EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MEETING: 13 JANUARY 2011

Transcription

1 CARDIFF COUNCIL CYNGOR CAERDYDD EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MEETING: 13 JANUARY 2011 SUPPORTING PEOPLE OPERATIONAL PLAN REPORT OF CORPORATE DIRECTOR(SOCIAL) AGENDA ITEM:12 PORTFOLIO: HEALTH, SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING Reason for this Report 1. The purpose of this report is for the Executive to approve the publication and submission of the annual Supporting People Operational Plan (SPOP) to the Welsh Assembly Government and to endorse the future development and funding proposals for the delivery of new or remodelled Housing Related Support Services for Vulnerable Adults during contained within the SPOP and Action Plan. Background 2. Supporting People (SP) is a National Government Initiative implemented across the whole of the UK. In April 2003 this initiative introduced a new system of planning, monitoring and funding of Housing Related Support Services for Vulnerable People. The legal framework for the Supporting People Programme is in accordance with Section 93 of the Local Government Act 2000 and is provided through Directions, Guidance and Grant Conditions published by the Welsh Assembly Government. 3. The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has issued guidance that requires Local Authorities to submit an annual SPOP each year. 4. In Wales there are two separate funding streams within the Supporting People Programme and responsibility for the funding administration and review of services is split between Local Authorities and the Welsh Assembly Government. The two funding streams are as follows: - Supporting People Grant (SPG): the revenue funding stream to finance supported housing projects that are administered fully via the Local Authority. SPG services complement existing statutory support services and interface with services delivered by Health and/or Social Care. Support services funded through this grant are intended to provide longer term or permanent accommodation for tenants such as the elderly or people receiving assistance via the community care route. Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG): the revenue funding Page 1 of 5

2 stream which finances supported housing projects that are administered via the Welsh Assembly Government through Accredited Support Providers. These services are intended to provide more short term intervention and assistance within temporary accommodation such as hostels, refuges and temporary supported housing. 5. There is a Welsh Assembly Government policy intention that the Supporting People funding streams will be unified and transferred in its entirety to the Local Authority. This is currently being considered by the Minister following a review of the Supporting People Programme in Wales. 6. The total revenue budget for Supporting People services in Cardiff is now in the region of approximately 20.9 million per annum this equates to approximately 5.6 million of Supporting People Grant (SPG) funded services and approximately 15.3 million of Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG) funded services. The amount which is received directly from the Welsh Assembly Government to the Supporting People Team is 10.4 million of which 5.6 million is for SPG Services and 4.8 million is for internal SPRG services as the Accredited Support Provider. 7. The funding for SPG funding is currently provided in the form of a grant to the Local Authority together with the SPRG funding for internal services. Services are then contracted out to a wide range of providers. Service reviews and monitoring assess the requirement for current services when matched against identified needs. Recommendations on commissioning and de-commissioning of services are made through the Supporting People Planning Group (SPPG), which is made up of senior representatives from all the partner agencies. The Supporting People Operational Plan draws together the work undertaken by the Service Area Advisory Planning Groups (APG) and the Supporting People Planning Group over the last year. It provides an agreed statement of priorities for new or remodelled Supporting People services required for the forthcoming financial year. 8. Supporting People services have a valuable contribution to make towards achieving National and Local Objectives in the areas of social inclusion, reducing homelessness, community safety and reducing delayed transfers of care from hospital. Effective Housing Related Support Services can also prevent people from being admitted into hospital or entering more institutionalised models of accommodation with care. The Supporting People programme is, therefore, a working partnership between Social Care, Housing, Health and the Probation Service. 9. Cardiff was very pro-active and successful in securing its original Supporting People budget; however, the existing SPRG budget allocation, which is currently in the region of 15.3 million per annum, continues to be based on the existing services within the city. The SPRG services had developed over a period of time outside any strategic framework. It is however, recognised that SPRG funded services, continue to provide a valuable contribution to meeting the support needs of the residents of Cardiff. Page 2 of 5

3 10. The Supporting People Operational Plan is intended to function as an annual revenue resource planning mechanism and it is linked to capital funding commitments for the development of supported accommodation in the Local Housing Strategy. However, due to the current financial climate the emphasis is more on current supply within the Grant Allocation meeting the needs of the vulnerable client groups within Cardiff. 11. The Supporting People Operational Plan 2010 for services requiring funding in has been produced taking into account the priorities of Adults and Children s Services, the Health Service, Housing Services, Strategic Planning and the Probation Service. Issues 12. In Cardiff the task is to ensure that the inherited Supporting People services are focused on identified strategic priorities that meet local need whilst offering value for money. As the Supporting People system is intended to align itself with contemporaneous strategies and plans there is a need to highlight services that need development or services where remodelling or de-commissioning may be appropriate. 13. The Welsh Assembly Government is currently looking to redistribute the Supporting People Funding across the whole of Wales, however, this formula has yet to be developed and as a result we are unable to determine the impact that this may have on the allocation of funding for Cardiff. 14. With previous and possible future funding constraints in mind, Commissioning proposed for has been undertaken with great care. The approach advised by the Supporting People Team through the Strategic Planning and Commissioning Process has been to consider utilising existing funding through the re-configuration of current services with either little or no cost implications. 15. Following the Supporting People Team and Cardiff Council s preparedness visit, the feedback received reported SPRG funded services have not yet been reviewed, or reconfigured to meet changing political climates and strategic drivers to the Programme. The Welsh Assembly Government therefore, recommended that, as a prerequisite for potential handover of SPRG to the Local Authority, and the current amount of SPRG funding being received within Cardiff, Cardiff Council Supporting People address this issue through a strategic review of these services. This review will seek to establish the continued relevance and adequacies of practices of SPRG funded services, aiming, where appropriate, to realign, re-commission and ensure best use of available funding. These reviews are currently being undertaken with a timescale of Spring 2011 for completion. 16. The current budget situation has meant that the authority has focussed its attention on balancing the budget for the next financial year. The mechanism adopted to achieve this in the past has been through the Authority s Procurement Process and the application of the Welsh Page 3 of 5

4 Assembly s published tariff rates and by determining the intensity of the service. 17. Due to the uncertainty of the level of future SP funding and the outcome of the SPRG reviews The Supporting People Planning Group has acknowledged that any pipeline proposals which have been approved whether fully approved by the Group or in principle, will be revisited, to assess if projects remain to be strategic priorities for SP funding. Reasons for Recommendations 18. To approve the Supporting People Operational Plan 2010 and Action Plan, for publication and submission to the Welsh Assembly Government. Legal Implications 19. Under section 93 of the Local Government Act 2000, the National Assembly for Wales may pay grants to local authorities in Wales towards expenditure incurred by them in providing, or contributing to the provision of, such welfare services as may be determined by the Assembly. This report relates to funding proposals by the National Assembly under section 93 aforesaid. Welfare services in that section include services which provide support, assistance, advice or counselling to individuals with particular needs". The amount of any grants made under that section and the manner of their payment are to be such as may be determined by the Assembly. Grants under the section may be paid to all local authorities, to particular local authorities, or to particular descriptions of local authority (including descriptions framed by reference to authorities in particular areas). Grants may be paid on such terms and conditions as the Assembly may determine. Those terms and conditions may include provision as to the circumstances in which the whole or any part of a grant under this section must be repaid to the Assembly. The Council must supply the Assembly with such information as it may require for the purposes of those provisions. The Council must have regard to any guidance for the time being issued by the Assembly with respect to the administration and application of grants, which are paid to them. Further the Council must comply with any directions for the time being given by the Assembly with respect to the administration and application of grants, which are paid to them under the welfare services provisions of the 2000 Act. 20. The report refers to a number of existing contracts and services. Consideration should be given to when such contracts will expire and what arrangements are required after such date. If further services are to be procured then sufficient time and resource should be allowed to review the Council's requirements and conduct such an exercise. 21. Any Executive Decision must be taken within the Budgetary and Policy Framework otherwise it must be referred to the Council under Budgetary and Policy Framework Rules. Page 4 of 5

5 Financial Implications 22. This report highlights that the approval of the Supporting People Operational Plan must be completed within the context of available funding. The Welsh Assembly Government is considering the implementation of a re-distribution formula for Supporting People funding across Wales. Implementation of the revised funding formula is expected to be phased in from , and the Council is concerned that a redistribution formula could potentially result in a reduction in Cardiff s funding. Commissioning proposed services for should therefore be undertaken with caution. Financial Services will work closely with the Service Area to monitor spend position to ensure that expenditure can be contained within existing and future Supporting People budgets. Any other Implications 23. The Supporting People programme carries the responsibility to financially manage the risk associated with the available grant. It will then be possible to monitor any financial risks to progress the proposals to a service development phase. This action is in accordance with the correspondence from Welsh Assembly Government that states: having developed a strategy and conducted project reviews you are not obliged to fund any project or service element which you can not afford (19 April 2004 letter). RECOMMENDATION The Executive is recommended to approve the Supporting People Operational Plan 2010 for attached as Appendix A and the Action Plan attached as Appendix B for submission to the Welsh Assembly Government. The implementation of the plan being dependent on the Welsh Assembly Government making available sufficient funding for the Supporting People Programme in NEELAM BHARDWAJA Corporate Director 7 January 2011 The following Appendices are attached: Appendix A: Supporting People Operational Plan 2010 Appendix B: Supporting People Operational Plan - Action Plan The following Background Papers have been taken into account: - Housing Strategy Homelessness Strategy Health, Social Care & Well Being Strategy Cardiff Community Safety Strategy Page 5 of 5

6 Appendix A Supporting People Operational Plan 2010 For Services Cardiff Council - 1 -

7 SUPPORTING PEOPLE OPERATIONAL PLAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Supporting People Team would like to take this opportunity to thank all statutory and non-statutory Partners and Stakeholders who have assisted in completing this document. OTHER VERSIONS Cardiff Council s Supporting People Team will make this document available electronically, on request. In addition, copies in other languages, large print, braille or on audiotape can also be made available on demand. Please contact the Supporting People Team for further information: Supporting People Team Cardiff County Council Room 368, County Hall Atlantic Wharf CARDIFF. CF10 4UW Tel: supportingpeople@cardiff.gov.uk - 2 -

8 Contents Page Pg Executive Summary 4 Chapter 1: Introduction 7 Chapter 2: Supporting People Programme Updates, Achievements and Priorities 12 Chapter 3: Strategic Links 26 Chapter 4: Monitoring and Review of Supporting People Services 30 Chapter 5: Supporting People Grant (SPG) Funded Services Needs and Supply Analysis 37 Chapter 6: Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG) Funded Services Needs and Supply Analysis 43 Appendices Appendix 1 Strategic Links Tables 52 Appendix 2 Strategic Reporting Structure 53 Appendix 3 Supply Map Information 54 Appendix 4 Needs Mapping Information 89 Appendix 5 Supporting People Action Plan 93 Appendix 6 Glossary of Terms

9 Summary Supporting People (SP) is a National Government Initiative implemented across the whole of the UK. In April 2003, this initiative introduced a new system of planning, monitoring and funding of Housing Related Support Services for Vulnerable People. The legal framework for the Supporting People Programme is in accordance with Section 93 of the Local Government Act 2000 and is provided through Directions, Guidance and Grant Conditions published by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has issued guidance that requires Local Authorities to submit an annual Supporting People Operational Plan each year. In Wales there are two separate funding streams within the Supporting People Programme. Responsibility for the funding administration and review of services is split between Local Authorities and the Welsh Assembly Government. The two funding streams are: - Supporting People Grant (SPG): the revenue funding stream which is fully administered via the Local Authority. SPG services complement existing statutory support services and interface with services delivered by Health and/or Social Care. Housing Related Support services funded through this grant are intended to provide longer term or permanent accommodation for tenants such as the elderly or people receiving assistance via the community care route. Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG): the revenue funding stream which finances supported housing projects that are administered via the Welsh Assembly Government. These services are intended to provide more short term intervention and assistance within temporary accommodation such as hostels, refuges and temporary supported housing. The total revenue budget for Supporting People services in Cardiff is in the region of 20.9 million per annum. This is a combination of funding for 5.6 million of Supporting People Grant (SPG) services and approximately 15.3 million of Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG) services. Recommendations on commissioning and de-commissioning of services are made through the Supporting People Planning Group (SPPG), which is made up of senior representatives from all the partner agencies. The Supporting People Operational Plan provides an agreed statement of priorities for new or remodelled Supporting People services required for the forthcoming financial year; drawing together the work undertaken by Service Area Advisory Planning Groups (APG) and the priorities supported by the Supporting People Planning Group (SPPG). The Supporting People Operational Plan 2010 for services requiring funding in has been produced taking into account the priorities of Adults and Children s Services, the Health Service, Housing Services and the Probation Service. Service Development It is a priority to ensure that the inherited Supporting People services are focused on identified strategic priorities that meet local need whilst offering value for money. As the - 4 -

10 Supporting People system is intended to align itself with contemporaneous strategies and plans it will highlight services that need development or services where re-configuration or closure may be appropriate. Annual Budget The Welsh Assembly Government has been looking to redistribute the Supporting People Funding across the whole of Wales. A number of options were presented however, due to the all Wales review of Housing Related Support Services it is anticipated that the redistribution will be considered within this review. To date there is no indication of what the implications will be for Cardiff. The findings of the review are expected to be launched at the end of November With possible future and previous funding constraints in mind, Commissioning for will be undertaken with great care. The approach advised by the Supporting People Team through the Strategic Planning and Commissioning Process has been to consider utilising existing funding through the re-configuration of current services following strategic and contractual reviews and, through following a robust and transparent procurement process. SPRG Reviews The Supporting People Team is currently in the process of reviewing all SPRG funded services within Cardiff. This is one of the requirements of the SPRG Grant conditions and was highlighted in the Welsh Assembly Governments preparedness visit for handover as a priority consideration. The reviews are being undertaken due to the lack of historical services being reviewed, or reconfigured to meet changing needs, political climates and strategic drivers within the programme. It is the intention that these reviews will establish the current and future need for services, ensuring continued strategic relevance of services and where appropriate to realign, de-commission and re-commission and to ensure best use of available funding. The review process has been agreed by the Supporting People Planning Group and will be completed by the end of March The evidence gathered will best inform the future funding priorities for Housing Related Support Services delivered through the Supporting People Programme in Cardiff. Handover of SPRG Funding to Local Authorities It has always been the intention that SPRG funding would be transferred to Local Authorities. However, this decision has yet to be made with a definitive date for implementation. It has been suggested that this may fall in line with redistribution of SP funding across Wales and the outcome of the current Supporting People Housing Related Support review which is currently being undertaken by Sir Mansel Aylward and his team. The proposal to unify the SPG and SPRG funding streams and transfer in its entirety to each Local Authority in Wales is currently being considered by the Minister. Budget Management The current budget situation has resulted in the Local Authority focussing its attention on balancing the budget for the next financial year. The mechanism adopted to achieve this in the past has been through issuing Steady State Contracts to Supporting People Grant funded services and the application of the Welsh Assembly s published tariff rates (2005) for supported accommodation types and by determining the intensity of the service. However, due to the financial fiscal this year and in future years we must consider the possibility of cuts to the Grant and how these can be achieved whilst maintaining services - 5 -

11 and prioritisation for those vulnerable adults in receipt of SP housing related support services. Financial Implications The approval of the Supporting People Operational Plan must be completed within the context of available funding. The commissioning of any proposed services for should therefore be undertaken with caution. Financial Services works closely with the Service Area to monitor spend position to ensure that expenditure can be contained within existing and future Supporting People budgets. Project Proposals Due to the Supporting People Team ongoing reviews of SPG and SPRG funded services, the uncertainty of future funding and the possibility of a redistribution formula being applied across Wales, all projects identified within the previous Action Plan have been revisited and updated to ensure that the gaps in service provision have not been met elsewhere. Consideration must also be given to the outcomes of these ongoing reviews which may identify the need to reconfigure or decommission existing services and therefore release existing committed funding for re allocation to more strategic Housing Related Support services. Any other Implications The Supporting People programme carries the responsibility to financially manage the risk associated with the available grant. It will then be possible to monitor any financial risks to progress the proposals through to a service development phase. This action is in accordance with the correspondence from Welsh Assembly Government that states: having developed a strategy and conducted project reviews you are not obliged to fund any project or service element which you can not afford. Source: WAG 19 April

12 Chapter 1: Introduction It is a requirement for each Local Authority to produce an annual Supporting People Operational Plan (SPOP) for submission to the Welsh Assembly Government defining the direction of the Programme in each Local Authority area. The information contained within this years SPOP reflects the delicate nature of the current and future funding of the Programme and hopefully demonstrates what achievements have been made to ensure that the services being delivered to those vulnerable adults most in need of Housing Related Support has been met within Cardiff. The SPOP also acknowledges the difficulties faced within Authorities under the current financial situation in taking forward new projects. The supply mapping information has been included to ensure that a clear vision can be provided on the supply of housing related services for vulnerable people within Cardiff. A more detailed breakdown of these services can be obtained upon request and it is anticipated that future SPOP s will include a more detailed analysis of the supply, needs and demand for Housing Related Support services through the Supporting People Programme. What is the Supporting People Programme? Since April 2003 the aim of the Supporting People Programme ( the Programme ) is to deliver Housing Related Support services to vulnerable people to help improve their quality of life and promote greater independence within the community. The Programme has also helped reduce the problems of institutionalised care, custody and/or homelessness; problems that often lead to hospitalisation. It will also help people leaving institutions to make the transition to independent living. The Programme has continued to deliver a system of planning, commissioning, review and monitoring of housing related support services which include: extracare Services Sheltered Accommodation Hostels Refuges Supported Lodgings Adult Placement Schemes Floating Support (provided to individuals within their own homes) Temporary Accommodation The Programme is a working partnership between Local Government, Clients, Health, Probation and Support Agencies. The Programme reaches out to a number of different vulnerable adults including but not limited to the following: E1a - Women Fleeing Domestic Violence E1b - Men Fleeing Domestic Violence E2 - People with Learning Disabilities E3 - People with Mental Health Problems E4 - People suffering from Alcohol Dependency E5 - People suffering from Drug Dependency - 7 -

13 E6 - Refugees E7 - People with a Physical Disability who require Support E8 - Young Single Homeless People who require Support and Young People Leaving Care E9 - Ex-offenders E10 - Homeless or Potentially Homeless People who require Support E11 - People with a Chronic Illness including HIV and AIDS E12 - Vulnerable Single Parents who require Support These client groups have been defined by the Welsh Assembly Government who allocated the above E numbers to each category. These categories are used across all Local Authorities and Accredited Support Providers in Wales and are referred to in the Supply Map and Action Plan within the SPOP. Some examples of Housing Related Support include: Maintaining home security helping tenants to ensure their dwelling is secure, The ability to establish a stable place within the community, for example, the use community facilities, Maintaining the home safety support for servicing of tenants appliances and/or assisting tenants to arrange builders, plumbers, etc, and/or advice on using cooker, iron, etc, Dealing with disputes with neighbours and/or assistance claiming benefits/debt counselling, and/or teaching life skills for independent living including advice on hygiene, food preparation and food storage, The ability to pay one s housing costs, (rent, mortgage etc.) in order to avoid losing possession, Resettlement organising access to professional help and/or liaison with relatives, Emergency alarm system. Guidance and Grant Conditions and Criteria issued by the Welsh Assembly Government outline the roles and responsibilities of the Local Authority and Accredited Support Providers for the Programme. The guidance issued includes: Welsh Assembly Government Supporting People Implementation and Administration Guide 2003 Welsh Assembly Government Supporting People Revenue Grant Conditions and Criteria 2010 Various periodic updates indicating amendments to the Programme, ASP responsibilities and/or roles

14 Implementation of the Supporting People Programme Supporting People Operational Plan (SPOP) Cardiff Council s Supporting People Team, are responsible for; writing and administering the annual SPOP; the Grant allocation funding for Cardiff and the strategic responsibility for all SP funded services within Cardiff. The team is accountable to the Supporting People Planning Group (SPPG) who will steer the direction of the plan and the Programme within Cardiff. The SPOP is a strategic document, which functions as an operational mechanism through developing provision for homeless and vulnerable people with Housing Related Support needs. It is intended to function as a Supporting People revenue resource planning mechanism and is a method through which to plan and outline activity for the financial year ahead. The purpose of the SPOP therefore is; Set out the priorities for Supporting People Grant (SPG) Set out the priorities for Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG) In relation to the Advisory Planning Groups, highlight the strategic links and ensure that relevant information is included in the assessment of current provision and identified gaps in services Evidence unmet need for Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG) using up-do-date demographic and needs information and services Evidence unmet need for Supporting People Grant (SPG) using up-do-date demographic and needs information and services Be linked to the aims and objectives for supported accommodation set out in the Homelessness Strategy To support the prevention of homelessness through the provision of appropriate accommodation and support Draw on and detail any supporting information expressed through other local and regional planning and strategic mechanisms Linked to the Health Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy. Alongside this, the SPOP includes information relating to: New project proposals Priorities for new projects or remodelling existing projectt Project descriptions Supply Mapping Needs Mapping Future Projects Action Plan In order to reflect local needs, the information and data used within the SPOP is obtained through: Need identification information: - Needs Mapping Exercise - Supply Map Information Information from other Needs Mapping mechanisms - 9 -

15 Information from other strategic planning mechanisms and commissioning processes, for example: - Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy - Local Housing Strategy - Community Plan - Homelessness Strategy - Community Safety Strategy. Throughout this information/data gathering process Cardiff Council links with Supporting People Teams in neighbouring authorities in order to build up a local, regional and national picture of cross boundary needs and priorities. Funding There are two separate funding streams within the Supporting People Programme and responsibility for funding administration and the review of services is split between Local Authorities and the Welsh Assembly Government. The two funding streams are as follows: Supporting People Grant (SPG): the revenue funding stream which is fully administered via the Local Authority. SPG services complement existing statutory support services and interface with services delivered by Health and/or Social Care. Housing Related Support services funded through this grant are intended to provide longer term or permanent accommodation for tenants such as the elderly or people receiving assistance via the community care route. Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG) The revenue funding stream to finance supported housing projects that are exclusively funded via the Welsh Assembly Government route. SPRG projects are intended for short stay or temporary accommodation such as hostels or floating support schemes with the strategic responsibility of these services remaining with Local Authorities. The Advisory Planning Groups (APGs) These groups exist to cover the strategic planning of services for all vulnerable client groups. In respect of Supporting People they are given the task of identifying the demand for housing related support services, and presenting this information to the Supporting People Planning Group. The Supporting People Planning Group (SPPG) Membership of this group includes representatives from Council Service Areas (Adult, Children and Housing), Partner Organisations, Health and Probation Services and coopted members. The role of the SPPG includes the following: Discuss, plan and agree the development of joint targets Discuss, plan and agree the development of joint outcomes Consider and realign, where necessary, links to strategic aims and objectives Consider the demand for services against service supply Identify gaps in service provision through the use of available data and information Prioritise project proposals for inclusion in the Supporting People Operational Plan, therefore, prioritising the projects for Supporting People funding for the following financial year Oversee the extension, reconfiguration and decommissioning of services

16 Identify opportunities for collaborative working Maintain a responsibility for the development of the SPOP. On completion, the SPOP is submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government for consideration of any emerging priorities and to update on the current situation within Cardiff of the supply, need and demand for Housing Related Support services through the Supporting People Programme

17 Chapter 2: Supporting People Programme Updates, Achievements and Priorities National Update Supporting People Strategy The Supporting People Strategy is a new 5 year strategy produced by the Welsh Assembly Government; it is linked to the 10 year Homelessness Plan for Wales. An Action Plan linked to the Strategy will ensure the continued delivery of the Programme to vulnerable adults to maintain their impendence to live within the community. The aims of the strategy are to: Use housing support as part of a range of innovative approaches to social care Address underlying needs of individuals Tackle the underlying causes of repeat homelessness Support the sector to improve service delivery and increase the strategic focus Handover of Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG) to Local Authorities It is the intention of the Welsh Assembly Government that the Supporting People funding streams will be unified and transferred to each Local Authority. The decision for handover together with a date for implementation has yet to be made. It has been suggested that this may fall in line with redistribution of SP funding across Wales and the outcome of the current Supporting People Housing Related Support review, which is currently being undertaken by Sir Mansel Aylward and his team, who were commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government. The proposal to unify the SPG and SPRG funding streams and transfer in its entirety to Local Authorities (LA) is currently being considered by the Minister. SPRG Grant Conditions and Accredited Support Provider Guidance Following a consultation and Ministerial approval the Welsh Assembly Government have now published the new SPRG Grant Conditions and Criteria All Accredited Support Providers (ASP) are required to sign the agreement and implement the new conditions with immediate effect. Cardiff Council Supporting People Team are the ASP for a range of internal SPRG funded services and also the ASP for a cross boundary scheme with the Vale of Glamorgan Council. A recent review of our ASP role and responsibility has been undertaken by Epona Ltd on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government and the findings of the their review have been submitted in a report. The timescale for action to be completed in line with the recommendations from this review have been set and have been agreed by the Supporting People Team, Adult Services together with Officers from Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal (HANR). Redistribution Formula The Welsh Assembly Government has been looking to redistribute the Supporting People Funding across the whole of Wales. A number of options were presented however, due to the current review of Housing Related Support services across the whole of Wales this will also be considered within this review. To date there is no indication of what the implications will be for Cardiff

18 With possible future and previous funding constraints in mind, commissioning for will be undertaken with great care. The approach advised by the Supporting People Team through the Strategic Planning and Commissioning Process has been to consider utilising existing funding through the re-configuration of current services following strategic and contractual reviews and, where identified and agreed to follow a robust and transparent procurement process. The future distribution of SP funding is currently being reviewed within the remit of the review of Housing Related Support services across Wales. The findings of the review are currently with the Minister and it is anticipated this will be published in November Monitoring Outcomes Joint working has been ongoing with the All Wales Supporting People Information Network (SPIN), Cymorth Cymru and a large selection of support providers, looking at a national process to gather and monitor outcomes achieved for vulnerable adults accessing Housing Related Support services. A pilot process has been undertaken and covered a range of service provision and client groups. Analysis of the information gathered across Wales will be considered for the final procedure. All providers within Cardiff were invited to take part in this pilot with only but a handful not engaging at this time. The purpose of this pilot was to examine how we can develop measures to evidence what supported housing services are achieving and ensure that the services provided are focussed towards what service users really want. Through consultation with partners, these four key strategic aims were identified in which Supporting People services are assisting in delivering; Promoting Personal and Community Safety Promoting Independence and Control Promoting Economic Progress and Financial Control Promoting Health and Well being A further 11 outcomes were identified which could measure the extent to which services are contributing in meeting these objectives. These 11 outcomes are as follows; Feeling Safe Contributing to the safety and well being of themselves and of others Managing Accommodation Managing Relationships Felling part of the Community Managing Money Engaging in Education/Learning Engaging in Employment/Voluntary Work Physically Healthy Mentally Healthy Leading a Healthy and active lifestyle

19 During the pilot, providers were asked to work with individuals and to feedback whether the 11 outcomes identified, had been either; met, partially met, or not met; either on exit from a service or at a review. Following on from the pilot period feedback was sought from a range of providers, service users and commissioners to establish the value of the exercise and their opinions of whether the aims and objectives were capturing those outcomes identified and whether this could measure them effectively to provide a true reflection of the services being delivered and in meeting the needs of individuals receiving services through the SP Programme. There was a range of opinions and suggestions on the way forward and all of these were considered when presenting the findings to the welsh Assembly Government and to also inform the Review of Housing Related Support Services. Following on from this initial pilot period and consideration given on the feedback received from the variety of partners and stakeholders who took part, the following recommendations were made to the Welsh Assembly Government: The 11 outcomes piloted are adopted as part of a national framework This framework is introduced; and the collection of outcomes, on a consistent basis across all LA s and providers of Housing Related Support; begins in April 2011 through the direct support and prescription of the Welsh Assembly Government That a national database is developed to allow access at service provider; local authority and national level From now until April 2011 the Outcomes Delivery Group continues to work in partnership with all in the sector to evolve and improve the model and to refine any guidance in line with the feedback received Cymorth Cymru and the LA Supporting People Information Network (SPIN) work in partnership to offer training and awareness raising in relation to the framework in all areas of Wales in the run up to April 2011 and the adoption of the model The existing SPRG Service Aims are replaced by a set of minimum standards and the outcomes framework Payment of grant should not be conditional on the achievement of outcomes, but is part of the process to inform commissioning decisions We work in partnership, e.g. with social services, to ensure consistency in outcomes expected and develop joint reporting mechanisms where possible We evidence the value of outcomes collection on the management and development of services. If there is no value evidenced, to any partner, we change or stop Commissioners work in partnership with providers to develop a deep, joint understanding of the outcomes they expect each service to deliver and are mindful of these in analysing returns and the reviewing process Providers should continue to submit individual case studies (both where outcomes have been met and not met), alongside outcomes data and LA s should summarise and discuss a small sample of these at the beginning of each SPPG The overarching outcomes group work in partnership with the sector to develop a consistent approach to allow reviewing and commissioning to operate in relation to outcomes expected The methodology providers use to collect outcomes remains discretionary, as long as it is compatible with the reporting framework

20 That the collection of outcomes will not be enough to evidence the value of services. High quality and independent social researchers need to be commissioned to undertake more detailed research identifying the social return on investment of services receiving Supporting People funding It is recognised that any changes to the way in which services are delivered and measured will take time, hard work and good working relationships between commissioners, providers and service users. There will continue to be a need to look at the structure of services and how providers deliver and monitor their own organisations through policies and processes and both of these will need to be undertaken in an open and transparent process involving the Commissioners of services, whilst continuing to meet the strategic priorities of Local Authorities for the Supporting People Programme. Provider Accreditation In order to ensure quality of delivery of Housing Related Support services, under the Supporting People Programme, Service Providers are required to be accredited with the Welsh Assembly Government. Cardiff Supporting People Team are the Accredited Support Provider (ASP) for internal SPRG provided services. These services include the Tenant Support Services, Tresillian House and Green Farm Hostel. As part of the Welsh Assembly Government s on going review process external Consultants were commissioned to undertake the review of ASP s across Wales. In March 2010 the Supporting People Team were reviewed as part of this on going review process. The process involved desk top audits; on site visits and interviews with the Supporting People Manager, Senior Management in Housing, Support Providers and their Staff delivering support services. The findings were presented in a report to the Authority, highlighting good practice and identifying recommendations for improvement on services and the role as ASP. A realistic timetable for these recommendations is currently being discussed with the Welsh Assembly Government with on going progress reports to be provided as part of the implementation of the timetable. Performance Indicators A decision was made by the Welsh Data Unit it was no longer a requirement to collate National Performance Indicators data on SPP/001, therefore, it was removed by the Data Unit from However, the decision to retain this indicator at a local level has been applied to ensure that the importance of the work achieved is recorded and acknowledged: The average number of units of housing related support, per 1,000 head of population, for each of the following types of housing related support service: i) Floating support ii) Direct access iii) Temporary accommodation iv) Permanent accommodation v) Sheltered accommodation for older people vi) Community alarm services Source: National Performance Indicator Guidance for Wales 2009/

21 The data continues to be based on data collated during two snapshots in the financial year: 1 st October and 1 st April. The two data collection points will continue to provide a useful indicator of the provision of each model of supported accommodation in Cardiff. Local Update, Achievements and Priorities Budget Position In Cardiff the total revenue budget for Supporting People 2010 is in the region of approximately 20.9 million per annum. The budget for Supporting People Grant (SPG) is approximately 5.6 million, whilst the budget for Supporting People Revenue Grant (SPRG) is approximately 15.3 million, with 4.8 million being funded directly to Cardiff Supporting People Team as an Accredited Support Provider. It is anticipated that in the next financial year there will be a percentage cut to Supporting People funding and it is with this in mind that any changes to services will be considered carefully by the SPPG in the decision making process whilst considering project proposals and the strategic priorities for Supporting People funding and the delivery of Housing Related Support services. It is recognised that the Supporting People Programme, continue to provide a valuable contribution to meeting the support needs of the residents of Cardiff. However, the SPRG funding currently received, is based on existing historical services within the city. As a result of this and in compliance with the SPRG Grant Conditions and Criteria as set out by the Welsh Assembly Government, strategic on site reviews of these services are currently being undertaken by the SP team together with reviews also being undertaken by HANR through their Multi Agency Homelessness Strategy APG and Substance Misuse accommodation sub group. These reviews will assist in shaping the future strategic services required within Cardiff and to best inform the future need and demand for the SRPG services in Cardiff. The outcome of these reviews will inform the SPPG for future priorities and current needs for SPRG services which could see some de-commissioning or reconfiguration of services and also the commissioning of new services meeting the needs of these vulnerable adults within Cardiff. Any decisions made by the SPPG on SPRG funded services will then be ratified by the Minister under the current guidance to ensure that services are strategically aligned and appropriately commissioned meeting local demand, need and supply. Supporting People Programme Previous and Current Achievements A number of new and reconfigured projects have been developed within Cardiff since the inception of the Supporting People Programme. These services have been developed in partnership with Health, Social Care, Housing and Probation Services. These services have assisted in delivering Housing Related Support services to a range of client groups within an identified range of accommodation models

22 The ranges of services which have been developed are detailed below: Client Group Project Description Date Completed Homeless or Potentially Homeless People (E10) People Suffering Alcohol Dependency (E4), Drug Dependency (E5) and Exoffenders (E9) People with Learning Disabilities (E2) People with Learning Disabilities (E2) People with Mental Health Problems (E3) People with Learning Disabilities (E2) Older Persons Older Persons People with Learning Disabilities (E2) Homeless or Potentially Homeless People (E10) Nightingale House 26 units of accommodation to support homeless people and families Croes Ffin 18 units within 3 supported properties across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Re-commissioning, through a competitive tendering process, the Supported Living Services (Learning Disabilities) Re-commissioning, through a competitive tendering process, the Emergency Accommodation Service (Learning Disabilities) Resettlement Scheme 10 units of Supported Accommodation for people with Mental Health Problems across 3 properties within Cardiff Issue new SP Learning Disabilities Contracts Re-contracting with Older Persons Services extracare - Commissioning and procurement of Cardiff s flrst extracare scheme, Plas Bryn Core and Cluster Scheme provision for Young People with LD with 16 units of accommodation in the centre of Cardiff Taff Housing Association Floating Support remodel of 3 of the existing 38 units to Prevention and Crisis Intervention November 2005 January 2006 March 2007 March 2007 May 2007 July 2007 December 2007 September 2008 December

23 Homeless or Potentially Homeless People (E10) Young Single Homeless People who require Support and Young People Leaving Care (E8) People with Mental Health Problems (E3) People with Learning Disabilities (E2) Homeless or Potentially Homeless People (E10) People with a Physical Disability who require support (E7) People with a Physical Disability who require support (E7) Older Persons Older Persons Women who are fleeing domestic abuse Cedar House remodelled 5 units of Cardiff Move on to provide 4 units of support to men fleeing domestic violence Triangle project the remodel of the existing service to a dispersed scheme Establish new Steady State Contract length and funding Independent and Linked Accommodation provision for people with severe challenging behaviour through a core and cluster model consisting of 4 individual flats Remodel of Cardiff Council Tenant Support Team to deliver four different models of floating support Supported Accommodation development of 8 independent supported accommodations within the extracare scheme Llys Enfys Llanishen Ty Onnen Development provision of 6 units of accommodation especially designed and built for young adults with a physical impairment The 2 nd extracare Scheme - Llys Enfys Llanishen provision of 60 Older Persons extracare Units and 34 sheltered units Sheltered Accommodation provision of 34 additional sheltered units within the Llys Enfys scheme Remodel of hostels for women who are fleeing domestic violence April 2009 July April 2010 June 2010 April 2010 April

24 Supporting People Programme Future Priorities and those Agreed in Principle Client Group Project Description Expected Completion Date People with Learning Disabilities (E2) People Suffering Alcohol Dependency (E4), Drug Dependency (E5), Ex-offenders (E9) and Homeless or Potentially Homeless People (E10) People with Learning Disabilities (E2) People with Learning Disabilities (E2) Women who are fleeing domestic abuse (E1a) Homeless or Potentially Homeless People (E10) People with Learning Disabilities (E2) Extension of the Adult Placement Scheme provision of up to an additional 40 units of support within this accommodation model Shoreline Scheme - provision of 10 additional units of 24 hour staffed accommodation and conversion of existing units to low-level support. Independent and Linked Accommodation for People with Autism Spectrum disorder provision of 4 individual flats in Cardiff within a core building and communal area Core and Cluster Scheme provision for Young People with LD with 12 units of accommodation in North Cardiff Remodel of a hostel to a specialist hostel for women fleeing domestic abuse with substance misuse issues providing 5 units Single Assessment Centre provision of 44 units for people who are homeless Independent and Linked Accommodation disinvestments and re No date for completion search ongoing for appropriate accommodation This has currently been achieved as a pilot through existing funding Decant current Hostel to temporary accommodation planned for Oct Dec 2010 prior to building work commencing. Ongoing