LHS: 07 Assisting People with Particular Needs (page 1)

To ensure the provision of a range of accommodation appropriate to the needs of individuals and their carers to enable them to receive the support and care they need within their own home and local community.

1. Introduce the Single Shared Assessment for local authority sheltered housing applicants by 2005 and for other client groups by 2006.

2. Ensure that all individuals requiring housing support services receive an assessment and personal support plan that is regularly reviewed by 2006.

3. Increase the supply of new build housing suitable for people with 'varying and particular needs' by 200 units on average per year to 2009.

4. Develop appropriate housing with support for frail older people including the provision of 120 very sheltered housing places by 2009.

5. Meet the need for housing suitable for people with mobility problems by adapting at least 3,000 dwellings each year and make better use of existing stock.

6. Complete planned institutional discharge programmes as scheduled and maintain individuals successfully by supporting them in their own homes or in homely settings.

7. Enable and sustain people to live in their own homes by ensuring the quality and scope of housing support services by reviewing all services by 2006.

8. Reduce numbers of homelessness presentations to 1.2% of total households by 2009.

9. By 2006, improve number and range of temporary accommodation options and reduce the average time spent in temporary accommodation.

10. To develop monitoring systems to ensure that no one is denied access to housing services on the grounds of their ethnic origin, gender, disability or sexual orientation.

The development and implementation of the Joint Future agenda presents significant challenges to all partners in the planning for, and delivery of, services to people with particular needs. Progressing this issue is a major priority (e.g. the implementation of the Single Shared Assessment process/implementation of joint management and resourcing).

Implementing the Supporting People initiative requires substantial investment and co-ordination. Key priorities include establishing an appropriate infrastructure to support implementation. This includes issues such as developing commissioning procedures and undertaking a review of all Council directly provided housing support services and those purchased from the independent sector.

There is a significant requirement for a better range of housing support services, especially floating housing support services for older people, people with a physical disability, people with a learning disability and people with mental health problems. This includes the development of services for individuals living in the owner occupied and private rented sectors.

There will be an increasing and substantial demand for housing across all tenures which is built specifically or can be adapted to suit the needs of people with particular needs who are aged over 65 years. Within the context of the overall increase in the older population, there is a need to explore opportunities for a range of housing options for frail older people. This could include the development of additional very sheltered housing or intensive housing support and/or social care for those who wish to remain in their own homes.

There is a need to develop very sheltered housing provision in each major settlement across North Lanarkshire.

There may also be a requirement to upgrade or reconfigure existing sheltered housing services.

There is a substantial and increasing demand, from people of all ages, for housing which is suited to the needs of people with a range of physical disabilities. As well as the provision of new build housing built to 'varying needs standards' there is a greater demand for adaptations to mainstream housing both in the social rented and private sectors. In addition, the development of wheelchair standard units or provision of modular extensions is appropriate in accordance with identified need. There is a requirement to make the best use of existing stock through initiatives such as adapted property databases or a Common Housing Register.

Most people with a learning disability are able to live in mainstream accommodation with adaptations if required, or wheelchair standard housing, with individual support packages. Enabling individuals to live successfully in the community through supported living arrangements with suitable housing is a major issue. This is required specifically for people currently resident in hospital, other institutional care or living inappropriately in the community.

The vast majority of people with mental health problems live in mainstream housing with varying levels of support.

Negotiations are ongoing to identify options for the discharge of a number of individuals from the Hartwoodhill Hospital site. This will create additional demands for housing with support. Enabling individuals to live successfully in the community through supported living arrangements with suitable housing is a priority for people living in inappropriate institutional care or in the community with inadequate support.

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