What is Supporting People?
Supporting People is the name of a grant fund paid from Central Government. The grant money pays for housing related support to enable vulnerable groups of people to be able to live in their homes, and to be as independent as possible through the development of skills, knowledge and confidence.
Gateshead's programme is well established and is rapidly developing in response to the needs that are identified in the Borough. The programme is reaching out to minority groups and those most at risk of homelessness or institutionalisation.
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How did it develop?
All local authorities receive Supporting People grant money. Surveys of needs were carried out and submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with how much it would cost to provide the support for the programme. On April 1st 2003 the programme went 'live'.
The grant came from a restructure of a number of funding sources, including Housing Benefit, Supported Housing Management Grant and others.
In Gateshead the programme is administered by the Commissioning Body, a partnership of senior officers from the Council, Primary Care Trust, Probation Service and Health, informed by the Supporting People Accountable Officer and the Programme Manager.
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How does it work in Gateshead?
The Council's service managers look at who needs the support and then arrange specialist providers, including the Council’s own services, who then deliver support to the people who have been assessed as needing it. The money to pay for the support goes directly to the support provider.
Housing support packages are based on individual need and can be linked to the building where the people live, such as warden controlled flats, or it can be where the support worker visits the person’s home, known as floating support'.
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Who can get a Supporting People Service?
Supporting People is for those who are identified as being in need of extra help to be able to maintain a tenancy or stay living in the home of their choice.
Currently this is available to people with disabilities, mental health issues, refugees and asylum seekers, young homeless, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, ex offenders, drug and alcohol problems, travellers, older people, and those with HIV/aids.
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The Supporting People Team
The Supporting People officers are located in Community Based Services at the Civic Centre, they look after the day to day running of the programme. The Team monitors the performance, quality, finance and payments to services and are a direct contact for service users, and providers.
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Making Sure Services are good quality and value for money
Currently a three year programme of reviews is being carried out by the team on all Supporting People funded services contracted by the Council. Currently there are 130 services being delivered, all of which must be reviewed by March 2006.
Reviews of services ensure that quality standards are maintained and improved upon and that the services are properly funded and represent value for money. Checks are made to see if the services are what people need and that they fit into the Gateshead Supporting People 'Five Year Plan' and other Council Strategic priorities.
Listening to the views of the people who use the services is built into the review process so that what they say can be used for improving service quality. Forums and other consultations are also held for service users and providers for this purpose.
In order to ensure that Gateshead's Supporting People programme is well run the Audit Commission will inspect our service on behalf of the Government. Our inspection will take place in November 2005 and will provide an independent view of how well supporting people services are being delivered in Gateshead and how the programme can be improved.
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