Supporting People
Government responds to the CLG Select Committee report
The Government published its response to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee on Supporting People on Monday 18 January.
Their response can be found on the CLG website.
The Select Committee's chairwoman, Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, give her reaction to the Government's response at Sitra's annual Policy Conference on 9 February 2010, where she was the opening speaker.
Supporting People inquiry: Select Committee report
The Communities and Local Government Select Committee has published the report of its recent Inquiry into the Supporting People programme. The report can be found on the Committee?s website at www.parliament.uk/clgcom
Sitra's submission
In May 2009, the Communities and Local Government Select Committee announced an Inquiry into the Supporting People programme. Sitra held an extensive consultation with its members across the country. This involved consultation events in London, the North East, West Midlands and South West. Sitra also created an online survey for members to complete; as well as receiving many responses to the Inquiry by its members. Based on this substantial feedback, Sitra submitted a written response to the Committee and subsequently gave evidence as part of the Oral Inquiry.
Sitra's written response put forward a number of recommendations for the Committee. We have now compared the recommendations put forward by Sitra with the Committee?s recommendations.
Resources
This comparison highlights the valuable contributions made by Sitra members to this Inquiry.
This joint briefing from the National Housing Federation and Sitra updates our members on the findings of the parliamentary select committee report on Supporting People published in November 2009.
A brief summary of the Select Committee Report.
Find out more about Sitra's submission to the Inquiry
Supporting People review 2009 report
The Audit Commission has published its review of the Supporting People programme. The report looks at:
- The overall impact and successes of the programme
- The progress against the 2005 recommendations
- Ongoing and existing concerns and new challenges linked to developing policies
- Changes in the external environment
- Options for overcoming identified barriers and promoting opportunities.
The publication of this report was announced at Sitra's showcasing conference Delivering for vulnerable people in our communities held on 8 October in York. The event has been held in partnership with CLG, CIH, ADASS and NHF.
Supporting People review 2009 report
Removal of Supporting People Ring Fence: Report on Regional Round Table Discussions
The Regional Roundtable events were organised by Sitra, with the support of the CLG, as part of the transition package to assist in managing the changes arising from the removal of the Supporting People (SP) ring fence in April 2009. A total of 18 events were held, 2 in each of the English regions. Each event was attended by an average of approximately 40 providers, commissioners and other stakeholders, and the whole programme represented a significant national debate on the impact of the changes and the future of housing related support and care.
Each event heard an introduction from CLG on the changes and the reasons for them. There was also a presentation from a local Pathfinder authority on their experience of life outside the ring fence. These presentations were followed by discussions in small groups (?round tables?) and then a Q&A with a panel consisting of the presentation speakers and a local provider representative. These discussions were structured to ensure a constructive debate and a consistent framework to the outcomes. Groups were asked to identify two key opportunities or challenges arising from the changes locally, two key initiatives to be taken forward regionally or locally, and two key issues to be taken forward nationally by Sitra or CLG. Each group was asked to prioritise one issue for discussion with the Panel. The conclusions of these discussions were collated by Sitra and form the basis of this report.
End of the Supporting People ring fence ? Today programme investigates
Listen to the BBC Radio Today programme story which includes a contribution from Sitra board member, Maurice Condie, Chief Executive of Byker Bridge HA.
Supporting People and the future of housing related support
Joint Sitra and NHF briefing - July 2009
In April 2009, the ring fence around Supporting People funding was removed. The £1.66bn will continue to be paid as a named grant in 2009-10 but will not be protected. All local authorities will have the freedom to spend the money how they see fit locally.
Supporting People has helped some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded people in society who do not qualify for statutory care. The removal of the Supporting People ring fence creates a significant risk that vital services for vulnerable people will suffer as funding is diverted away to other priorities and the experience, expertise and focus of Supporting People will be lost.
This joint briefing by National Housing Federation and Sitra pulls together the key points from both organisations? evidence to the parliamentary enquiry on Supporting People and informs our members what we are doing, highlighting some of the actions we will take over the coming year to influence government to protect services and improve commissioning.
Research into the Financial Benefits of the Supporting People Programme
Sitra has been working with CLG and consultants CapGemini to update the work to measure the financial benefits to the public purse of investing in preventative and support services. The model compares the costs of providing housing related support with the cost that would arise from other forms of service delivery (for example, residential care) and the costs that would arise (for example in the health services or criminal justice system) if no support was offered.
The updated research builds on work done in 2006 but and develops it in two ways. Firstly it includes a wider range of client groups and up to date outcomes data and secondly there is now a model which can be used locally to determine the cost benefits of investment in housing related support in individual local authority areas.
The updated model shows even greater savings to the public purse. At a national level the net overall financial benefits of investing in SP services is estimated at £3.41bn per annum, against a spend of £1.61bn. It is anticipated that similarly significant savings can be demonstrated at the local level.
The research and the local model will be powerful tools in making the case for continuing investment in housing related support, following the removal of the SP ring fence. Both can be found on the CLG website.
Sitrs's submission to the CLG Select Committee inquiry into Supporting People
Sitra have made a written submission to the Select Committee.
Click here to find out more about our submission.
Oral evidence sessions
First session - Monday 8 June 2009: Sitra also gave oral evidence to the Committee in a joint session with the NHF and Unison.
View video of evidence session
Second session - Monday 15 June: The Committe took evidence from Rethink, Mencap, Catch 22, Refuge, Byker Bridge & Brighter Futures, Home Group Ltd, St Mungos, Age Concern/Help the Aged, Anchor Trust, Brighton and Hove Sheltered Housing Action Group
Watch video of evidence session
Third session - Monday 29 June: The Committee took evidence from Hampshire Supporting People County Core Group, Westminster City Council, Stoke-on-Trent Supporting People, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Cambridgeshire Supporting People team and Bath and North East Somerset Supporting People.
Watch video of evidence session
Fourth session - Monday 6 July: The Committee heard evidence from:
- Martin Cheeseman, Supporting People Lead, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS)
- Cllr Dr Gareth Barnard, Vice-Chair, LGA Community Wellbeing Board
- Sue Talbot, Service Inspector and Peter West, Head of Commissioner Methods, Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Ian Austin MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government
You can also watch the session at www.parliamentlive.tv
No further oral evidence sessions will take place. Transcripts are available at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmcomloc.htm
A report from the committee is anticipated after recess.
Communities and Local Government Committee Select Committee Announcement: New Inquiry and Call for Evidence
The Communities and Local Government Committee has decided to undertake an inquiry into the Government's 'Supporting People' programme. The Committee is inviting written submissions on the programme, particularly on the points raised below.
'Supporting People' provides housing-related support to prevent problems that can lead to hospitalisation, institutional care or homelessness, and aims to help the smooth transition to independent living for those leaving an institutionalised environment. The programme is intended to assist in providing a better quality of life for vulnerable people, helping them to live more independently.
In June 2007, the Government published a strategy for the Supporting People programme, following a consultation exercise begun in November 2005. This strategy, entitled Independence and Opportunity: Our Strategy for Supporting People, was based on four key themes:
- Keeping people that need services at the heart of the programme;
- Enhancing partnership with the Third Sector;
- Delivering in the new local government landscape; and
- Increasing efficiency and reducing bureaucracy.
Under each theme, the Government set out what it would do to achieve the aims of the programme, what it expected Supporting People commissioners and providers to do, and what service users should therefore be able to expect from housing-related support services. In the strategy, the Government made a number of commitments to action as the programme moved forward.
From April this year, funding for the Supporting People programme will no longer be paid as ring-fenced grant to local authorities, as it was previously. Instead, the Government will pay the money through its 'area-based grant', a sum of money which local authorities are able to spend however they see fit, according to their own local priorities..
The Committee's inquiry will consider the extent to which the Government has, so far, delivered on the commitments it made in Independence and Opportunity: Our Strategy for Supporting People. The Committee will also consider the implications of the removal of the ring-fence, asking what needs to be done to ensure that the successes of the programme so far are not lost, or services cut, following the change; and what opportunities this change in the funding mechanism will offer for innovation and improvement in the delivery of housing-related support services.
Further information
Committee Membership is as follows: Dr Phyllis Starkey MP (Chair, Lab), Sir Paul Beresford MP (Con), Mr Clive Betts MP (Lab), John Cummings MP (Lab), Andrew George (Lib Dem), Mr Greg Hands MP (Con), Anne Main MP (Con), Dr John Pugh MP (Lib Dem), Emily Thornberry MP (Lab), Neil Turner MP (Lab), David Wright MP (Lab).
Specific Committee information: clgcom@parliament.uk 020 7219 1353 or 020 7219 4972
Media information: Hannah Pearce, 020 7219 8430
Committee website: www.parliament.uk/clgcom
Please note: the deadline for submissions was 8 May 2009.
Sitra responds: the Future of Supporting People - the Removal of the Ringfence
Download the briefing here.
Sitra Press Release: the Future of Supporting People
Future of Supporting People 26-11-08
CLG Announce Supporting People funding levels
The CLG has announced £4.9bn funding for the Supporting People programme over the next three years. Supporting People funding will total £1.686bn in 2008/2009, £1.666bn in 2009/2010 and £1.636bn in 2010/11. The skew of funding in favour of years one and two will give councils flexibility in budgeting ahead.
For details of the allocations click here
To read Sitra's press release click here
CLG press release: www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/576681
Capgemini report on benefits to the Treasury of the SP Programme
The CLG have now published the Capgemini report on the financial benefits of the Supporting People programme.
CLG commissioned Capgemini to evidence the financial benefits to the Treasury of the Supporting People programme. The report identifies that housing related investment avoids costs elsewhere, for example a more expensive residential care intervention.
Emma Daniel, Sitra CEO, commented: “These reports* confirm what we in the sector already know – money spent on SP saves the treasury money elsewhere. This information is of great importance in gradually levering in support for services from other funders involved in the management of Local Area Agreements. The Capgemini report provides commissioners with independent evidence in directing resources to prevention, rather than concentrating on curative service provision."
*Space East have produced a similar evaluation which can be viewed at www.space-east.org
