Supporting People Plan - Introduction

• Sets out how North Lanarkshire Council prepares in a joint way with its partners the future provision of services.
• Describes a series of objectives and actions for the period 2003-2008.
• Looks at future resources available to provide those services.
• Provides a focus for current users of services, their families and carers and those who are involved in delivering services.
• Shows how we will assess our progress and measure the impact of services provided.

In developing this Plan and in identifying its priorities, we have taken into account:

• priorities of the Scottish Executive;
• corporate priorities of the Council;
• priorities of local partner agencies and stakeholders including service providers;
• objectives of key local strategies;
• local service mapping; and
• views of service users.

This Supporting People Plan is based on our initial understanding of current provision and initial evidence of need.

The Plan will be a working document and will be developed throughout its 5-year life. Feedback will be sought on a continuous basis. The document will be formally reviewed on an annual basis.

Supporting People is the new policy and funding framework for people living in accommodation with support or in receipt of housing support in their own home. The initiative helps to support vulnerable people in different types of accommodation and tenure in ways responsive to their needs.

Housing support services are practical services that assist people to maintain independent living in the community. This can include help with budgeting, shopping, dealing with issues around safety and security of their homes and helping them to make contacts with relevant agencies to get the support and information they need.

Housing support is defined in Section 91 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. It is 'any service which provides support, assistance, advice or counselling to an individual with particular need with a view to enabling that individual to occupy or continue to occupy as the person's sole or main residence, residential accommodation other than excepted accommodation'.

The Supporting People programme aims to put these services on a more secure legal and financial footing and introduce a more strategic approach to planning and provision.

Our partners' involvement is critical for successful implementation and future service development of housing support services. North Lanarkshire Council is committed to developing and promoting ongoing stakeholder involvement.

There has been extensive inter-agency and service user involvement in the preparation of this Plan. To support consultation and participation in the planning of services North Lanarkshire Council has:

• Developed a 'Communication Strategy' and embarked on a consultation process in line with the Scottish Executive guidance.
• Established a dedicated Communications Group.
• Distributed information leaflets for service users.
• Published regular Supporting People newsletters.
• Developed a local North Lanarkshire Supporting People website.
• Hosted a Supporting People Strategic Planning Day.
• Convened a development day for Registered Social Landlords.
• Convened a development day for Housing Support Providers, Health Board and Council Staff.
• Undertaken presentations to Lanarkshire Community Care Forum.
• Provided training to local Registered Social Landlords, other housing support providers and NHS Lanarkshire Board staff.
• Briefings and Committee Reports for Elected Members.
• Special group meetings with partners such as Lanarkshire Housing Association Forum, NHS Lanarkshire Board staff and Women's Aid.
• All local providers of support, social landlords have been met with in groups and/or individually.
• Training for over 300 North Lanarkshire Council staff.
• Local Housing Strategy Option Appraisal Seminar.

A formal consultation draft was issued in August 2003. Key themes that were stressed by consultees in their responses were:

• Concerns about the quality and consistency of assessment, the ongoing review of client's needs and links in to revised resource commitments.
• A lack of information available about current housing support services.
• Overall placement planning timescales are often too short and result in clients being set up to fail with inadequate resourcing.
• The importance of ensuring a level playing field in the commissioning process for all sizes of agencies.

We will try to improve services by continuing to listen to, and working with, our partners.

It is essential that our partners are informed on new service developments and continue to be involved in the planning of services. To promote this we will:

• Establish an 'Inclusive Forum' of relevant stakeholders to engage and consult on the local implementation of Supporting People. In particular this will help to foster a partnership approach between commissioning bodies and providers.
• Set up focus groups around key issues (e.g. to encourage small specialist providers to highlight steps required to develop such services for particular client groups or localities).
• Review and update the Communications Strategy.
• Maintain regular publication of Supporting People newsletter.
• Regularly provide information to service users on issues such as the nature of housing support services, service developments, charging, financial assessments and the rights and responsibilities of service users.
• Update and improve local Supporting People website.

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