The Supporting People programme is a new policy and funding framework set up by the Department of Transport, Local Government and Regions (DTLR) which offers vulnerable people the opportunity to improve their quality of life through greater independence. It promotes housing related support services which complement existing care services.

The current system for providing housing related support services to vulnerable people has been haphazard. Funded through a mixture of Housing Benefit payments and capital grants to housing service providers, there is no overall planning or strategic management and the local authority has had little or no direct influence on services provided within their area. As a result Mental Health Services in Herefordshire have, until recently had no say in deciding what sort of housing support services are made available to its clients living in the community.

Supporting People promotes a change from this position. It is a working partnership of local government, service users and support agencies and is based on a variety of government initiatives such as Best Value Review of Housing Services, the Modernising Social Services and Modernising Mental Health and Crime Prevention agendas and proposals in the Housing Green Paper. It gives this partnership the opportunity to plan and develop housing support services tailored to the needs of local service users .

Recent research has highlighted the importance to service users of having their "own front door." i.e in a self contained unit rather than in a shared or group home. The Supporting People programme is designed to support service users in maintaining tenancies in this type of accommodation as well as in more traditional residential settings.


What sort of support can Supporting People provide ?

• Help in setting up and maintaining a home (e.g. buying furniture/equipment, getting gas/electricity connected, dealing with minor repairs and replacements)
• Help in developing domestic and practical skills (e.g. learning to cook, shop, clean, do washing)
• Help in developing and social skills or with managing behaviour
• Advice, advocacy and liaison with statutory agencies
• Help in managing finances and dealing with benefit claims
• Emotional support, counselling and advice
• Help in gaining access to other services (e.g. enrolling in training or education, or attending a job centre)
• Help in establishing social contacts and activities
• Help in establishing personal safety and security
• Supervision and monitoring of health and well being
• Peer support and befriending
• Help in finding other accommodation
• Provision of community alarms
• Provision of home improvement, repair and handyperson services

• Personal care-physical help required to get up/go to bed/bathing/eating meals
• Health care- administering medication, nursing, speech therapy
• Therapeutic/intensive behaviour management
• Rehabilitation following illness or acquired disability
• Specialist treatment or counselling e.g. substance misuse
• Help with transport/mobility e.g. minibus, volunteer drivers
• Home adaptations to improve accessibility, e.g. stair lift, ramped entrance
• Regular maintenance services, e.g gardening or decorating

In order to maximise the benefits of this programme a Supporting People Team has been set up by the Herefordshire Council.

To find out more contact:
Adam Russel
Herefordshire Council
Dept of Housing and Social Services
Garrick House
Widemarsh St
Hereford
HR4 9EU
Tel: 01432 261000

Links

Supporting People (DTLR site)

Transitional Housing Benefit Scheme