Homelessness assessments and private medical advice

The request was successful.

Dear Lewisham Borough Council,

This request is in relation to the use of private medical advice companies when making assessments of vulnerability for part VII homelessness cases. I would like to know:
1. How much was spent each year for the last 5 years to private companies for medical assessments as part of a homeless assessment?
2. In the last year how many homeless applications have you received that have required a vulnerability assessment (ie. no children)?
3. In the last year how many medical assessments have been paid for as part of a homeless assessment?
4. Can I have a list of all companies used for these assessments?
5. In the last year how many of the assessments have supported the awarding of a homeless duty?

If a question exceeds the time limit, please ignore it and answer the others.

Yours faithfully,

Becca Martin

Foi, Lewisham Borough Council

Dear Ms Martin

 

Re: Freedom of Information Act 2000

Environmental Information Regulations 2004

Reference No: 384907

 

Thank you for your recent request. Your request is being considered and
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Kind Regards

 

Maria Kaminski

Corporate Information Team

 

show quoted sections

Customer services, Lewisham Borough Council

Dear Ms Martin,

Freedom of Information request: 384907

Thank you for your request for information held by London Borough of
Lewisham in relation to the use of private medical advice companies when
making assessments of vulnerability for part VII homelessness cases which
I have copied below for ease.  We can respond as below to the questions
you have raised.

How much was spent each year for the last 5 years to private companies for
medical assessments as part of a homeless assessment?

Answer: The total spent last year to private companies to carry out
homeless medical assessments was £3,884.40. Please note no private
companies where used prior to last year.

In the last year how many homeless applications have you received that
have required a vulnerability assessment (ie. no children)?

Answer: The total number of vulnerability assessments, assessed last year
was 418.

In the last year how many medical assessments have been paid for as part
of a homeless assessment?

Answer: A total of 158 medical assessments have been paid for as part of a
homeless assessment.

Can I have a list of all companies used for these assessments?

Answer: Nowmedical was used to complete all assessments.

In the last year how many of the assessments have supported the awarding
of a homeless duty?

Answer: This information is not held. We do not record data on whether or
not an application was accepted on the basis of a medical assessment.

I hope the above information is helpful.

You are free to use the information provided for your own purposes,
including any non-commercial research you are doing and for the purposes
of news reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial publication,
requires the permission of the copyright holder. You may apply for
permission to re-use this information by submitting a request to
[email address]

You have a right of appeal against this response. If you wish to appeal
you must do so in writing to the Corporate Information Manager at the
following address:

Corporate Information Team
London Borough of Lewisham
1st Flr, Town Hall Chambers
Rushey Green
Catford
London, SE6 4RY 

or

[1][email address]

Yours sincerely

Hanna Gibson
Casework Team- Customer Services
London Borough of Lewisham

Address 5th Floor Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London, SE6 4RU.
Phone 020 8314 6097
Email  [email address]

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