1 Summary

The following decisions are sought.

1.1. The Hampshire Supporting People Five Year Strategy is approved.

1.2. The Strategy outlines a strategic direction for the Supporting People programme, emphasising the preventative nature of the programme and how Supporting People supports and assists partner agencies in the achievement of their objectives

1 Reason(s)

2.1 The Hampshire Supporting People Team is required to produce a five year strategy to be submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister before 1 April 2005.

2.2 The Five Year Strategy supports Corporate Aims 1 and 5: Maximising life opportunities and improving services, by providing support services to vulnerable people to increase their independence and enabling older people to live independently for longer in their own communities working in partnership with health agencies, District Councils, the Probation Service and voluntary bodies by promoting continuous improvement in the quality of services, improving the way in which we communicate about SP services and continuing to promote effective and prudent financial management.

2.3 Race Relations (Amendment) Act: The Government Regulations and Inspection arrangements specify requirements concerning racial (and other forms of) discrimination. Compliance with the Act in terms of carrying out an Impact Assessment is confirmed, forming part of the programme of work relating to the Department's Service

2.4 Hampshire Compact has been consulted in relation to SP contracts

2 Other options considered and rejected

3.1 None

3 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1 None

4 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 None

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1 Not Applicable

Approved by: Date of decision:

Councillor Felicity Hindson

1 Summary

1.1 This is the second Supporting People Strategy, the first ( the shadow Strategy ) having been agreed two years ago. This strategy aims to make a real difference to the direction of the programme and the network of services available to Service Users.

1.2 Supporting People (SP) will implement policies that make a positive difference to peoples lives, to ensure that all people with support needs have the widest range of housing and support needs that can be provided.

1.3 SP interfaces with many agencies, strategies and interests, and contributes to the prevention agendas of Health, Housing, Probation and Social Services.

1.4 Working in partnership with other agencies delivering part of a broad based agenda SP aims to prevent adverse outcomes for individuals who are passing through points of crisis, change in their lives or require a lower level of support to avoid any crisis that may put their accommodation at risk.

2 Context

2.1 SP services provide support which focuses on preventing homelessness and low level long term support to enable vulnerable individuals to live independently in their own homes. Services are provided to develop, promote and sustain individuals to live independently or gain access to appropriate accommodation.

2.2 The intention is that the programme will help as many people as possible in Hampshire through targeted cost effective services.

2.3 The aims of the strategy are:

2.3.1 To assess the current status of the programme

2.3.2 To guide the development of the programme from 2005 - 2010

2.3.3 To ensure service provision meets evidenced need, with a strong emphasis on prevention.

2.3.4 To guide those involved in the provision of housing related support when devising their own strategies

2.3 Hampshire's Commissioning Body has adopted a `Policy Framework' following extensive consultation with partners, stakeholders and Service Users which clearly set out the nature and strategic direction of the programme within the County.

2.4 In addition to the Policy Framework, `Prevention Statements' have been agreed. These apply the principles of the `Policy Framework' to different Service User Groups within the programme.

2.5 Each Prevention Statement defines an agreed set of expectations on behalf of all partner agencies for SP funding, emphasising the potential benefits that the programme can have for each agency and their Service Users. SP expects all services to demonstrate that their work will contribute to the Prevention Statement. In this way SP will ensure that Service Users and Partner Agencies are best served by the efficient and effective use of resources.

2.6 Based upon these statements, strategic reviews of services within each Service User Group will be undertaken, followed by service reviews which serve to implement the results of the strategic review.

2.7 This Five Year Strategy has been developed in consultation with SP partners; Hampshire County Council Social Services Department, Health, Probation, Housing, Providers, Service Users and other stakeholders. The different sections of this strategy have been discussed at District Core Groups, District Inclusive Forums and the County Inclusive Forum.

2.8 The strategy as a whole is the subject of extensive consultation between December 2004 and mid February 2005. The final document will be approved by the District Councils and agreed by the overall Commissioning Body, the County Core Group.

2.9 The strategy will be reviewed and updated annually.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The Hampshire Supporting People Five Year Strategy be approved.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

NONE