorities in all London Boroughs. The aims of the panels are:

• earlier identification of homelessness risk, to support timely interventions

• support for partnership working between key stakeholders, to achieve positive accommodation outcomes

• increasing local authority access to people in prison and people on probation

• establishing and developing professional relationships between stakeholders, through a multi-disciplinary approach to planning for release and move-on accommodation

• increasing the number of prison leavers accommodated on the first night of release and the number in settled accommodation.

The SHS in London are implementing a “renting-ready” programme, to support those being released from prison to be better able to manage a tenancy upon release.

There are nine SHS covering female prisons in England and Wales (female prisoners return to London from across the female estate). The SHS at HMP Bronzefield, where the majority of women returning to London are accommodated, works closely with her London colleagues to ensure that women’s interests are represented in the pre-release panels. In addition, a Women’s Housing Support Panel has been established in London, to ensure that women leaving custody at risk of homelessness are identified early and supported through a co-ordinated, multi‑agency response. Meeting fortnightly, the panel brings together probation, prisons, housing and support services to take forward pre‑release planning, remove barriers to accessing accommodation and secure sustainable housing with appropriate support. This pro-active approach works to prevent rough sleeping, strengthen engagement with services and support safer rehabilitation.

An additional SHS post is planned for London, to be the link between those in the female estate and the work being undertaken by the Probation Service in London and the London local authorities.