OMG.

You ARE brilliant Lulu.

Look, the longer I hang around in this world the more that I think that a lot of love and listening can solve most problems.

So, I think what I would do in your situation is to tell her that she can stay - as a short-term safety net solution until you can all figure out something more permanent - which may take weeks or months. Yep, speak to all the social services you can and speak to her mum too.

I would put one HUMUNGOUS condition on her moving in. She HAS to have a productive way of spending her days and that could be to find a job or to enrol in TAFE before she moves in. I'm not 100% sure about this but I think that 16-year-olds are pretty much guaranteed a TAFE place to keep them in education.

You'll work out the rest in terms of chores and a contract but, to me, making sure that she is either in education or working has to be the priority.

From what you've said, I think she is a positive influence on Bella and she will see that living out of home is hard work and will only make her appreciate what she has at home more.