The introduction of Supporting People has had a major impact in many areas in bringing together strategy and service planning across housing, social care, probation and sometimes health for older people, adults and socially excluded groups.
A number of our team were working with the ODPM in writing guidance for the introduction of Supporting People. One worked within ODPM and another led one of the 6 Supporting People pilot areas.
We have been closely involved therefore in supporting both local authorities and Commissioning Bodies, and service providers throughout the introduction and development of Supporting People.
This has included: needs assessments; shadow and 5 year strategies; strategic and service reviews; strategic commissioning for change; contract renewal; and increasingly re-design of both accommodation and support services as well as other cross cutting services such as community alarms, Home Improvement Agencies and handyperson services.
Work with providers is mainly focused around reviewing and re-designing their services, and often the funding and business model that underpins them.
We have a wide range of appraisal tools around housing and support needs that we can bring to bear, such as our snapshot survey that looks at the needs of many of the socially excluded groups, in particular those who might fall into 2,3, or even 4 service user groups such as homelessness, offending and substance misuse. The survey enables the avoidance of double counting, which can be a key risk in relation to Supporting People needs assessments.
We also have appraisal tools relating to the sustainability of specialist housing stock such as sheltered housing, and support services. We use these, along with business planning tools to work with both commissioners and service providers on service and funding re-design.