Nigel Hamilton gets around the table to discuss Supporting People
Over the last few months, Sitra has been organising a series of events, supported by the CLG, to consider the implications of the decision to remove the ring fence from Supporting People (SP) funding. A total of 18 “roundtable” events have been held, bringing together 40 to 50 providers and commissioners at each, which has resulted in a huge amount of learning, debate and information sharing across the country. Each event featured presentations from Communities and Local Government (CLG) and a local Pathfinder (one of the 15 authorities which have piloted the ring fence removal over the last year), followed by roundtable discussions and an open discussion with the speakers and a local provider representative.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Previous issues of the Bulletin have detailed the changes and the transition package. This article looks at the experience of the Pathfinders as presented to the meetings and the key issues and action points emerging from the discussions.
Experience of the Pathfinders
Not surprisingly, the Pathfinders had very different experiences, depending on the size and type of authority, their budget and political character. However some common themes emerged:
• It was important to get the governance right, to make sure that the SP team had good links into Local Strategic Partnership (SP) decision making structures, ideally a senior manager with responsibility for SP on the LSP and the appropriate Partnership Board.
• The ring fence may have protected SP but it also hid it (and its achievements) from view. The removal offered the opportunity to raise the profile of SP services locally.
• There was real scope for more flexibility in the design of services following the removal of SP eligibility criteria.
• There will be a battle for resources when SP becomes part of the overall pot of money available to the council as a whole, and we will have to fight to keep our resources.
• However Pathfinders were able to do well in these battles. SP is well ahead of most service areas in its ability to evidence its needs, service quality and outcomes
• The programme needs to demonstrate strategic relevance – “mainstreaming” – and show how it contributes to wider priorities and value for money.
Debate at the roundtables
Discussions generally reflected an awareness that the new world was upon us and were positive in recognising that, not only do we have to get on and make the most of it, but also that the SP sector has a long history of coping with change and using it to deliver better services for users.
There was recognition of the flexibilities on offer.
However, there was universal concern that without the ring fence there was real risk of resources being diverted to statutory care
services or other local priorities like potholes or street lighting.
The case for SP
Delegates were confident that a strong case can be made for continued support and funding for housing related support. The cost benefits analysis carried out for the CLG by Capgemini last year showed that the (then) Ł1.7b programme resulted in long term savings to the national purse in excess of Ł2.5b, by making savings on residential care, hospital costs, criminal justice costs, etc. The fact that CLG is currently working on an updated model that can be used to demonstrate local savings was felt to be crucial to persuading local decision takers to support SP services. The fact that these savings accrue across the LSP partners, and not just the Council, only strengthens this argument.
The SP world leads the way in demonstrating the connection between needs, expenditure, services and outcomes for users. The commissioning arrangements for SP services have been an effective partnership based on needs analyses, strategies and investment plans, generally with a high level of provider, and in some areas, user input. This is a model to build on and replicate, not one to dismantle.
Particularly important in making the case is the wealth of outcomes data available though SPLS, the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />St Andrews data, the Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) and the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), now National Indicators 141 and 142. This is backed up by the fact that SP commissioners generally know their services very well and that providers know their users - and can demonstrate the real life differences made to real people.
Two thirds of LSPs have included one or both of NI 141 &142 in their list of local priorities. Where they haven’t, there are still other indicators to which effective housing related support and early preventative work can make a major contribution. Many of these indicators also contribute to the CLG’s priority of tackling social exclusion (the snappily titled Public Service Agreement 16). The Audit Commission have said that an assessment of how well a local area serves its most vulnerable residents will be a key element of their Comprehensive Area Assessments. They announced at Sitra’s 2009 policy conference that they will develop a KLOE (Key Lines of Enquiry – guidelines for their inspectors) to make this an integral part of the inspection process.
Getting the case heard
So how should the case be made? Well, getting the right representation on the LSP is key. For commissioners, it’s about getting the right senior officer, with an understanding of and commitment to supported housing, in the right position.
But there is a real problem for providers in being heard. The assumption generally is that Councils for Voluntary Service will speak for the third sector, but there are very few Councils for Voluntary Services (CVSs) that know about SP and very few providers who have any relationship with their local CVS. Service users are even further removed from the centre of power. A major task for the sector will be identifying how to build the relationships and structures to make sure they are heard at LSPs. One opportunity will be offered by engaging positively with elected members, many of whom are inclined to be supportive of
community organisations and responsive to real-life case studies.
How can Sitra help?
We have learnt a great deal from the discussions, as incidentally have the CLG who have been represented at every event. We have a lot of suggestions about how we can support the sector through this transition, plus we’ve had a few ideas of our own. We are still working out what is a priority, what is practical and how different pieces of work might be organised and funded, but some ideas for future work include the following:
• A “transition” page on website – FAQs, reports on events, copies of guidance etc.
• “Showcase” events – to demonstrate the achievements of supported housing in a particular locality or region.
• Work with partners to exchange and promote good practice in commissioning – both through events and paper or online information.
• Work with national bodies representing those working with socially excluded groups.
• Work across the sector to help commissioners, providers and users in influencing LSPs.
• Detailed guidelines on the links that can be demonstrated between supported housing and wider strategic objectives.
• Autumn follow up events to Roundtables, probably more focused on planning regional activities.
• Capacity building for providers with the Office of the Third Sector and others.
• Working with CVSs, national third sector organisations and regional “infrastructure” groups to build relationships with and their understanding of housing related support.
• Support the development and/or maintenance of effective regional structures.
At Sitra’s recent conference marking its 25th anniversary year we were reminded of how effectively the housing related support sector has responded to (and of course initiated) change over many years. We need to be confident in our ability to do so again, and for that to happen we need to work together. The roundtable events were one example of doing that. Sitra is committed to doing its best to support that process. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on how we can do so, please get in touch and let us know about them.
