Dear David,

 

Thank you for your request dated 30 January 2025, asking for information that we hold as follows; please see our responses below in blue:

 

  1. The number of times the Severe Weather Protocol (SWEP) was activated.

6

 

  1. The dates (from and to) of each SWEP activation (see Q1)
07/12/2022 – 16/12/2022
16/01/2023 – 23/01/2023
27/01/23 – 27/01/2023
06/02/2023 – 07/02/2023
29/11/2023 – 01/12/2023
08/01/2024 – 18/01/2024

 

  1. The number of people you assisted with each SWEP activation (see Q1).
07/12/2022 – 16/12/2022 20
16/01/2023 – 23/01/2023 21
27/01/23 – 27/01/2023 2
06/02/2023 – 07/02/2023 6
29/11/2023 – 01/12/2023 18
08/01/2024 – 18/01/2024 38

 

  1. The protocol your Council used for each SWEP activation (see Q1) e.g. the provision of indoor accommodation or street level assistance with water and suncream or similar, etc.

 

During periods of SWEP, the Barnet Rough Sleeper Team may undertake additional outreach shifts to find/accommodate rough sleepers.  For heat related SWEP, we follow the GLA H-SWEP guidance.  Temporary accommodation is provided to those accommodated under SWEP with occasional referrals to the pan-London provision.

 

  1. For SWEP activations generally, did SWEP augment existing Council services or were temporary closures/suspensions of some existing services required.?

 

SWEP is operated as business as usual; closures/suspensions of existing services are not required.

 

  1. For SWEP activations generally, did your Council provide additional bed spaces, and if yes were they offered beyond the period of SWEP activation?

 

Yes, via temporary accommodation.  Barnet Homes works to the ‘in for good’ principle and carries out individual homelessness assessments with all referred to the service under SWEP to identify their needs and move on plan.

 

  1. Does your Council have an active SWEP policy document? If yes, please provide this.

 

Attached

 

  1. Has your council implemented any new SWEP protocols relating to i) Heat SWEP provision and/or ii) Other extreme weather provision.

 

Barnet Homes follows GLA guidance on H-SWEP (heat), no other new SWEP protocols have been implemented.

 

  1. To be offered a SWEP placement by your Council do people have to be verified on your systems or otherwise known to you.?

 

No

 

  1. Do your Council’s SWEP provisions accommodate homeless people who have no recourse to public funds.?

 

Yes

Your Rights

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been handled, you can request a review by emailing Talk2Us@barnethomes.org and marking it as an appeal for the attention of the Data Controller. There is no charge for making an appeal.

After this, if you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner:

 

Kind regards,

 

Carly Williamson

Complaints and Information Manager