Sitra annual policy conference and AGM 2011: Getting a grip on the new agenda

This free event for Sitra members took place on16 February 2011 in  London.

Our 2011 policy conference took  place just as local authorities all over the country were approving their budgets for 2011/12, national politicians were talking about the opportunities for voluntary and community organisations to run services, and changes to Housing Benefit have left  many of us wondering where the money is going to come from for either our clients’ housing or support.

This conference updated delegates on:

• What’s happening locally to all that Supporting People funding we all did so much to protect nationally in the Spending Review, and the Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s inquiry into localism
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) proposals to change the “exempt accommodation” rule – and what they mean for those who use and those who provide supported housing
• Wider changes to Housing Benefit, and the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s inquiry into them
• New policies and practices that aim to put clients’ choices at the heart of care and support – and how well they actually work.

Delegates included managers from service provider organisations, members of local authority teams responsible for commissioning or contract management of housing related support services, members of local partnerships dealing with the needs of vulnerable people, such as Health and Wellbeing Partnerships and Supporting People Partnerships, service user representatives in Supporting People and other local partnerships and local authority staff involved in personalisation and local strategic partnerships.

Presentations from the day