Caerphilly Local Commissioning Plan 2018-2021Planning for the Future

1. Introduction

The Supporting People Programme is a Welsh Government programme that has been in place since 2003. The programme provides high quality strategically planned housing related support to individuals across the Caerphilly borough that has difficulties with maintaining or obtaining housing. The preventative nature of the programme prevents people becoming homeless or helps those who are homeless to obtain accommodation.

The support provided is wide reaching, cost effective and complements existing services; it is available to all vulnerable people across the borough as a tenure neutral service that is based on individual’s needs.

The support is focused on prevention, it covers many aspects of an individual’s journey prioritising immediate risk of homelessness, preventing people reaching crisis by addressing financial issues including debt, reviewing income and outgoings and applying for relevant benefits, all aspects of tenancy management; roles and responsibilities, liaising with mortgage companies or landlords, supporting people into education or employment (paid or voluntary) any aspect of support that will prevent an individual or a family from losing their home.

The support is service user led responding to individuals needs that can be delivered either as floating support (in people’s front room) or within specialist accommodation, many of which are self-contained units, but also include shared living and hostel or refuge provision.

The programme contributes towards meeting a number of national and local strategic aims for the borough, a significant contribution to the Authority meeting its requirements of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 is preventing homelessness, as well as contributing to the Well-being of future Generations Act, supporting other programmes promoting employability, tackling poverty, improving community safety and reducing adverse childhood experiences at a local level.

The total annual Supporting People Programme Grant for Caerphilly is £6,232,790, which supports nearly 7000 vulnerable people across the borough.

In line with the grant terms and conditions for Supporting People Programme Grant this document provides the Regional Collaborative Committee with an outline of proposed grant spend and the Authority’s range of commissioning and decommissioning proposals for the forthcoming three years; priorities detailed are identified based on evidence from a wide

range of stakeholders and how they can be achieved through partnerships to reach the Welsh Governments vision for Supporting People.

Word cloud of client groups GRAPHICS?

Include in a bubble – WG SP vision “A Wales where nobody is homeless and everyone has a safe home where they can flourish” GRAPHICS?

2. Strategic Priorities

National PrioritiesHousing (Wales) Act 2014

The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 vision is around helping everyone at risk of becoming homeless, preventing homelessness and providing early intervention to prevent crisis. Supporting People funded services assist with homelessness prevention services, being available to all households at risk of losing their home, offering crisis services to those facing eviction and helping to find accommodation. We continue to work closely with our housing colleagues when developing Personal Housing Plans and providing targeted preventative Housing Related Support services, basing workers in community housing offices and within the Housing Advice Centre.

There are a number of projects to assist delivery, supported accommodation based in four locations across the borough supporting all age groups, single people, couples and families.

Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014

This act focuses on improving the well-being of people with care and support needs and carers who need support. It aims to provide greater freedom to decide which services are needed while promoting consistent, high quality services promoting people’s independence to give them a stronger voice and control. The Housing Related Support complements the social services delivered to people with learning disabilities/difficulties, physical and sensory impairment to ensure prevention and early intervention services minimise need for additional escalation services while supporting individuals to achieve well-being.

Three providers deliver specific housing related, one of which also provides enhanced support at the supported accommodation provision to these client groups

Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

Following the establishment of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 Public Service Boards across Wales were formed with a statutory function to assess the wellbeing of their area and produce Well-being Plans every 5 years. Within Caerphilly the Board brings together the Chief Officers and Leaders for all public services operating across the county borough area together with the Third Sector. The Act sets out seven National Well-being

Goals for Wales. Supporting People services contribute towards these goals as laid out in the local Corporate and Well-being Plan detailed below.

Renting Homes Act 2016

The Act has been implemented to make it easier to rent a home; it has replaced numerous, complex, existing legislation with a clear legal framework. With just two new occupation contracts the information and advice provided by Housing Related Support Workers will be far more accurate, easier to deliver and explain roles and responsibilities of both landlord and tenant to all individuals receiving a service.

VAWDASV (Wales) Act 2015

The aim of the Act is to improve awareness of and prevent, protect and support victims of gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence, as well as providing a range of accommodation options. Supporting People is involved in the new regional domestic abuse agenda and in Caerphilly already fund 5 refuges and an outreach floating support service, we are also working collaboratively to provide specialist accommodation in south Gwent.

Local prioritiesCorporate Plan 2018-2023

Caerphilly’s Corporate Plan includes six Well-being Objectives, detailed below are links that Supporting People services have to achieve the outcomes of four objectives

Improve education opportunities for all – Housing Related support assists with reducing the impact of poverty, increasing income and stabilising housing situations

Enabling employment – Housing Related Support provides assistance to access voluntary or paid employment and support individuals to stabilise their financial and housing situation

Address the availability, condition and sustainability of home throughout the county borough and provide advice, assistance or support to help improve people’s well-being – Housing Related Support prevents homelessness, SP funding provides support at a shared housing project, we fund the rough sleeping coordinator who assists with night shelter provision, general support to prevent tenancies from failing, reducing fuel poverty by making homes more energy efficient and providing people with advice on how best to heat their homes.

Promote a modern, integrated and sustainable transport system that increases opportunity, promotes prosperity and minimises the adverse impacts on the environment-

Creating a county borough that supports a healthy lifestyle in accordance with the Sustainable Development Principle within the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

Support citizens to remain independent and improve their well-being – Support people to ‘help themselves’ by providing comprehensive advice and information including signposting to other services

Well-being Plan 2018-2023

The Well-being Plan sets out how Caerphilly will respond to the local Assessment of wellbeing that was carried out to provide an insight into the factors and local conditions that affect well-being, four Well-being Objectives were chosen to drive the Well-being Plan, Supporting People assist to deliver across all objectives,

Positive Change – Housing Related Support assists individuals to access the community, its initiatives and fosters a sense of belonging

Positive Start – Housing Related support assists families who have suffered from Adverse Childhood Experiences and contributes towards preventing future ACE’s

Positive People – supporting individuals with mental health issues, women who are fleeing domestic abuse, alignment of services with Social Services for those with learning disabilities or physical disabilities, and services for those over 50, promoting wellbeing and health as well assisting people into education or employment

Positive Places – geographically based dedicated support officers within Housing Offices and Social Services provisions are able to provide Housing Related support to perpetrators and victims of anti-social behaviour who wish to move out of an area they feel unsafe in.

Local Housing Market Assessment

This assessment is a statutory duty which enables local authorities to capture information of the numbers of household requiring housing across the borough; it determines the level of housing demand and need and assists us to understand the impact on market and affordable housing provision. Supporting People contribute towards the 2018 draft version as it stands and has assisting with the recent developments regarding Gypsy and Traveller aspects of the assessment. We are part of a regional service delivering Housing Related Support to the community at present.

Regional PrioritiesGwent Homelessness Strategy 2018-2022

Further to the Housing (Wales) Act, local authorities are required to undertake a review of homelessness within the borough and produce a four year homelessness strategy; this has been achieved by collaboratively producing the Gwent Homelessness Strategy to detail how delivery of homelessness services will be provided. Supporting People work very closely with our housing colleagues in the delivery of the actions from this plan and currently provide a number of services to assist meeting some of the actions

Specific rough sleeping housing related support as well as wider homelessness housing related support, four supported accommodation projects are delivered across the borough.

Homelessness Strategy has evidenced that an increase in household requiring homeless advice and assistance has increased, and the number of homeless cases with mental health conditions has also increased

Gwent Area Planning Board: Substance Misuse Services

The Area Planning Board have a statutory duty to produce a plan that sets out the range and level of service they propose to provide or will arrange to be provided across the borough, aligning with the provisions laid out in the plan Supporting People Grant funds Housing Related Support services specifically for those affected by alcohol or drugs misuse, also providing accommodation for those who are homeless and have suffered alcohol or drugs issues in their past. We currently provide 8 units of accommodation and two types of dedicated support services, closely linking in to the GDAS services provided across Gwent.

Dedicated floating support and supported accommodation are offered to the residents of Caerphilly by one provider.

3. Need, Supply and Service Gaps

NeedsThe Supporting People team are responsible for the effective commissioning and procurement of services to achieve the outcomes central to meeting people’s needs whilst providing value for money.

Caerphilly Supporting People monitor the level of need exhibited by people who live within the county; this is collected through Needs Mapping forms and events, liaison with statutory services across adults and children’s, Aneurin Bevin UHB, Probation, Police, Local Authority teams such as Families First, Flying Start, Youth Offending Team, Communities for Work Plus, Housing Advice Team, Local Area Housing, analysis of statistics such as SP Outcomes and Monitoring information, Housing WHO 12, rough sleeper counts, Wales Data Unit, Daffodil, WIMD, Census, and discussions with the voluntary sector.

A number of measures have been instituted to identify need and identify service gaps, some examples are shown below.

Gwent needs Mapping ExerciseThe GNME is a tool used across Gwent to capture information on continued need for existing services, current information is provided between April 2017 and March 2018, a number of pictorial data sets are below to demonstrate the continued needs for services across the borough.

Between the time periods 17/18 we received over 3000 completed forms, information from these evidence to us the age group utilising and benefiting from our services is predominantly 25-59 year olds, totalling 63% of returns, broken down further, over half of those are 25-39 year olds, additionally 55% of the total returned have self classified as female.

One part of the form gathers data around the main reason the person has found themselves in the situation, this is termed as their lead need, the lead need across Caerphilly has been clearly evidenced as Mental Health, secondary need is also requested and for those that

haven’t got a lead need of mental health, the figures show mental health as a secondary need.

Mental

Health

Single

people

25 to 54

Young 1

6 to 24 ye

ar olds

Single

parent fa

milies

Generi

c

Familie

s with

support n

eeds

Physical

disabilit

y

People

aged 55+

Domestic a

buse - w

omen

Criminal

offending h

istory

Learn

ing diffi

culties

Substa

nce misu

se

Alcohol is

sues

Chronic illn

ess

Alarm se

rvices

only

Domestic a

buse - m

en

Sensory

impair

ment

Care lea

vers

Developmen

tal diso

rders/A

SD

Complex nee

ds

Refugee

HIV & Aids

0

200

400

600

Lead Need across Caerphilly

Total number of returns

Mental

Health

Physical

disabilit

y

People

aged 55+

Substa

nce misu

se

Generi

c

Single

people 2

5 to 54

Single

parent fa

milies

Alcohol is

sues

Young 1

6 to 24 ye

ar olds

Familie

s with

support n

eeds

Criminal

offending h

istory

Chronic illn

ess

Domestic a

buse - w

omen

Learn

ing diffi

culties

Sensory

impair

ment

Complex nee

ds

Developmen

tal diso

rders/A

SD

Care lea

vers

Domestic a

buse - m

en

Alarm se

rvices

only

Refugee

HIV & Aids

0100200300

Secondary Need across Caerphilly

Total number of returns

The needs mapping also enables us to understand the accommodation our current service users reside in, 30% live in long term secure social housing and 20% in Private Rented, there is a further 34% of people who are currently in insecure, unsustainable or unsuitable accommodation, this evidences that people are struggling to maintain their accommodation given the current pressures such as austerity measures and require Housing Related Support to maintain or obtain suitable housing.

0200400600800

10001200

Current Accommodation Status

Managing accommodation is the highest outcome that Housing Related Support provides support for, followed by managing money and being mentally healthy, this supports mental health is a factor in people retaining their accommodation. In terms of mental health it is usually anxiety/depression that is quoted as opposed to diagnosed Schizophrenia and bi-polar conditions.

The client group with the highest reported support needs are single people 25-54, this the same group for those reported as homeless and correlates with our issues around providing single person accommodation across the borough, the stock that we have is either long term tenancies or unaffordable in the private rented sector, it is something that we are working with our colleagues in Housing Strategy to rectify but it takes time to identify sites and for them to come to fruition. The individuals with the highest homeless need are currently living with family or friends

Single

people a

ged 25 to

54 with

support n

eeds

Young p

eople a

ged 16 to

24 with su

pport need

s

People

with m

ental

health

issues

Single

parent fa

milies w

ith su

pport nee

ds

Generi

c/a ra

nge of s

upport need

s

Familie

s with

support n

eeds

People

aged 55+ w

ith su

pport nee

ds

People

with physi

cal disa

bilities

Women ex

perien

cing d

omestic a

buse

People

with cr

iminal o

ffending h

istory

People

with le

arning d

isabiliti

es

People

with su

bstance

misuse

issues

People

with al

cohol issues

Men ex

perien

cing d

omestic a

buse

People

with ch

ronic I

llness

es

People

with se

nsory disa

bilities

Young p

eople w

ho are c

are lea

vers

People

with deve

lopmental

disord

ers/A

SD

Complex nee

ds

Alarm se

rvices

only

People

with re

fugee s

tatus

People

with HIV/A

IDS0

50100150200250300350400450

Client group with needs

Own accom/ tenancy with visiting/floating support

For those threatened with homeless, single parent families indicated the highest area of support which is mirrored by our increase in service provision the latter end of 2017/2018. Overall the main reasons for those being threatened with homelessness was relationship breakdown for both genders who currently live in Private rented sector properties, followed closely by those living with family or friends.

Own accommodati

on/tenan

cy with

visiti

ng/floati

ng support

Own accommodati

on/tenan

cy with

out support

Shelt

ered ac

commodation

Supporte

d housing w

ith 24 hour o

n-site s

taff

Supporte

d housing w

ith on-si

te sta

ff during t

he day

Other

Temporar

y speci

alist s

upported housin

g

Residen

tial care

/ nursi

ng home

Share

d house

Extra

Care ac

commodation

Need to

return

homeHoste

l

Need to

return

home with

new aid

s/adap

tations a

t propert

y 0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Accommodation Type Needed

Welsh Homelessness Data CollectionThe data is requested by Welsh Government as a source of information on the number of homeless cases dealt with by local authorities in Wales. It is used to inform policy, to answer queries, in briefings and for publication in First Releases. It also helps to establish a picture of the overall extent of homelessness in Wales and Great Britain

For 2017/2018 in Caerphilly

570 households were threatened with homelessness within 56 days (section 66), 432 (76%) of these were successfully prevented.

411 households were assessed as homeless and owed duty to secure (Section 73), 135 (33%) households were successfully relieved from homelessness.

135 Households were unintentionally homeless and in priority need (Section 75), 96 (71%) households were positively discharged.

Stakeholder DayIn June 2018, we held a Gwent Needs Mapping Event for stakeholders and Service Users, this event enabled us to gain information around the thoughts and experiences of those directly providing and receiving services to inform the direction of development within existing and future housing related support services. Each person in attendance was also given the opportunity of identifying spending across the client groups, of those who attended, the highest recommended spend was on mental health services, physical/sensory disabilities and Young People There were a number of themes that were agreed upon throughout the day:

Refuge provision for those with mental health and substance misuse needs in addition to provisions specifically for male victims of domestic abuse.

Independent/Semi-independent housing for people with a learning disability More Mental Health Services needed, longer term Young person’s support services Rough sleepers

Gwent Supporting People Service User SurveyThis year a revised version of the Gwent Supporting People Service User survey has been designed with the aim to make it easier for all clients to provide information. For Caerphilly, we received 140 responses, 80% of these were from Floating Support service users who rated the support provided as 69% Very Good, 29% Good and 2% Ok and there were no Poor or Very Poor ratings. The main activity that people received support for Budgeting/managing money/Claiming benefits/appeals, this was followed by maintaining accommodation.

We also asked if there were any activities they would have liked help with but weren’t available, the response rate to this question was very low with 15 responses requesting on going transport provision to appointments and a further 8 requesting support with shopping.

75 respondents stated they couldn’t suggest any improvements; however there were 17 people we responded saying the support worker was limited with things they could support them with and 11 not being able to access support after 5pm.

Finally we asked the respondents to choose 5 services they would support, the highest chosen service was Mental Health 16%, followed by 13% Over 55, 12 % physical/sensory Disability.

SupplyThe existing supply of services have generally built and developed over the years, very few services have been decommissioned due to collaboration with providers and remodelling services instead. All services are focused on outcomes and not processes, again achieved through collaboration with SP, providers and the individuals to deliver timely accessible support. When remodelling services we do so with changes that are proportionate to the

problem, all services are preventative and support is well planned (needs assessment, support plan) and managed in terms of meeting goals at service user, each service is regularly monitored and reviewed.

We have a number of services flexibly commissioned and coordinated to enhance and complement other services.

Floating SupportAll referrals for housing related support are received via our gateway system within the SP team; this allows us to manage waiting lists, prevent unnecessary duplication of services, observe any gaps in service and builds a picture of demand to ensure that the services we offer meet the current and developing needs of the county’s population.

In 2016/2017 we processed 1,831 referrals – these are purely floating support referrals that pass through our gateway – on top of this would have been the referrals into accommodation based projects for young people, those with mental health and substance misuse issues.

AprilMay June

July

August

Septem

ber

October

November

December

January

February

March

0

50

100

150

200

250

Floating Support Referrals received 2016 - 2018

2016-17 2017-18

There are approximately 83,000 households in the Caerphilly borough and during the year 2017/2018 we have provided support to 4,000 of these.

Accommodation Based ServicesAcross the Caerphilly borough we have a wide range of supported accommodation; the chart below shows the number of units across the different client groups. We currently have over 300 units of fixed site accommodation based support, in addition to over 500 units of sheltered accommodation.

People

over 5

5 years

of age

with

Support n

eeds

Alarm Se

rvices

(inclu

ding in sh

eltere

d/extra

care)

.

People

with Le

arning D

isabiliti

es

Single

people

with Su

pport Need

s not li

sted ab

ove (25-54)

Young p

eople w

ith Su

pport Nee

ds (16-24)

Women ex

perien

cing D

omestic A

buse

People

with M

ental

health

Issues

Familie

s with

Support

Needs

People

with Physi

cal an

d/or S

enso

ry Disa

bilities

People

with Su

bstance

Misuse

Issues

(Drugs

& volati

le substa

nces)

0100200300400500600

591

219142

49 45 23 23 15 9 8

Total number of Fixed Site Provision

Current SpendThe chart below details the current split of expenditure across all client groups for 20172018.

7%9%

15%

5%1%

1%

17%8%

7%

13%

15% 2%

% Spend across all client groups Women experiencing Domestic Abuse

People with Learning Disabilities

People with Mental health Issues

People with Substance Misuse Issues (Drugs and Volatile substances)

People with Criminal Offending History

People with Physical and/or Sensory Disabil-ities

Young People with support needs (16-24)

Families with Support Needs

Single people with Support Needs not listed above (25-54)

People over 55 years of age with Support needs

Generic Floating support to prevent home-lessness

Alarm Services (including in sheltered/extra care).

OutcomesEach Supporting People Team is required to collect Outcomes as per the Terms and Conditions of SPPG funding. There are a total of 11 Outcome, these are collected and reported against each individuals lead need. Outcomes are collected and reported upon at the start of support; these are informally monitored through regular support sessions and formally at the 6-monthly review or end of support. Providers are then required to submit Outcomes for all clients on a 6-monthly basis, this then allows the Supporting People team to analyse the data and measure the distance travelled between start of support and the 6-monthly review or end of support. By collecting Outcomes as per lead needs we can calculate the total number of individuals that have utilised the service thus assessing levels of need and use this information to develop or / remodel current services. The actual Outcome area allows us to gauge the greatest need whether this is Managing Accommodation, Managing Money etc. and again this information can be utilised when assessing the need for future projects.

We are then able to make concrete decisions based around the evidence supplied to us through outcomes.

The chart below provides Outcomes Data for Period 1= January – June 2018

Outcomes Data January – June 2018Identified Need

Positive Outcome Achieved

Outcome Fully

achieved

% making

progress & fully

achieving

Feeling Safe 2237 99 1471 70.18%

Contributing to the safety/wellbeing of self and others 2084 94 1267 65.30%

Managing Accommodation 3125 204 1527 55.39%

Managing Relationships 2094 94 1430 72.77%

Feeling Part of the Community 2081 103 1390 71.74%

Managing Money 3552 266 1893 60.78%

Engaging in Education/Learning 1354 28 1035 78.50%

Engaging in Employment/Volunteering work 1344 43 1010 78.34%

Physically Healthy 2200 130 802 42.36%

Mentally Healthy 2549 218 1154 53.82%

Leading a Healthy, Active lifestyle 2097 114 1409 72.62%

Summary for 6-month Outcome period;

As a direct result of receiving support from Supporting People services;

1570 individuals felt safer 1361 individuals felt able to contribute to their own safety / wellbeing of self and

others 1731 individuals felt more able to manage their accommodation 1524 individuals felt more able to manage relationships 1493 individuals felt part / more engaged with their local community 2159 individuals felt more able to manage their finances 1063 individuals have made positive steps / or are engaging in education / learning 1053 individuals have made positive steps or are employed in paid / unpaid work 932 individuals now feel physically healthy 1372 individuals now feel mentally healthy 1523 individuals are leading a healthy and active lifestyle

From our internal outcomes information we can conclude:

Client Group Outcomes Received / Clients Supported July – December 2017

Outcomes Received / Clients Supported January – June 2018

1. Alarms 219 219

2. Families 133 125

3. Generic 246 288

4. Men experiencing domestic abuse

8 6

5. People over 55 years of age

1852 1621

6. People with Chronic Illness

66 142

7. People with criminal offending history

51 101

8. People with Developmental Disorders

7 8

9. People with Learning Disabilities

230 254

10. People with Mental Health issues

653 751

11. People with Physical and/or sensory disabilities

335 335

12. People with refugee status

2 1

13. People with Substance Misuse Issues - Alcohol

62 81

14. People with Substance Misuse Issues - Drugs

85 83

15. Single parent families with support needs

152 197

16. Single people 25 to 54 with support needs not above

104 141

17. Women experiencing domestic abuse

138 126

18. Young people who are care leavers

40 17

19. Young people with support needs (16 - 24)

151 163

AlarmsFamiliesGeneric

Men experiencing DAOver 55 years of age

Chronic IllnessCriminal offending historyDevelopmental Disorders

Learning DisabilitiesMental Health issues

Physical and/or sensory disabilitiesRefugee status

Substance Misuse Issues - AlcoholSubstance Misuse Issues - Drugs

Single parent familiesSingle people 25 to 54

Women experiencing DACare leavers

Young people (16 - 24)

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Outcomes 2017/2018

Outcomes Received / Clients Supported January – June 2018Outcomes Received / Clients Supported July – December 2017

There was a total of 4659 Outcomes reported for the period January – June 2018 compared with the previous period July – December 2017 which was 4534. After analysis the main conclusions are;

The following client areas remained stable when comparisons were made between the two periods;

Men experiencing Domestic Abuse People with Developmental Disorders People with Physical and/or sensory disabilities People with Refugee Status People with Substance Misuse – Drugs

With reductions in the following client groups;

There has been a marked decrease in people supported over 55 years of age Women experiencing Domestic Abuse Families with Support Needs Care Leavers

There has been a marked increase in support for the following client groups;

People with Mental Health issues has increased from 653 to 751 The generic category increased from 246 to 288 People with a Criminal Offending History has increased from 51 to 101 People with Substance Misuse – Alcohol has increased from 62 to 81 Single Parent Families has increased from 152 to 197

Single People aged 25-54 has increased from 104 to 141 Young People aged 16 – 24 has increased from 151 to 153

Outcomes have been integral in our decision making in respect of expansion of existing projects or implementing new housing related support services;

Mental Health – We have recently expanded our mental health services by introducing a new dedicated mental health community worker that will be based in the North area of the borough. In addition, there will be a mental health worker that will focus on homeless individuals with mental health issues.

Criminal Offending History – We have commissioned a project that works with rough sleepers, non priority prison leavers etc. There is also a clear pathway (Probation Accommodation Pathway) from prison to settled accommodation.

Single Parent Families / Young People – We have re-tendered and expanded a service which supports young mams, this will include four flats with a dedicated worker delivering enhanced housing related support. In addition, the service includes a floating support element delivering housing related support to families / single parent families.

Much of our developmental programme is being driven by changes to the legislative structure, with introduction of Housing Act, Social Services and Well Being Act and Future Generations.

It is always important to monitor the changing demographics and ensure that services are prepared for change and to adopt best practice to deliver the outcomes we want for our clients.

Homelessness Status

As part of the Outcomes we also collect individuals homelessness status at the start of support and when support ends, please see most recent below;

Status Homelessness at Start Homelessness upon Exit

Homeless 334 36At Threat of Homelessness within 56 days

244 42

In Interim Accommodation 238 148Need Support to Remain in own Home 3183 409Maintaining Stable Accommodation Independently (6 months+)

687

Total 3999 1322

4. Consultation EvidenceListening is a core principle of commissioning services; we try to ensure that we are seen as a commissioning service that listens to the views of providers, planners and most importantly service users.

We also speak to advocacy services to determine the views of their members; recently we met with Caerphilly Peoples First services to ask about the accommodation needs and preferences of people who have a learning disability.

We also consult with the local community regarding any concerns they may express to ensure that they are aware of our services and the outcomes we are seeking to achieve and to assist in community integration

We continue to listen to the opinions of the users of the services we commission; integral to our monitoring process is the requirement to listen directly to the views of service users, looking for examples of good practice and areas where perhaps we can improve.

Some of the comments about our services from service users:

Service User FeedbackSingle Parent / Families with Support Needs

“My Support Worker has given me all the support from completing housing applications and securing a new home, DAF application, HelpU application. Support with benefits, housing issues including problems with my boiler. They helped to facilitate contact with the council etc. I was also supported to secure funding for furniture for my new home. I am very grateful for the support that I have received”

“I’m really happy with the support I have received; I can’t quite believe how much support has been given! The Support Worker has helped to build my confidence to be able to cope with life since my husband left. I am now more aware of my money and how to budget effectively”

Mental Health

“I am so grateful for the service I am receiving; my support worker has definitely helped me. I feel that there is a definite lack of support and understanding from other Health Professionals”

“I have been helped and supported with all my housing needs. I think it is a very professional service”.

“I was listened to, never judged and always given constructive advice”.

“This is just to let you know how grateful I am for the support from my Support Worker. He has helped me with my housing issues, working very hard on my behalf and always kept me informed of the situation”.

Supported Accommodation

“I am very grateful for the support I have received, as a result of support I have achieved everything I wanted to in regards to my housing. I am able to live independently and feel confident to access other services. Support has more than met my expectations”

After leaving the forces two years ago following six tours to Afghanistan I ended up street homeless in Cardiff. I stayed in various facilities however never felt safe; I felt I had to fight for my life. I have post traumatic stress disorder which affects my ability to stay in certain places. I am now at supported accommodation in Caerphilly and have been made to feel welcome and safe, I now feel positive about my future”

“After leaving the forces I resided in North Wales, unfortunately I went through a relationship breakdown and had to stay at my Sister’s in the Caerphilly area. When I became homeless I presented to Housing Advice and they advised me that I could have a place in Supported Accommodation in the Caerphilly Borough. I can’t fault the staff here; they go out of their way to help you. They have helped me with my finances, debt, claiming benefits, sourcing permanent accommodation etc.”

Supported Accommodation – Substance Misuse

When I first came to this project I was made to feel extremely welcome and safe, I am treated with respect and everyone has time for me. There are regular house meetings and I feel confident to communicate my point of view. The provider encourage us to participate in activities especially ones that promote health and wellbeing, I have stayed at other hostels outside the borough and felt very isolated and alone, I now feels I have more of a purpose”

Learning Disabilities

“As a result of support I have become much more confident and independent in certain aspects of my life. I am able to access busses independently and attend Day Centre three times per week. I am able to attend non-urgent medical appointments independently and withdraw and manage my money”.

“As a result of support I have moved to a suitable property, my previous one wasn’t suitable due to anti social behaviour. Previous to this I was homeless and was being financially abused by my ex partner. I had significant debts including Council Tax / Rent arrears etc. and had been visited by Bailiffs. I now have payment plans in place and my finances are much better. I am now happy and settled in my new home and my confidence has increased greatly, I feel far more comfortable accessing services, attending Day Centre etc”.

“I would have lost my house if it hadn’t have had support helping me to work through everything’.

Generic

“The best things she has done for me is improve my confidence to be able to manage my home, I am very happy with what she has done to help me. I am more able to live

independently as a result of the support because she has been equipped with the skills to solve the problems that confront me because the fear had been taken away”.

I was supported to apply for PIP and the support was excellent, without her I don’t know where I would be”.

OP / Physical Disabilities

“My Provider has been able to advise and explain my entitlement to welfare benefits and thereafter to give me support in completing forms/advising on deadlines to submit forms, which I would have found daunting to undertake myself and would most probably have given up; with the consequence that I would still be struggling to live financially from day to day.

Support in liaising/communicating with other professional parties as I feel frustrated and anxious when I have to speak upon the telephone with the Department of Works and Pension and any other professional authorities.

My support worker is very proactive in chasing up any outstanding matters.

I, along with many other members of the public do not like to admit we are struggling to cope with our finances and what, if any, benefits we are entitled too whilst in employment or during periods of unemployment. To have access to this support has completely changed my life for the better. I am in gainful employment working twelve hours a week, but because of my disabilities was unaware of my entitlement/eligibility to any benefits”

Substance Misuse

“I feel ‘re-humanised’. I don’t feel a threat to myself anymore and feel positive about the future”.

“I have received support to access GDAS, this support and the support I receive from the Support Worker has helped me greatly. I have received support to access my appointments, apply for benefits, budgeting, shopping and cooking skills”

Young People

“I have made excellent progress as a direct result of support; I am managing my tenancy, my rent is up to date and I’m ahead with payments for Water Rates, Gas and Electric. I have completed and passed my A-Level in Counselling and I’m hoping to complete my level 4 and attend University. I am looking for employment and have a job interview arranged”

“As a result of support I feel more independent, my mental health and family relationships have improved very much”

“As a result of support I have an improved quality of life, my mood has stabilised and I feel less isolated”

Domestic Abuse

Refuge;

“Before support I feel low. I now feel like I have a future and that I have goals and I look forward to achieving them. I’m sure I wouldn’t feel like this if it wasn’t for the support I have received”.

“I have had lots of support with housing and social services. When I first got here I had a lot of help with benefits and ESA Assessments. If I have a problem or am stressed out I always have someone to talk to”.

Floating Support;

“I now have a new home, I feel much more confident and safer, and it’s an excellent service”.

“I still feel anxious a lot of the time but it is reassuring to know that I can discuss things with my Support Worker and she often has very practical answers and has been able to help with phoning people for me and getting me the help I need, a service I never knew existed”

“My Support Worker has helped me stop my eviction going through. She helped me liaise with housing to set up a payment plan for the rent arrears. I have received support to apply for PIP and ESA. With their help I am now financially able to adhere with my payment plan , I am able to liaise with other health professionals and am now receiving support with volunteering opportunities”.

5. Priorities for DevelopmentThe following list of client groups has been identified as priorities for development. This is due to a number of pressure points mainly focussing on prevention of homelessness in line with the priorities identified through strategic relevance and key functions within the team such as monitoring and evaluation of existing schemes.

Mental health Homeless Rough sleepers Single parent families Young People Substance Misuse Criminal Offending History

In line with the recommendations from the Aylward Review 2010, services for older people have been remodelled to ensure the service is needs based and not tenure based, we continue to work towards this goal with 2018/2019 being the last tender for age specific housing related support.

In addition to these all learning disability and physical disability placements within supported living have received an individual assessment. The shared lives service is yet to be assessed individually as discussions are taking place around the strategic relevance of this funding.

Please refer to Appendix 1 for a list of development priorities.

6. Service DevelopmentsGiven the outcomes information –considerations of how services are modelled and delivered are evaluated and decisions made to identify adaptations and remodelled services to meet the changing environment. We also take into consideration value for money and the partnerships we have across the board.

Value for MoneyService users are at the centre of all provision commissioned by Supporting People, the focus is on the individual’s needs which is extensive in terms of HRS, it covers a wide range of support from complex needs to ongoing low levels to achieve outcomes, as part of developing services a balanced consideration has to be made in terms of good quality support, and the costs of the support being delivered.

In order to achieve this we have previously aligned services with our Housing Department, number of posts are either jointly funded or geographically located within Housing Services, in addition a jointly commissioned service with Families First enables the authority to deliver a contract focused on families and individuals with debt issues.

Taking into account legitimate reasons for higher costs of smaller specialist services we are in regular contact with providers to ensure value for money decisions are made and revised accordingly.

Using a sound financial model (SP8) we can evidence that services are funded based on real cost recovery, providers are able to cover their actual service costs and as commissioners we have a transparent method to evidence hourly rates and static scheme costs. The model importantly enables us to increase or decrease staff hours to achieve economies of scale or utilise additional spend available. To ensure efficiencies we are also considering rolling out the promotion of static buildings as a base for floating support staff across all relevant provision in all new commissioning practises.

Partnership WorkingIncreasingly Welsh Government are emphasising the need to work in partnership and align programmes of work to achieve economies of scale and lessen the disruption caused to our vulnerable clients in terms of producing seamless services to assist the citizen.

The Caerphilly Supporting People Team is working both locally and regionally to achieve the above outcomes and the following are some examples of how that work is progressing:-

Homelessness/Housing TeamsCaerphilly Supporting People and Housing teams are working very closely, not only do we have 5 co located members of staff in the housing options team but we are working closely with housing strategy to identify opportunities for new developments and addressing changing policies such as the Supported Accommodation Review

Throughout 2018/19, the Supporting People Team have been working with our Homelessness team, Support Provider, Housing Associations, DWP and Communities for Work Plus to achieve shared accommodation provision for those under 35 (affected by the

HB single room rent rate) who are work ready but still require support. The issue we have is that within formal supported accommodation when someone is starting to work or maybe only working limited hours, the service charge is too expensive and they are unable to afford to stay living in the project but still need support and an affordable housing solution.

The joint working has provided shared accommodation for 4 people since summer 2018, 2 are now in employment and we are working toward the second property in early 2019/2020.

2019/20 planning to provide provision of a static building for extreme weather (hot or cold) working with same group

A dedicated support worker has been identified to work with Homelessness/Housing Advice colleagues for those who have identified vulnerability around mental health when completing their housing/homelessness application form; this will be available to those not currently in receipt of support services. The worker will also be present at the night shelter to deliver support to those who are homeless and disadvantaged through mental health issues.

For 2019/20 a dedicated support worker for those with criminal offending behaviour will be co-located within the Housing Advice Centre

Continuation of funding for dedicated and geographically based support workers in 3 key areas across the borough, dedicated support for those in Bed and Breakfast, Rough Sleeper Coordinator post and support worker attending the food banks.

Working in collaboration with Housing Advice, we have recently amended the assessment outcome notice letter to include the Personal Housing Plan; this is provided to each individual giving them the outcome of an assessment on accepting duty which now includes detail of how to access Housing Related Support via the SP team gateway.

2019/20 will focus on SP and Homelessness teams identifying properties in the borough to develop a Housing First model with Housing Associations and support providers.

Over the next year evaluation and assessment of those individuals receiving funding towards hardwired units will be carried out in conjunction with housing colleagues to remove expensive hard wired systems replacing (where appropriate) with dispersed alarm units, this will achieve a significant reduction in ongoing funding of the alarm monitoring.

Social ServicesSupporting people are also working very closely with colleagues in Social Services. We continue to develop the Joint Assessment for Families referral Form to enable SP to accept referrals that are submitted on the JAFF.

Supporting People continue to find and develop services for individuals with mental health and substance misuse issues. We have both supported accommodation and floating support services for these client groups and continue to develop services around the differing levels of need across the both areas

Continue to attend the Safeguarding meetings and be a member of the Families First Board. Also the jointly commissioned contract between Families First and Supporting People will continue to deliver support to those families and individuals facing homelessness due to debt.

Following the completion of individual assessments for housing related support across all supported living provision, we continue to work with our colleagues in Social Services to address the provision of support across shared lives services.

An integrated model of accommodation is being completed to prevent people accessing supported living or more costly health service provision for those with learning disability and physical disabilities; this will provide suitable sustainable accommodation for those who are able to live independently with the provision of Housing Related Support.

Renovation work to a specialist supported accommodation project for those with frailty and complex needs will be completed in 2018/2019.

Programme Collaboration Group is a meeting of lead offices across the four poverty groups Families First, Flying Start, SP and Communities for Work Plus will continue to meet and discuss the potential for local commissioning, identifying needs across Caerphilly and how we can work together on projects and collaboration to provide all services.

The Supporting People team will continue to jointly commission accommodation based services, incorporating additional provision for those with challenging behaviour, who are 16-18 year old with colleagues from the 16+ team and develop the provision across step down/step up accommodation in collaboration with Housing Associations across the borough.

An area that needs development in 2019/20 is services for those individuals transitioning from Childrens and Adults Social Services, in 2018/19 we have been using an enhanced Housing Related Support services for those 18 plus moving out of 24/7 static into sustainable housing, close monitoring of the service will determine if we continue with this throughout the following year.

Other Local Authority DepartmentsCommunities for Work Plus

Mental Health issues are continuing to become an identified need for those requiring Housing Related Support, to address the need a Support Worker with a Mental Health background has been based in the North of the borough utilising offices with Communities for Work Plus.

We continue to work with colleagues in Environmental Health in terms of both Houses of Multiple Occupation and teams who deal with derelict buildings, pest control issues and rough sleepers

Probation and Youth JusticeSupporting people are a key partner in the Caerphilly Probation Accommodation Pathway. Due to the changes in Housing legislation we have been working closely with housing and probation to identify a local referral accommodation pathway that takes into account the local support provision in the borough for all individuals leaving prison settings and approved premises. We have seen a significant increase in the referrals and increasing capacity in this area is required.

We continue to fund Housing Related Support for both high level MAPPA offenders as part of a Gwent Supporting People contract and those individual leaving prison that are of no fixed abode with a local connection to Caerphilly.

A member of the team also attends the Police/Community Wellbeing meetings with various colleagues across the local authority and the police force to identify any areas or individuals causing concerns and provide housing related support to those in need.

HealthSupporting People team attends the local NCN meetings and we link with the dedicated midwives through Floating Support at the vulnerable families’ project.

RegionallyRegional domestic abuse

Gwent are a pilot area for the tackling Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence. A Gwent Board is being established upon which will sit supporting people representatives, information bulletins are being distributed regularly and

Regional Substance Abuse

One of the Key Actions in the draft 2016-18 substance misuse delivery plan is to:

‘Prevent homelessness by helping people with substance misuse problems sustain tenancies’. Close links have been established with the Gwent Substance Misuse Area Planning Boards to maintain strong links to ensure joined up services.

Regional Collaborative Committee

The Supporting People Regional Collaborative Committee continues to meet bi-monthly, scrutinise the activities of the Gwent Supporting People teams and

TABLE 1 – Development priorities

Model of service provision with proposed units

User group whose needs are being met

SupplyDemandStatus

Timescale Estimated Funding Per Annum

Project Proposal Description Need identified within

Shared Housing – Eastern Valley3 units

Homeless / Rough Sleepers / Under 35

Low SupplyHigh Demand

17/18 8,500 Floating Support at shared housing for individuals who are under 35, homeless and actively looking for employment working with the DHP, Communities for Work Plus and Housing departments.

GNMEMeetings with Housing Advice ManagementStakeholder Events

Domestic Abuse Refuge –Eastern Valley8 units

Domestic Abuse

Med SupplyHigh Demand

Summer 2019

54,000 Regional Project – site identified in Eastern Valley as access across Gwent in central. Delays with planning has delayed opening.

Gwent prioritiesStakeholder EventGNME

Supported Housing – Eastern Valley4 Units

Complex Needs

Low supplyHigh Demand

19/20 160,000 Accommodation provision being refurbished to improve quality of accommodation and increase number of units available.

Identified by Social Services Management, Housing Services and SPOutcomes

Supported Housing – 3 locations across Eastern Valley11 Units

Mental Health Medium supplyHigh Demand

19/20 134,000 Contract remodelled from block to cost volume to provide better value for money and improve access via existing panel into the service, incorporating Social Services to provide holistic accommodation and support package.

Identified by Social Services Management and SPOutcomes

Supported Housing – North8 Units

Young People Medium SupplyHigh Demand

September 2019

Jointly funded by SP (140k) and Childrens Services (?)

New Supported Accommodation being developed for young people, provision for a mixture of support needs to replace and increase provision of the existing scheme within the area

Identified by Children’s Services, Adult services, Supporting PeopleStakeholder eventGNMEOutcomes

STAR FlatsVarious locations across borough

Young People Medium SupplyHigh Demand

19/20 Already funding a dedicated officer post.

Increase in the number of properties available under the STAR project, affordable single person tenancies for those working but still requiring support

Identified by Children’s Services, Housing and Supporting People OutcomesGNME

Floating SupportFloating Support - North5 units

Young People Medium SupplyHigh Demand

May 2020 Inclusive of dedicated worker for peripatetic projects

This scheme will become move on accommodation for those in supported accommodation, providing accommodation with floating support in line with the other STAR type provision across the borough

Identified by Children’s Services, Housing and Supporting People OutcomesGNME

Enhanced Floating Support4 units

Single Parent Families and Families with Support Needs

Med SupplyHigh Demand

19/20 Recently tendered service to deliver enhanced support at 4 units of accommodation, this is due to increase

Identified by Outcomes, Social Services and Supporting People

Floating Support worker

Complex Needs

Low SupplyHigh Demand

November/December 2018

30,000 Support Worker/Project Worker in place to ensure team collaboration with multiple Social Services teams prior to refurbishment of supported accommodation

Identified by Social Services Management, Housing Services and SPOutcomes

Hospital to Mental Health Low supply 19/20 35,000 Post in place to attend MDT’s Identified by Social Services

Home Worker High Demand across the borough and within the acute inpatient unit to deliver HRS to prevent DTOC

Management and SPOutcomes

Crisis Support Worker North based

Generic Medium supplyHigh Demand

November 2018

30,000 Post created to manage the increased demand for crisis or urgent Housing Related Support, specific to those in the North of borough, in conjunction with Communities for Work Plus

Identified by Outcomes, GNME, Social Services, Housing and Supporting People Services

Additional Support Worker – borough wide

Criminal offending Behaviour

Low SupplyHigh Demand

November 2018

24,000 Increased demand for the service, specifically for those presenting as homeless, post based in HAC to cover all of borough.

Identified by Outcomes, Supporting People, Housing and Probation

Additional Support Worker – borough wide

Substance Misuse

Low SupplyHigh Demand

October 2018

30,000 Increased demand for the service, increased staffing

Identified by Supporting People Outcomes and Social Services

Additional Support Worker

Homeless / Rough Sleepers

Low SupplyHigh Demand

October 2018

60,000 Increased demand from non-priority, single people.Night Shelter scheme continues to run at full capacity.

Identified by Supporting People Outcomes, GNME, Social Services and Housing

Floating Support for Independent Housing – Eastern Valley

Learning Disability

High SupplyMed Demand

November 2018

3,000 Individuals who have moved into independent tenancies from supported living or parental home that require floating support.When individuals are identified a decision will be made based on dedicated

Identified by Supporting People and Social Services as part of individual needs assessment task

floating support worker or referral into existing services.

Shared Lives ( Former Adult placement scheme)

Older People, mental health, Sub MisuseSingle peopleVulnerable families

High SupplyLow demand

Ongoing Previously agreed to employ a regional worker to deliver HRS to each person in Shared Lives, this has fallen through and now individual assessments will be carried out to determine what level of HRS is required within the settings

Identified as part of the individual needs assessment process

Low level mental health floating support

Mental Health, rough sleepers, Homelessness

High DemandLow Supply

2018/2019 65k Retendering of low level mental health floating support service

Specialist financial inclusion project

Generic, all client groups

High DemandLow Supply

2018/2019 93k Retendering of specialist financial inclusion service including ESA/PIP appeals

Caerphilly Supporting People Spend Plan – 2017/18 – Total £6,232,790,000

Service TypeFixed Site (Accommodation Based) Floating (Community Based)

Client Units

Less than 6

Months

Client Units

6 to 24 Months

Client Units

24 Months

plus

Client Units

Less than 6 Months

Client Units

6 to 24 Months

Client Units

24 Months

plusNumbers £ Numbers £ Numbers £ Numbers £ Numbers £ Numbers £

Women experiencing Domestic Abuse

13 251,867 4 61,796 0 0 23 101,804 7 19,486 0 0

Men Experiencing Domestic Abuse

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

People with Learning Disabilities

0 0 0 0 142 984,639 0 0 0 0 85 79,000

People with Mental health Issues

0 0 12 267,159 11 151,219 0 0 190 323,571 31 52,000

People with Substance Misuse Issues (Alcohol)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

People with Substance Misuse Issues

0 0 8 152,452 0 0 0 0 28 113,456 0 0

(Drugs and volatile substances)People with Criminal Offending History

0 0 0 0 0 0 13 33,419 3 6,132 0 0

People with Refugee Status 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

People with Physical and/or Sensory Disabilities

0 0 0 0 9 63,352 11 5,000 83 35,731 0 0

People with Developmental Disorders (i.e. Autism)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

People with Chronic Illnesses (including HIV, Aids)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Young People who are Care Leavers

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Young people with Support Needs (16-24)

23 278,676 20 411,702 2 60,000 50 55,185 95 157,218 0 0

Single parent families with Support Needs

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Families with Support Needs 13 225,000 2 32,482 0 0 13 25,000 109 219,470 0 0

Single people with Support Needs not listed above (25-54)

10 161,158 13 136,000 26 80,398 0 0 0 0 0 0

People over 55 years of age with Support needs (this category must be exclusive of alarm services).

0 0 0 0 591 281,892 587 267,459 0 0 111 210,000

Generic Floating support to prevent homelessness

0 0 0 0 0 0 1444 609,336 85 233,552 0 0

Alarm Services (including in sheltered/extra care).

0 0 0 0 219 86,179 0 0 0 0 0 0

Expenditure which does not directly link to the spend plan categories above.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

65 916,701 59 1,061,591 1000 1,707,679 2,141 1,097,203 600 1,108,616 227 341,000