Housing support – the national perspective Stephen Sandham Homelessness and Housing Support Scottish Government

Housing support – the national perspective

Stephen Sandham

Homelessness and Housing Support

Scottish Government

Presentation outline

• Changed landscape – Concordat / National Performance Framework / SOAs

• Why housing support still needed

• What can we learn from Supporting People?

• The Outcomes Matrix

• Current and future challenges

Changed Landscape - Concordat

• No separate budget

• No micro management - greater flexibilities

• End boundary between support and care

• Reduce reporting burdens

• Focus on outcomes not outputs

• All public bodies and strategic partners

National Performance framework

• One Purpose

• 7 high level targets

• 15 national outcomes

• 45 national indicators

• Scotland Performs website offers ‘direction of travel’ scorecard: [www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/performance]

National outcomes requiring housing support services?

• Living longer, healthier lives• Tackling significant inequalities in society• Improved life chances for children, young people

& families at risk• Living lives safe from crime, disorder & danger• Strong, resilient & supportive communities• Taking pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national

identity

National indicators requiring housing support services?

• Decrease proportion of individuals in poverty• Increase average mental well being by 2011• Reduce alcohol related admissions by 2011• Reduce proportion of people aged 65 and over

admitted as emergency inpatients• All unintentionally homeless households will be

entitled to settled accommodation by 2012• Increase percentage of people aged 65 and over

with high levels of care needs cared for at home• Decrease the estimated number of problem drug

users in Scotland by 2011

Single outcome agreements – reflections on first set

• Few specific references within SOAs, but:– 7 used indicator “increasing proportion of people able

to sustain independent quality of life”– 100% mentioned support for older people– 90% mentioned homelessness– 60% mentioned domestic violence

• Challenge from SG on scope and level of ambition in SOA, but local ownership vital

• Next set of SOAs to be agreed with community planning partners – will engagement be real?

History lessons from Supporting People

• Limited evidence of outcomes – vulnerable to cuts

• Pressures building in system since 2004• HSEU research suggests not reducing? • Even more critical to evidence impact• Housing support saves money, but must

keep showing it:– offers value for money– achieves hard and soft outcomes

Outcomes matrix and other reporting arrangements

• Matrix no longer a national requirement • May help evidence contribution of housing

support to:– SOA indicators / targets and local plans / strategies– Community care outcomes– Homelessness prevention– Same as You agenda– Helping older people maintain independent living– Meeting Care Commission requirements

• Future national reporting on housing support?

What next with outcome matrix?

• Pilots positive – not perfect, but worth continuing to develop and promote

• SG will do that, through Enabling Unit, but won’t impose it

• Local authorities and providers to decide if it helps measure outcomes (and for which groups)

• Improved guidance and IT options• Employability dimension to be added?• Desirable to include cost / benefit calculations?

Current and future challenges

• Is the support system able to meet the 2030 challenge?

• Meeting it against tight financial settlements?• Whole system assessment of need, planning

and commissioning of services (across NHS, Social Work and Housing)?

• Securing vfm without de-stabilising commissioning / provider and provider / client relationships?

• Getting beyond short term contracts?• Managing change process in partnership with

providers?

More challenges

• Personalisation and supported accommodation?• Maintaining preventative services without ring

fence, against tighter budgets, escalating needs, and expensive care packages

• Improving regulatory landscape without loss of focus in short term

• How can SG best support those locally with these challenges?– Does the vision need refreshing? – Or practical assistance (with sharing good practice)?

Housing Support in the Highlands

Sarah HartleyPolicy Officer

1. Contracts Team

2. Commissioning

3. Reviews

4. Contracts

5. FAQ’s

Team Leader

(Contracts)

P/T Policy Officer

Senior Contracts

Officers (2)

Contracts Officers (5)

Admin Assistant

Clerical Assistant

Area Business Support Team

Leaders (3)

Area Contracts Officers (5)

Business Support

• Vol Org SLA’s• Home Care tender• Adult Specialist Care tender• Recent Respite tender• National Care Home Contract • Housing Support

And others………

Commissioning Policy

Housing Support Commissioning Strategy

Social Work Services Commissioning Policy

Commissioning CycleSTEP 1

Assess need and identifydemand

Consider legislative andpolicy influences

STEP 2Specify the services required

STEP 3Research and understand

market

STEP 4Select contract type and

tendering approach

STEP 5Conduct procurement

process

STEP 6Contract award

STEP 7Service commencement and

ongoing delivery

STEP 8Monitor service delivery

STEP 9Evaluate and review

arrangements

STEP 10Renew, retender or

decommission services

www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/






market


tendering approach


process



ongoing delivery



arrangements



Step 4

• No change to service

• Remodelling of service

• Tendering of service– Existing– New

• Decommissioning of service

HS Commissioning Strategy

• Part 1 – short-term services

• Part 2 – long-term services

• Project Planning

• Development

• Consultation

• Strategic Commissioning Priorities

Stakeholders

• Providers • Service users• Community Care/C&F/CJS• NHS• Housing & Housing Providers

Reviews

£189,267

£8,736,344

£762,868

£2,237,662

Exempt

Proceed

Sheltered

Stage 2

Reviews

•Notification

•Outstanding issues

•Main Contact: ACO

Contracts

Contracting process

• ACO’s & Senior Contract Officer

• Providers

• Contract Negotiations

• Contract Signing

The Contract

• In draft form

• Short – term services 1 year

• Long-term services 2 years

Frequently Asked Questions

?

Why is the distinction between short-term and long-term

services being made?

• Client Group

• Enablement vs sustainment

• Chargeable vs non-chargeable

• Stand alone vs complex packages

Short term service Long term service

Homelessness Learning disabilities

Young People Mental Health*

Domestic Violence Older People

Substance Misuse* Physical Disabilities

We want to set up a new service – how do we get

funding?






market


tendering approach


process



ongoing delivery



arrangements



We are wanting to change our service, how do we do that?

• What?• What does the service look like now, and

what are you wanting to change• Why?• Why do you need to do this?• How?• How will the change be made? £££• When?

Do we still need to submit monitoring?

YES

Are the 21 eligible criteria still needed?

• Removal of legislative framework

Greater flexibility

Policies£ £

• Review of Eligibility Criteria

• Housing vs. other support

• Service Specification

• SSA & Referrals

• Reducing Administrative burden

What is the budget for 2009/10?

?

Summary

• Not the end of housing support

• Challenges ahead

• Good foundations

• Evolutionary process

• New Era

Discussion

What are the outstanding issues for you as providers?

How do you want to communicate with the Council?

Does the national vision need revision?

What practical assistance can the SG give?

Group Work - 2

How do you want to communicate with the

Council?

Documents

Housing support – the national perspective Stephen Sandham Homelessness and Housing Support Scottish Government