East Sussex Supporting People
Programme
5 Year Strategy Update
2007/08 – 2009/10
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Contents
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
Introduction and Background ...................................................................... 3
Current Supporting People Strategy in Context ............................................... 3
Strategy Update Rationale and Process .......................................................... 4
Involvement of Stakeholders ........................................................................... 5
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
Vision and Strategic Direction...................................................................... 7
Vision Statement ............................................................................................. 7
Strategic Aims ................................................................................................. 7
Strategic Direction for Supporting People Commissioning .............................. 9
‘Strategic Model’ for Supporting People Commissioning ............................... 10
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Need for Housing Support .......................................................................... 12
Method .......................................................................................................... 12
Summary of Need Profile .............................................................................. 12
Key Issues ..................................................................................................... 23
Future Process for Needs Mapping ............................................................... 23
4
Links to other Commissioning Strategies ................................................. 24
5
Priorities 2007/08 – 2008/09 ........................................................................ 34
6
Commissioning and Delivery Plan 2007/08 – 2008/09 .............................. 36
7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
Financial Plan 2007/08 – 2009/10................................................................ 44
Funding Position 2007/08 .............................................................................. 44
Development of a 5 year financial model ....................................................... 44
Savings Planning ........................................................................................... 46
Funding the Commissioning and Delivery Plan 2007/08-2008/09 ................. 47
8
Procurement Policy ..................................................................................... 48
9
Move - On Accommodation ........................................................................ 48
10
Service Performance and Quality .............................................................. 48
11
Access to Services ...................................................................................... 48
12
Diversity ....................................................................................................... 49
13
Service User Involvement ........................................................................... 49
14
Service Provider Involvement .................................................................... 49
15
Review of the Strategy ................................................................................ 50
Appendix 1 .............................................................................................................. 51
Appendix 2 .............................................................................................................. 52
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
1
Introduction and Background
1.1
Current Supporting People Strategy in Context
There is currently a 5 year Supporting People (SP) strategy for East Sussex
that runs from 2005/06 – 2009/10. It was produced in 2004/05 in line with
relevant guidance from the then ODPM. The strategy is comprehensive. The
purpose of this document is not to replace the existing strategy but to provide
an update for the period 2007/08 – 2009/10.
The East Sussex Health, Housing, Social Care and Probation Strategic Forum
(the Strategic Forum) decided in 2006/07 to review the 5 year strategy in light
of:

Anticipated changes in need/demand for housing support services.

Continuing changes in SP funding and on-going uncertainty about the
future of the SP grant as a funding stream.

An anticipated national SP strategy subsequently published in June
2007.

The development of and changes to a range of local commissioning
plans and strategies.
As part of the process of revising the 5 year strategy and ensuring that it is up
to date and reflecting current local needs, the Strategic Forum (SF)
commissioned the Core Strategy Group (CSG) to undertake an update of the
needs of people in East Sussex for housing related support services. This
updated need profile for housing support is set out in section 3.
This revision to the current strategy includes a financial plan for the SP
programme that takes into account the real terms reductions in SP grant
received by East Sussex, albeit with a slight cash increase in 2007/08, and
the lack of clarity about the longer term future of SP grant as a dedicated
funding stream. The financial plan is covered in section 7.
A national SP strategy was published by Communities and Local Government
(CLG) on 20th June 2007. The strategy has four key themes:

Keeping people that need services at the heart of the programme. The
update of the SP strategy has been informed by the views of a sample
of service users particularly in relation to making services more flexible,
with more consistent availability across the county and with support to
move on from support housing where appropriate.

Enhancing partnership with the third sector, particularly including
service providers. The Provider Forum set up a provider reference
group specifically to input into the update of the strategy and ensure
that the views of a range of service providers were heard and
considered.

Delivering on the new local government landscape. The update of the
strategy identifies the requirement to make stronger links with the LAA
at the next refresh to ensure that the commissioning of and outcomes
from SP services are focussed on delivering LAA targets and
objectives. In addition a complementary work stream has been
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project

5 Year SP Strategy Update
updating the governance arrangements for SP to reflect the anticipated
greater integration of SP into the LAA approach.
Increasing efficiency and reducing bureaucracy. The strategy update
has a clear commissioning and delivery plan which is focussed on the
actions required to deliver changes and improvements to services for
people who need support. A complementary workstream has been
identifying opportunities to maximise the efficiency of the SP resources,
including the work of SP team and other SP groups, and to focus
attention of delivering improvements to services and outcomes for
individuals.
There have been considerable changes in East Sussex since 2004/05. East
Sussex Adult Social Care (ASC) is in the process of developing a
comprehensive range of commissioning strategies, Children & Young Peoples
Services (CYPS) has a comprehensive strategy for meeting children and
young people’s needs. There are new community safety strategies. The
District/Borough housing authorities are updating and refreshing their housing
and homelessness strategies. The local NHS has been restructured into
2 PCTs with new local development plans being put in place.
The funding of the SP programme remains uncertain beyond 2007/08. The
national SP strategy does not include future funding arrangements within its
scope. Funding for the SP programme from 2008/09 has not been
announced. Although East Sussex received a small percentage increase in
the SP grant for 2007/08, however this does not allow for inflationary
pressures. In this uncertain context, section 7 sets out the more detailed
financial plan for the next 5 years for the SP programme.
1.2
Strategy Update Rationale and Process
To undertake a revision of the current SP strategy, the SF established a
formal project to undertake the review. This project aims to achieve significant
improvements in the East Sussex Supporting People programme, particularly
in relation to strategic planning. A key driver is the desire of the partners on
the Strategic Forum to collaborate further in implementing the commissioning
priorities set out within the East Sussex Supporting People Strategy (20052010). It is recognised that the ‘strategic direction’ for the programme needed
to be more clearly defined, that re-commissioning plans need to be more
specific and more effectively aligned with the commissioning objectives of all
partners.
The scope of the project is:
 A revised, updated and agreed Supporting People Strategy by 31 July
2007 that links effectively to other partners’ strategies that contains:
o
An up to date vision statement for the programme
o
A clear strategic direction for 2007-2010
o
A commissioning plan for the delivery of the strategic direction and
strategic aims for 2007/08 and 2008/09.
 Improved accountability to Members and ownership of the Supporting
People Programme. A separate report sets out future governance
arrangements.
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project

5 Year SP Strategy Update
Integration of business processes for the Supporting People Programme
within Adult Social Care. A separate report sets out an approach for
maximising the efficiency of the delivery of the SP programme.
The expected benefits of the project include:
 A clear strategic direction for the SP programme for the period 2007/08 to
2009/10.
 Targeting investment into strategic priorities.
 A focus on meeting currently unmet needs.
 Better integration of the programme into the mainstream commissioning
activities of all partners.
The final bullet point above is important for the SF partners. Although the
future of the national SP programme is unclear, there is recognition of the
importance locally of the role of support services and a desire to see the
commissioning of these services ‘mainstreamed’ as part of the core business
of all SF partners. This revision to the 5 year strategy sets out in section 4
how commissioning of support services are being mainstreamed and
embedded within other commissioning programmes.
1.3
Involvement of Stakeholders
The 5 year strategy involved extensive consultation with a very wide range of
stakeholders including customers and potential customers of support
services. The revision of the strategy has involved a wide range of
stakeholders the following ways.
Through SP governance structures the process of revising the strategy has
engaged:
 SF – in addition to regular meetings, a workshop to establish future
strategic direction and subsequent priorities.
 CSG – in addition to regular meetings, workshops to deliver a revised
picture of need for housing support services and future strategic direction
and priorities.
 East Sussex Chief Housing Officer Group – involvement as a strategic
group of housing authorities and individually as authorities.
 East Sussex County Council including ASC and CYPS – through
established commissioning group meetings and with individual
commissioners.
 PCT – meetings with key commissioners.
 Probation – meetings with senior managers.
In addition a range of wider partnership groups and local forums have been
utilised to discuss and consider the most effective way to use the
commissioning resources of the SP programme to support wider
commissioning activity. A list of these is shown at Appendix 2.
The process of revising the strategy has also involved:
 The SP Provider Forum. The revision of the strategy has been considered
at two meetings of the Provider Forum.
 A SP Provider ‘reference group’ was set up specifically to engage with
providers in a more detailed way on the revision to the strategy,
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
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5 Year SP Strategy Update
particularly in relation to the future strategic direction and the implications
of this for service providers.
Service user groups. The SP team has meet with a range of groups of
customers to discuss aspects of the revision to the strategy as well as
using other forums that include customers and potential customers. These
are shown at Appendix 1.
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
2
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Vision and Strategic Direction
The existing 5 year strategy has a clear vision and strategic aims. This update
of the strategy retains the vision and aims set out in the existing strategy.
What the SF has done through the process of updating the strategy is to
clarify the strategic direction for the commissioning of SP services to achieve
the stated vision and aims.
2.1
Vision Statement
The vision for commissioning housing support services in East Sussex is set
out below.
The Supporting People programme aims to increase the opportunities and
improve upon the life chances of vulnerable people in East Sussex by offering
them accessible, high quality and affordable housing-related support services
that promote independence, prevent crisis and complement existing and new
housing, health and social care services.
2.2
Strategic Aims
The following table sets out the strategic aims of the SP programme. It
includes aims from the existing 5 year strategy and some strategic aims that
have been developed through the process of updating the strategy.
The commissioning and delivery plan (section 6) sets out how these aims will
be achieved.
Key Strategic Aim
Rationale
1 To pursue a
stronger focus on
preventative
services
SP commissioned housing-related support services
will help in preventing a wide range of events that
may be experienced as a crisis by vulnerable people,
including:
 homelessness and repeat homelessness;
 unnecessary or premature admittance to
residential care;
 acute hospital admission;
 relapse for drug and alcohol misusers;
 prolific and repeat criminal and anti-social
behaviour;
 rough sleeping; and
 the use of bed and breakfast and other temporary
accommodation
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Key Strategic Aim
Rationale
2 To ensure that the
outcomes of
services maximise
the independence
of service users
Housing-related support services aim to help
vulnerable people make their own decisions, learn
new life skills and live as independent a life as
possible in the community.
The role of SP commissioned services in promoting
independence is consistent with a range of national
policy such as Our health, our Care our Say and
Strong and prosperous communities – the local
government white paper.
3 To promote
equalities and
social inclusion
The Supporting People programme will commission
services to support some of the most marginalised
people. This includes groups whose needs have
historically been less well met such as people from a
black or minority ethnic (BME) group, women at risk
of domestic violence, travellers, young people,
offenders, people with complex needs and
vulnerable homeless households.
4 To promote
community safety
The Supporting People programme will commission
services that help to underpin the aims of the Crime
Reduction Partnerships, the Youth Justice Plan and
the Drug & Alcohol Action Team Strategy (DAAT) by
offering timely housing-related support to people who
may cause, or be affected by, anti-social behaviour
or crime in neighbourhoods. These groups include
offenders, people who misuse alcohol and/or drugs
and those who are at risk of domestic violence.
5 To enable
resettlement and
move on to
mainstream
housing
The Supporting People programme commissions
services that support marginalised groups to obtain a
new home and become part of the community. This
includes people leaving institutional care, residential
school or prison as well as homeless people.
The update to the 5 years strategy includes plans for
promoting improved access to move-on
accommodation.
6 To commission
housing support
services on the
basis of need
regardless of their
housing situation
or tenure
The SP programme will commission services that are
available to people in need regardless of tenure or
their housing circumstances.
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Key Strategic Aim
Rationale
7 To only
commission
services that will
help to deliver the
5-year Supporting
People strategy
aims and
objectives
These are services that support the strategic
direction of the Strategic Forum as set out in this
update to the 5 year strategy and subsequent
commissioning priorities.
8 To promote
equality of access
to supporting
people funded
services
SP commissioning will promote fair access and
referral routes to services across the county. In
particular we want to develop a consistent approach
to access to low-level preventative floating support.
We want to ensure that Supporting People funded
services for people from minority groups and
communities are accessible
2.3
Strategic Direction for Supporting People Commissioning
The CSG and SF have held workshops to clarify the strategic direction for the
SP programme in the context of the strategy project set out in section 1.
There has been consultation with wider stakeholder groups and customer
groups about the strategic direction of the SP programme. Key messages that
have emerged from that process include:
 The need for stronger emphasis on preventative and wellbeing services.
 Stronger emphasis on floating support, whilst recognising the need for
some accommodation based services and generic services.
 Stronger emphasis on services that can be flexible to react to people’s
needs when they require support.
 Looking at ‘client group’ based services and making sure they ‘fit’ with
strategic direction, that is are they actually needed.
 There is a requirement to re-specify exactly what is needed in terms of
‘specialised’ services for particular client groups.
 Possibly retain some specialised accommodation services that need to be
kept because they cannot be provided by a ‘generic’ service.
 To deliver change there needs to be disinvestment and re-investment,
market management and a manageable pace of change.
 Ensuring that outcomes from services are incorporated into the plans for
customers and are relevant to individuals’ lives.
 Emphasis on preventing crisis but also ensuring there is still a focus on
risk, particularly in relation to value for money.
 Importance of SP not being used as a “gap filler” – having to provide
services that should be funded by the statutory sector.
 Better distribution across the County, more coherent distribution of
services across tenure, client groups and geography.
 Delivering more imaginative packages of service which included SP
among other services.
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
2.4
5 Year SP Strategy Update
‘Strategic Model’ for Supporting People Commissioning
From the discussion within the SF and CSG and from feedback from other
stakeholders and customers, a strategic model for commissioning housing
support services in East Sussex has been developed. A diagrammatic form of
the model is set out on page 12.
The model will be used as the basis for all future commissioning of housing
support services in East Sussex.
The model is based on:
 Maximising the flexibility of support services to support individuals
irrespective of tenure.
 Being applicable across all of East Sussex to address uneven provision of
services.
 Providing ‘specialised’ services for specific client group needs only where
a more ‘generic’ floating support service is not appropriate.
 Developing a common access route into housing support services across
the county including an assessment of housing support needs.
 A way of ‘wrapping’ support around individuals that includes:
o
Support to avoid using accommodation based services where
possible.
o
Where individuals do appropriately need a specialist
accommodation based service, support to use that service for no
longer than is required.
o
When people move-on from accommodation based supported
housing.
 An approach to more actively manage the pathway for individuals through
different housing and support options.
 Recognition that some accommodation-based services need to have
flexible access arrangements due to the nature of needs they serve, such
as women at risk of domestic violence.
 An approach that has a preventative function and seeks to promote the
independence of individuals, in particular reducing dependency for people
who use accommodation based ‘specialised’ services.
The model can be characterised as follows:
 Specialised services, typically accommodation-based services (and some
floating support services) including higher cost services, in the centre. It is
anticipated that fewer of these will be required as some current ‘client
group’ based accommodation-based services can be replaced with a
generic floating support service.
 The remainder of provision as a generic floating support service wrapped
around the central specialised, higher cost services which would include
preventative services, crisis management, assessment and support.
 Customers to be referred to one central gatekeeper, assessed for need
and then offered generic support or high level support according to need,
but to be moved through the system as quickly as possible.
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Prevention/assessment/co-ordination
Specialist
Floating
Intensive
accommodation
based
Specialist
Floating
Intensive
accommodation
based
Specialist
Floating
Older Persons floating Support Services
Monitoring/floating support
Intensive
accommodation
based
Move on support/sustained support
The implications of applying this model of SP commissioning to current and
future services are:

Moving
from a ‘client group’ led approach to instead, commissioning support
services across client groups except where there is a specific need for
a specialist or ‘client need’ specific service response required.

Defining
which current services need to be retained as ‘specialist’ services,
either accommodation based or floating support. This will involve
producing criteria to make this decision.
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update

Defining
existing services that can be replaced by a generic floating support
service.

Developin
g a specification for the different aspects of the model including
o
The assessment, prevention and coordination function
o
The generic floating support service
o
The move on support

Producing
a commissioning plan that sets out the transition from the current
pattern of SP services to the pattern that is defined by the strategic
model.
3
Need for Housing Support
3.1
Method
A key element of updating the existing SP 5 year strategy has been to identify
the current need (and specifically unmet needs) for housing support services.
The CSG with other stakeholders has undertaken an update of the position in
relation to unmet needs for housing support services. The approach taken
involved:

Needs data was collected and supplied by partners to the SP
programme following meetings of the Core Strategy Group in February
2007 and March 2007.

Needs data was supplied using a standard ‘template’ provided by the
SP team and supplemented with other sources of data already
collected by partner organisations.

From this data, the gaps between current supply and identified need
have been identified, and potential responses to those gaps proposed.
The CSG identified a range of issues that emerged from the updated need
profile. These are summarised in section 3.3.
3.2
Summary of Need Profile
The table below summarises the key needs identified through the process of
updating the need profile for housing support services.
A separate report for the CSG sets out the need profile in more detail.
From the work to update the need profile for housing support services the
following key needs and gaps emerge:

Designated accommodation for offenders

Floating support for people who misuse drugs and alcohol

Outreach/floating support for women at risk of domestic violence

‘Generic’ floating support that is available across ‘client needs’ that will
for example promote tenancy/home sustainment and reduce the risk of
homelessness, support homeless households across all districts/
boroughs and complement anti social behaviour initiatives.
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
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






5 Year SP Strategy Update
Supported housing for vulnerable young people particularly 16-17 olds
at risk of homelessness.
Extra care housing for older people
More flexible, floating support for older people
Floating support for young people with severe sensory impairment; for
people with long term neurological conditions such as Multiple
Sclerosis, MND & Epilepsy; for young physically disabled adults;
specialist floating support for people with an acquired brain injury
focused on moving individuals to generic housing support services.
Additional support services for Gypsies and travellers
Teenage parents service in Rother and Wealden
Learning Disabilities particularly in Rother
BME needs
The actions that address these gaps are set out in the commissioning and
delivery plan, for example joint commissioning of a support service for people
who misuse substances, and through the strategic linkages between SP and
other commissioning strategies, for example the commissioning strategy for
people with learning disabilities which includes joint commissioning with the
SP programme for housing and support services.
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Summary of Need Profile
Client need
SP supply
Need profile
Gap/potential response
Offenders
No SP service specifically
designated for offenders.
High proportions of offenders are recorded as NFA or in
transient accommodation. Combined issues of suitability,
permanence and suitability of location contribute to nearly
half of all offenders in East Sussex having accommodation
problems that are assessed as being a factor placing them
at risk of offending.
Focus on high risk offenders
and Persistent & Prolific
Offenders.
Need on housing and support was surveyed over the
period July - October 2006 as part of a south east survey
of housing needs of YOS clients.
Improved access to existing
supported housing.
Other schemes do
house/support offenders eg
Seaview in Hastings
Youth
Offenders
33 units of floating support in
Hastings (CRI)
54 young people were identified as having housing and
support needs during this period.
Teenage
Parents
23 accommodation based
units in Eastbourne, Hastings
and Lewes.
The 10 wards with the highest conception rates for under
18s cover all 5 districts (2001-2003 data).
Conception rates comparing 1997/98 and 2004/05 show:
 Hastings down by 5.4%
 Eastbourne down by 1.7%
 Lewes up by 0.14%
 Rother up by 6.99%
 Wealden down by 2.45%
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Support for young people
accessing independent
housing.
Potentially additional small
scale supported housing in
teenage pregnancy ‘hotspots’.
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Client need
SP supply
Need profile
Gap/potential response
Young People
at Risk
181 accommodation based
units across county.
16-17 year olds who are at risk of homelessness.
Floating support services that
can work with young people,
particularly 16-17 year olds,
and their families in their
homes to prevent
homelessness.
Care leavers who need supported housing and
opportunities to move on to independent housing with
support available.
Accommodation based
supported housing for
vulnerable young people.
Floating support that is
available to assist young
people who move on to more
independent housing.
Drug & Alcohol
Misuse
8 units of accommodationbased service specifically for
drug misusers (Kenward
Trust –Wealden).
Drug misusers could also
access generic support
services and alcohol
misusers are a ‘secondary’
group for 5 units in
Eastbourne (Heathercrest
cottage).
42% of people in treatment have a housing related support
need (2006 figures).
DAAT’s housing needs assessment estimated that
housing related support would be needed by 724 people
with a current or previous drug problem.
15
Development of SP floating
housing support for this needs
group is planned for 2007/8.
An investment of £70K is
expected to produce between
30-45 places.
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Client need
SP supply
Need profile
Gap/potential response
Domestic
Violence
46 refuge based units in
Eastbourne, Hastings,
Lewes, Rother and Wealden
Outreach support is needed for individuals who are at risk
of domestic violence and for those individuals who need
continuing support following a stay in a refuge.
It is estimated that
approximately 30 (50%) cases
to go through the DV panel for
the Hastings area would
benefit from the provision of a
sanctuary type scheme.
26 floating support/outreach
based units across the
county.
Increased provision of
outreach support services
across the county.
Gypsy and
Travellers
SP fund P/T worker to
provide 3 floating support
based units.
From the DCA report commissioned jointly with B&H in
2005:
 The Gypsy and Traveller survey for East Sussex and
Brighton & Hove found that the majority of
respondents were Romany Gypsy or English
Travellers (78.9%). 59.4% of the Romany Gypsy /
English traveller community living in permanent
accommodation.
 There is instability of housing circumstances, as
would be expected within the Gypsy and Traveller
community. This is exacerbated by the high level of
eviction and lack of suitable sites.
 Higher than expected levels of disability and illness
(31.7%), and a lower than expected level of
adaptations provided across the sample as a whole.
Households living on sites were less likely to have
adaptations or to be registered with a doctor than
those in permanent accommodation.
16
Increase in floating support
services integrated with other
welfare services that are
available to all gypsies and
travellers on official and
unofficial sites.
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Client need
SP supply
Need profile
Gap/potential response
BME
No SP service specifically for
BME groups
From the DCA report in 2005 commissioned jointly with
Brighton & Hove Council (NB figures are for East Sussex
and Brighton & Hove jointly):

The ethnic profile overall was 17.8% were Black
African, 17.8% were Asian Other and 17.8% were
Chinese. The profile of the religion of respondents
was 34.5% were Christian and 27.7% were Muslim.

The sample indicated that the ethnic population of
East Sussex and Brighton & Hove is not particularly
well established in the area. 23.3% of BME
households have lived in East Sussex and Brighton &
Hove for less than one year and 31.7% have been in
their current home for less than a year. Having settled
in area however 71.2% have no plans to move, and
those who are moving within East Sussex and
Brighton & Hove wish to remain in the same borough/
district.
Ensuring that SP services are
accessible to BME groups
through service specifications
that require that providers
ensure their services are
accessible to all minority
groups within the County and
provide a service that is
responsive to the needs of
BME groups.
Risk of
Homelessness
168 units
Unmet needs include:
 Young people at risk, particularly 16-17 year olds
 Single homeless people who are not ‘statutory'
homeless acceptances
 People with multiple and complex needs
 Higher risk offenders
 People at risk of domestic violence
 People with drug and alcohol misuse problems.
 Addressing serious anti social behaviour with
individuals/families who have support needs
Floating support for:
 Young people
 Single homeless people
who are not considered to
have a priority need by the
local authority.
 Drug and alcohol users,
and those needing housing
and support post-detox.
 Victims of domestic
violence, both male and
female. A small amount of
floating support exists for
women, but not sufficient to
meet the scale of need
across the county.
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East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Client need
SP supply
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Need profile
Gap/potential response


Generic floating support for
people with multiple needs
or undiagnosed
vulnerability.
Support for single persons
to access private sector
accommodation.
More accommodation-based
support for people with
medium to high needs,
particularly:
 prolific and high risk
offenders whose risk is
best managed with on-site
support
 people with high mental
health needs, who are not
yet ready to live
independently with floating
support
 people with medium level
learning disabilities,
 people who are particularly
vulnerable, such as 16 and
17 year olds and teenage
parents who need regular
support and reassurance
and the companionship of
their peers in the early
months.
18
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Client need
SP supply
Need profile
Gap/potential response
Learning
Disabilities
92 accommodation based
units across the county.
People with a LD known to ASC presently live in Res Care
(48%) or within the family home (27%)
50 units of extra care housing,
10 units per district/borough.
21 floating support units.
A large number of ASC service users currently live with
older family / carers (c. 180 people).
Clusters of flats with on site
staffing providing up to 24 hr
support.
Of the 700 adults with learning disabilities who continue to
live in the family home, approximately 25% are over fifty
years of age and may be dependent upon elderly carers.
Mental Health
92 units of floating support
service
333 units of accommodation
based services across the
county.
Many of those identified as having a mental health issue
will also have additional multiple and complex needs. It is
therefore necessary for supported housing to be equipped
to deal not only with mental health, but with other
associated problems
Need to move-on from supported housing schemes into
independent housing.
People with MH needs currently in residential care who
could move to more independent accommodation if it were
available: 30-40 – current snapshot
People with MH needs who are psychiatric in-patient
wards who need accommodation in order to leave: 15 –
current snapshot
Statistics from Shelter East Sussex of people with MH and
accommodation needs who referred to them: in 0506 – 63
and in 0607 – 46 which represents an average of 10% of
their caseload.
SAT log for 12 month period Nov 05 – Dec 06. Summary
of needs as extrapolated from recorded outcomes of
referrals: Assessed as suitable but no vacancies: 9.
Referred elsewhere because SAT not able to meet need:
31.Declined assessment or withdrew: 53’
19
‘keyring’ type models of
support.
More accommodation-based
support for people with high
mental health needs, who are
not yet ready to live
independently with floating
support
A generic floating support
service may assist with
retention of tenancies in the
private and social sectors.
A floating specialist support
service which can flexibly
maintain people with mental
health needs, especially those
who present a challenge and
have complex needs.
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Client need
SP supply
Need profile
Gap/potential response
Physical and
Sensory
Disability
No SP service specifically
designated for people with
profound hearing/visual
impairment. There is one SP
funded alarm service for
someone with a physical
disability.
Profoundly hearing and/or visually impaired young
adults.
Supported accommodation or
more accessible
accommodation that is suitable
for people with mobility
problems
There will be 20 young people with profound hearing
impairments reaching 18 years between 2007-2011 who
will need the types of support shown.
There will be 9 young people with visual impairment
reaching 18 years between 2007-2011 who will need the
types of support shown.
For the majority of cases, this
is episodic support with a small
proportion requiring long term
support.
Acquired Brain Injuries
No SP service specifically
designated for people with
Acquired Brain Injuries.
Annual emergency admissions 2003/04 – 2005/6 for
acquired brain injuries were at least 486 people aged 1864.
Floating support for people
with acquired brain injury.
No SP service accessible to
people with long term
neurological conditions in
line with NSF for Long Term
Neurological Conditions.
People with long term neurological conditions such as
MND, MS, young onset dementia, need a range of
housing related support such as planning an adaptation,
maintaining their property or tenancy, finding and securing
accommodation that will meet their changing physical
needs. For rapidly deteriorating conditions housing related
support must be flexible enough to provide intensive
support for short periods of time.
Access to generic floating
support services with ‘specific’
specialist input from relevant
organisations such as the MS
Society, MND Association,
alzheimers society acting
providing advice, information,
training.
Generic floating housing
related support services that
are integrated into health and
social care pathways so that
for example, a single working
female who suffers a stroke
can access support to manage
her home/tenancy.
20
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Client need
HIV/Aids
5 Year SP Strategy Update
SP supply
Need profile
Gap/potential response
People aged 18-64 who have
been acquired a physical
impairment through:
 a chronic condition such
as arthritis, COPD,
coronary heart disease);
 sudden onset of a
condition that limits
mobility such as
pulmonary fibrosis etc.
 acute episode (stroke,
heart attack)
In August 2006, there were over 8,700 people in East
Sussex claiming DLA of which 2,000 were eligible for a
higher rate mobility award. It is estimated that 54% of
these people are of working age.
No SP service specifically
designated for people living
with HIV.
Approx 320 people living with HIV in East Sx in 2005.
Numbers increasing each year at an approximate rate of
40-50 people per year, with the largest increases in
Eastbourne.
In addition, over 19,000 people receive incapacity benefit,
of which 2,300 claim severe disablement allowance. It is
estimated that 86% are working aged adults.
On average, between 250 and 300 working aged adults
have a stroke of varying degrees of intensity. The
numbers are increasing due to high prevalence of stroke
related risk factors such as hypertension, coronary heart
disease, diabetes etc.
In over 90% of cases, the support is ‘episodic’ with short
term input.
21
Some need can be provided
for by generic housing related
support services
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Client need
SP supply
Need profile
Gap/potential response
Older People
3807 units of sheltered
housing:
Eastbourne 1099 units
Hastings 786 units
Lewes 782 units
Rother 319 units
Wealden 821 units
Unmet needs include:
 Extra care for older people with support and care
needs
 Community based support for older residents in lowincome areas – cross tenure
 Support for older people with mental health needs;
 People with dementia
Based on the needs evidence
the responses to these needs
should be:
 Extra care
 Tenure neutral support for
people in low income/
deprived areas
 Support for people with
dementia
 Support for older people
with mental health needs
 Independent
accommodation with
external support
 Different forms of
affordable retirement
housing, including
sheltered housing, for over
60’s with some support
needs .
 Assistance/advice for
older people to move from
their home if inadequate
for their needs.
 Support that can be
episodic i.e. switched on
and off in response to
need/crisis.
88 units of extra care
524 units of floating support
20 units of outreach support
4 HIA services
22
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
3.3
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Key Issues
Through the process of updating the need profile for housing support services
the CSG identified a range of issues. These issues relate both to the
emerging unmet needs for housing support services from the updated needs
profile, and the development of a new ‘model’ of commissioning housing
support services.
These issues are summarised below:

Support services should be commissioned on the basis of the
contribution that they make to SF partner’s strategies and
commissioning plans and key performance indicators.

Sheltered housing is a major resource currently contracted through the
SP programme. Work has started by some landlords to resolve
unsustainable schemes, cease paying for support where customers do
not need it, releasing resources into floating, community-based
support. This process will need to continue. As a suitable housing
resource, its relevance to other customer groups will be considered
and agreements reached on future usage of schemes.

Generic floating support services should be commissioned to be
accessible across all customer groups.

Eligibility criteria and prioritisation of customers for support services
should be based on the impact that the support service will have on the
outcomes for the customer, rather than a customer having a specific
‘client need’ (such as ‘mental health’ needs).

Specialist support services should only be provided for those needs
that lie well outside ‘normal’ range of requirements. Specialist services
will be combined wherever possible to provide economies of scale,
flexibility of response and a more holistic service to the small group of
customers.

In order to resolve move-on obstacles and release existing supported
housing, the CSG should work, through the district/borough councils,
with a range of housing providers to seek innovative solutions to
maximising opportunities for move-on to independent housing. This is
an integral part of the new 'model' of support commissioning.
3.4
Future Process for Needs Mapping
The CSG and SF recognise that it is desirable to develop an on-going method
of identifying needs for housing support services.
It is proposed to undertake:

Annual updates of the need profile for support services (similar to the
work done for this update of the 5 year strategy).

Develop an on-going method of data collection potentially linked to the
assessment function of the new model of commissioning and delivering
housing support services. This may remove the need to undertake an
annual update of the need profile.
23
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
4
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Links to other Commissioning Strategies
One aim of updating the current 5 year SP strategy is to achieve better
integration of the programme into the mainstream commissioning activities of
all partners. The approach taken to achieve this is to strategically link
commissioning through the SP programme directly to other local strategies
and commissioning plans. Consistent with moving away from a ‘client group’
led approach, it is not the intention of the SF to develop separate SP
commissioning strategies for each ‘client group’.
The table below indicates the key performance indicators that commissioning
activity through the SP programme is aiming to contribute towards. Where
possible this will include the joint commissioning of services with other
organisations and agencies. It should be noted that not all areas of
commissioning activity have national performance indicators.
24
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Links to other Commissioning Strategies
Area of
Commissioning
Lead Strategy
Strategic Links and Actions
Adult Social Care
ASC 3 year Plan
2006-2009
ASC will continue to work in partnership on a range of
developments arising from Supporting People, which aims to
promote independence and prevention. This will include a
range of support services, new approaches to delivery of
adaptations, including use of Disabled Facilities Grants, joint
approaches to aspects of homelessness and joint development
of provision for adults with complex needs.
Related
performance
targets
Commissioning through the SP programme will be directly
linked with the new or developing commissioning strategies for
mental health, learning disabilities, older people, and physical
and sensory impairment.
Mental Health
Mental Health
Commissioning
Strategy
The priorities for the MH commissioning strategy will be:
 To commission a floating specialist support service which
can flexibly maintain people with mental health needs,
especially those who present a challenge i.e. dual
diagnosis, personality disorder, chaotic behaviours in a
variety of housing situations. In addition MH commissioners
are looking to influence the supply of housing units for this
client group. Being able to demonstrate that a specialist
support service will be available to sustain people with
mental health needs in their tenancies will remove a major
concern from the landlord’s perspective, and will help us
with this goal.
 To look to build on the success of the SAT (Supported
Accommodation Team) who undertake comprehensive
accommodation assessments and place people in a range
25
PAFAO/C31(Adults
with mental health
problems helped to
live at home)
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Area of
Commissioning
Lead Strategy
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Strategic Links and Actions

Learning
Disabilities
Learning Disability
Commissioning
Strategy





Older people
Joint Commissioning
Strategy for Older
People’s Services
Local Older People’s
Housing and Support
Strategies –
Eastbourne, Lewes,
Wealden and
Hastings/Rother
of supported accommodation.
To collect accurate and updated information on housing
needs to inform our partners i.e. housing and SP
colleagues, more precisely of the housing need and gaps
for people with MH and dual diagnosis.
To review existing SP expenditure on LD schemes to
ensure appropriateness of grant use, specifically that SP
grant is funding housing support services
Following the review of existing SP expenditure on LD
schemes there will a process of joint commissioning,
including a funding agreement, for housing and support
services for people with LD.
To prioritise SP investment in supported housing services
currently funded by NHS & Community Care,
To ensure supported housing is consistently monitored
through the SP QAF irrespective of funding arrangements,
The identification of suitable sites for LD extra care
The development and implementation of Older People’s
Housing Support Locality Strategies will be the mechanism for
linking commissioning through the SP programme to the wider
delivery of services for older people and housing and support
services in particular.




Related
performance
targets
All plans should address the social inclusion of older people
and promote their role as active citizens
Aim long-term plans at the ‘baby-boomers’ as well as
current retired.
Shift investment over time to prevention services
Develop a wider range of ways of paying for specialist
26
PAF AP/C30
(Adults with
learning disabilities
helped to live at
home)
BVPI – 54 (Older
people helped to
live at home)
PAF AO/C26
(Admissions of
supported
residents aged 65
and over to
residential/nursing
care)
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Area of
Commissioning
Lead Strategy
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Strategic Links and Actions




Physical disability,
Sensory
Impairment,
HIV/Aids
Physical Disability
Commissioning
Strategy
Related
performance
targets
accommodation and support needs to be developed
Housing-related support services for older people will be
commissioned across tenure and to incorporate maximum
flexibility of service delivery, services delivered in the home
or close to home and some specialist provision for mental
health and complex needs
Extra care housing will be developed to meet the needs of
people with a range of care needs, including dementia, in
their own homes within a non-institutional environment
Promotion of Telecare initiatives in specialist and general
accommodation
Support for carers.
For profoundly deaf young adults links are for supported
accommodation where independent living skills can be taught.
In addition:
 Support to access choice based lettings.
 Information, advice, communication support and advocacy
when negotiating with landlords.
 Support to manage tenancy
 Floating support for young people with severe sensory
impairment; for people with long term neurological
conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, MND & Epilepsy; for
young physically disabled adults; specialist floating support
for people with an acquired brain injury focused on moving
individuals to generic housing support services.
For people living with and affected by HIV the development of a
jointly commissioned social care and housing related support
service
27
PAF AO/C29
(Adults with
physical disabilities
helped to live at
home)
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Area of
Commissioning
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Lead Strategy
Strategic Links and Actions
Related
performance
targets
Domestic
Violence
East Sussex Domestic
Violence Strategy
2006–2009
Providing safety from abuse through the provision of refuges
and to consider the need whether further refuge spaces are
needed.
Develop jointly with Community safety team and CDRPs,
floating/outreach support services to support people in their
own homes and resettlement support following use of refuge or
other safe place.
BV 225 (Local
actions against
domestic violence)
DAAT
Alcohol Harm
Reduction Strategy
2006 – 2008
The Supporting People Programme funds services that support
vulnerable people with alcohol problems. These include generic
services, for single homeless, people with mental health
problems and services for young people at risk
DAAT
Drug Strategy 2005 –
2008
To support activity in relation to treatment, commissioning a
floating support service jointly with DAAT.
CDRPs
Safer Communities
Plan – Hate Crime
Ensuring commissioned support agencies provide effective
casework to victims and that effective referral mechanisms are
operating between services whilst publicising and promoting
services to facilitate access to SP provision for all victims of this
client group
CDRPs
Building Respect &
Reducing ASB
Commissioning ‘generic’ floating support that can support
families causing or at risk of causing ASB in neighbourhoods.
Community Safety
28
BV – 198 &
PAF AO/60
(Participation in
drug treatment
programmes)
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Area of
Commissioning
Lead Strategy
Strategic Links and Actions
Reducing
Offending
Sussex Probation
Business Plan
Adult offenders and PPOs. The groups with highest priority for
support services are high risk adult offenders and adult PPOs.
Safer Communities
Plan
Develop an agreed approach to providing accommodation and
associated support for adult PPOs on the ‘resettle and
rehabilitate’ strand.
Related
performance
targets
Develop ‘generic’ floating support that is accessible by
offenders
Young offenders
Housing &
Homelessness
Hastings BC
Eastbourne BC
Lewes DC
Rother DC
Wealden DC
Youth Justice Plan
Housing and
homelessness
strategies
Assist YOS to:
 Improve % of young people in appropriate accommodation
through joint working to increase suitable accommodation
options for 16/17 year olds
 Reduce reoffending in custody band by improving provision
of suitable accommodation for young people on release
from custody
% in suitable
accommodation –
YOS target is
100%
In relation to the housing and homelessness strategies of the
district/borough councils, the SP programme will help
vulnerable people to avoid homelessness in all
district/boroughs by:
 Develop tenancy/housing sustainment services for people at
risk of becoming homeless
 Develop resettlement services for people moving on from
temporary and supported accommodation
BVPI 183
Average time spent
in B&B
accommodation
and hostel
accommodation by
priority homeless
households
In some cases this will be achieved by reshaping existing
services.
BVPI 203
The percentage
change in the
average number of
It will also be addressed through the commissioning of flexible
29
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Area of
Commissioning
Lead Strategy
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Strategic Links and Actions
Related
performance
targets
floating support and move-on support services as part of the
new 'model' for SP commissioning
families placed in
temporary
accommodation.
The SP programme will:
 Ensure that support services used by homeless people or
people at risk of homelessness are effective in linking
service users to health care, mental health care, drug &
alcohol and training and employment services.
 Assist other vulnerable people to obtain the support they
need to live in the community through the provision of
effective housing support services, promoting community
safety and social inclusion
 Support the development of the county youth homelessness
strategy.
Young People at
risk
Children & Young
People’s Plan
Fewer young people becoming homeless, or depending on
temporary “sofa surfing” housing solutions including
providing supported housing linked to practical help and
guidance around education/training/employment and managing
transition to independent living.
30
BV161
PAF CF/A4
(Employment,
education and
training for care
leavers)
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Area of
Commissioning
Lead Strategy
Strategic Links and Actions
Teenage Parents
Teenage Pregnancy
Strategic Action Plan
The provision of accommodation with support in identified
‘hotspots’.
Arrangements are in place to support teenage parents to
transition to independent living
Practitioners working with lone under 18 parents in supported
accommodation have the skills and knowledge to ensure young
parents access specialist advice on education, training, and
employment.
Gypsies and
travellers
East Sussex Traveller
strategy 2006-2009
Developing and extending the current SP funded support
services for Gypsies and travellers to all parts of the county for
people using authorised and unauthorised sites
31
Related
performance
targets
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Area of
Commissioning
Lead Strategy
Strategic Links and Actions
Health
Improvement
PCT LDPs
The East Sussex Primary Care Trusts firmly supports a
stronger emphasis on preventative and well-being services
through the provision of a generic floating support service
across all tenures. All future commissioning should embrace a
vision of reducing health inequalities that exist between
different groups of people in East Sussex.
This objective is a priority theme in the Regional Directors of
Public Health's discussion document; The South East Health
Strategy – A Strategy For Improving Health and Well-Being in
the South East Region - June 2007.
To improve health and well-being the partnership working
between the PCTs and SP commissioned service providers,
will support service providers to inform their clients about how
activity and exercise, ways to improve mental wellbeing,
smoking cessation, healthy eating and sensible drinking can be
incorporated into their lifestyles. SP services will be expected
to:

Utilise the expertise of the PCTs' health promotion team
and the East Sussex Health Promotion Resources Centre

Participate in local and national health promotion
campaigns.
Assistive
technology
ESCC Assistive
Technology strategy
The SP programme will support the development and extension
of telecare services through the funding of community alarms
and through partnerships with service providers.
32
Related
performance
targets
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Area of
Commissioning
Lead Strategy
Strategic Links and Actions
Local Area
Agreement
All Together Better
Older Person elements of LAA:
Increase the number of people receiving services which enable
them to live at home independently

Target: The number of people receiving low level
preventative services which enable them live at home
independently
33
Related
performance
targets
Outcome 9/9.1
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Priorities 2007/08 – 2008/09
Based on the new model for commissioning housing support services, and the
most significant gaps identified from the update of the need profile for housing
support services, the following priorities for 2007/08 – 2008/09 are proposed.
Timescale
Priority
Action
Lead
2007/08
Substance misuse

Commission floating
support service
SPT/DAAT
2007/08
Domestic Violence

Commission outreach
service
SPT/Safer
Communities
team
2007/08
Gypsies and
Travellers

Extend floating support SPT/Safer
Communities
service
team
2007/08
Offenders

Improving access to
existing supported
housing and/or
identifying designated
accommodation for
offenders
SPT/Probation
2007/08 &
2008/09
Generic floating

support service as part 
of new commissioning 
model

Establish criteria
Develop specification
Identify ‘specialist’
services
Initiate and deliver
commissioning and
procurement plan
SPT/CSG
2007/08 &
2008/09
Vulnerable young
people

CSG/CYPS/
Develop and
Districts &
implement a young
Boroughs
people’s county
homelessness strategy
2008/09
Older people

Deliver extra care
housing at
Peacehaven
Commission further
extra care housing in
line with Older
Person’s housing and
support locality plans.

34
SPT/CSG
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Timescale
Priority
Action
Lead
2008/09
Older people

SPT/CSG


35
Remodelling of
support services in
sheltered housing
where appropriate.
Remodel Home
Improvement Agency
services
Initiate and deliver
commissioning and
procurement plan
where appropriate
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
6
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Commissioning and Delivery Plan 2007/08 – 2008/09
The commissioning and delivery plan sets out the actions to be taken by the
SF to deliver the priorities and strategic aims set out in this update to the 5
year SP strategy. The SF will also be implementing the actions set out in the
strategic linkages section of the strategy. These actions will be taken in
partnership between the organisations represented on the SF and with other
stakeholders including service users and service providers. The key actions
are summarised in the table below.
The table also identifies:
 The strategic aims (as numbered in section 2) that will
supported/delivered through the commissioning actions.
 The anticipated outcomes that relate to each commissioning action.
be
The core activity for 2007/08 and 2008/09 is to implement the new model of
commissioning for housing support service, as set out in this update to the
strategy. This is shown two ‘phases’. The first phase involves implementing
the model for all non-older person services. This includes a ‘generic’ floating
support service that will operate across tenures and potentially across local
authority boundaries. The second phase involves the commissioning, and
remodelling where appropriate, of support services for older people,
specifically sheltered housing and HIA services.
It is anticipated that both of these phases will be treated as full projects, with a
project management infrastructure, to reflect both the volume of activity
involved in implementing these changes and the significance of these
changes for support services in East Sussex over the next 2-3 years.
The commissioning of services for specific ‘client groups’ that are not already
identified in the commissioning plan, will be managed in the way that the new
model will be developed and implemented. The first activity of phase 1 is to
identify the criteria that will determine which ‘specialist’ services should be
retained, rather than replaced by a ‘generic’ model of support services. This
will involve an analysis of the services currently funded through the SP
programme against these criteria. It is likely that this process will lead to the
remodelling and reshaping of some services that are to be retained as
‘specialist’ services to ensure that they are focussed on the strategic
objectives of the SP partners and delivering positive outcomes for customers.
36
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Commissioning and Delivery Plan 2007/08 – 2008/09
Commissioning
Activity
Summary of Actions
Timetable Outcome
measure
Substance misuse
floating support
service
Produce service specification with
DAAT
July 2007
Identify performance and outcomes
measures
Aug 2007
Plan procurement process
Sep 2007
Tender for service
Dec 2007
New service commences
Apr 2008
Produce service specification with DV
team
April 2007
Identify performance and outcomes
measures
April 2007
Plan procurement process
May 2007
Tender for service
May 2007
New service commences
Apr 2008
Revise service specification with
ESCC Traveller Service &
District/Borough councils
July 2007
Domestic Violence
outreach service
Gypsy and Traveller
floating support
service
37
Outcomes
linked to
Strategic
Aims
Lead
20 units of floating 1;2;3;4;6;7
support available
SPT/DAAT
Provide 18002000 short-term
interventions per
annum.
1;2;3;4;5;6;
SPT/Safer
Comm team
Increase from 18
to 37 hours per
week of floating
support available
2;3;4;6;8;
SPT
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Commissioning
Activity
Offenders
Retendering for
Extra care in
Eastbourne and
Hastings
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Summary of Actions
Timetable Outcome
measure
Identify performance and outcomes
measures
Aug 2007
Review current contract performance.
July 2007
Decide whether to extend or terminate
the contract.
July 2007
Additional service commences
April 2008
Improving access to existing supported
housing
Negotiate with existing service
providers
Sept –
December
2007
Implement changes to service
specifications
Jan –
March
2008.
Identifying designated accommodation
for offenders
Jan –
March
2008
Produce service specification with
EBC, HBC & ASC
May 2007
Identify performance and outcome
measures
May 2007
38
Outcomes
linked to
Strategic
Aims
Lead
Additional units of
accommodation
designated for
offenders
(number tbc)
1,2,3,4,5,7,8
SPT/Probation
40 units in
Hastings and 13
units in
Eastbourne of
additional extra
1;2;7;8
SPT/EBC/
HBC/WDC/ASC
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Commissioning
Activity
Summary of Actions
Plan procurement process
Tender for service
Vulnerable young
people
Implement new
commissioning
model including
‘generic’ floating
support service(s)
1
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Timetable Outcome
measure
June
2007
Outcomes
linked to
Strategic
Aims
Lead
care housing
available.
June
2007
New service commences (Eastbourne
& Hastings)
April 2008
Develop a young people’s county
homelessness strategy
Sept 2007
– March
2008
Implement strategy
April –
Sept 2008
Produce PID for commissioning and
procurement of new model
Aug –
Sept 2007
Establish criteria for which ‘specialist’
services should be retained.
Sept –
Dec 2007
Develop specification for all elements
of the new model.
Sept –
Dec 2007
Determine funding available for
commissioning new service.
Oct – Dec
2007
To be determined through the specification.
39
Joint strategy
1,2,3,4,5,7,8
agreed between
CYPS, SF and
Districts/Boroughs
units/hours of
floating support
available across
the county TBC1.
Access
arrangements
consistent across
county.
Number of people
CSG/CYPS/
Districts &
Boroughs
1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8 SPT/CSG/SF/
District/Boroughs
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Commissioning
Activity
Summary of Actions
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Timetable Outcome
measure
Determine how/whether to divide the
new service into geographical areas
for procurement
Oct 2007
– Jan
2008
Identify volume of service required
across each district/borough area
Oct 2007
– Jan
2008
Plan procurement process
Oct 2007
– Jan
2008
Consult with providers, users and
stakeholders
ongoing
Identify and notify services that will be
replaced by the ‘generic’ support
service(s)
Jan 2008
Initiate and deliver commissioning and
procurement plan
Jan 2008
Handover to new service(s)
Sept 2008
40
helped to move
on in planned way
from ‘specialist’
services TBC.
Outcomes
linked to
Strategic
Aims
Lead
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Commissioning
Activity
Summary of Actions
Timetable Outcome
measure
Older people
extra care housing
at Peacehaven
Produce service specification with LDC June –
& ASC
Dec 2007
Identify performance and outcomes
measures
June –
Dec 2007
Plan procurement process for support
& care services
Sept –
Jan 2007
Tender for care service
New service commences
2008/09
2009/10
Commission further
extra care housing
in line with Older
Person’s housing
and support locality
plans.
Identify extra care development
opportunities in all districts/boroughs
and plan delivery.
July 2007April 2008
Older people
Produce PID for commissioning and
procurement of new model of housing
support for older people
Mar 2008
Establish criteria for which ‘sheltered’
services should be retained.
Apr 2008
Develop specification for new services
May 2008
Remodel support
services in sheltered
housing where
appropriate
2
To be determined through consultation with stakeholders
41
41 units of
additional extra
care housing
available.
Outcomes
linked to
Strategic
Aims
Lead
1;2;7;8
SPT/CSG/ASC/
LDC
ASC/LDC/WDC/
EBC/HBC/RDC/
SPT
units/hours of
floating support
available across
the county TBC2.
Access
arrangements
consistent across
county.
1;2;3;6;7;8
SPT/CSG/ASC/
District/Boroughs
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
Commissioning
Activity
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Summary of Actions
Timetable Outcome
measure
Determine funding available for
commissioning new service.
Apr 2008
Determine how/whether to divide the
new service into geographical areas
for procurement
May 2008
Identify volume of service required
across each district/borough area
May 2008
Plan procurement process
May 2008
Consult with providers, users and
stakeholders
June
2008
Identify and notify services that will be
replaced by the flexible/floating
support service(s)
June
2008
Initiate and deliver commissioning and
procurement plan
July 2008
Handover to new service(s)
February
2009
42
Outcomes
linked to
Strategic
Aims
Lead
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Commissioning
Activity
Summary of Actions
Older people and
disabled adults
Identify best model of delivering HIA
Mar 2008
services consistently across the county
to maximum number of clients
Remodel Home
Improvement
Agency services
Timetable Outcome
measure
Revise service specification with ASC,
PCT & District/Borough councils
May 2008
Identify performance and outcomes
measures
May 2008
Identify preferred approach to
procuring changes to existing services
June
2008
Consult with stakeholders
June
2008
Deliver remodelled service.
January
2009
43
Access to HIA
services
consistent across
county.
Services provided
by HIAs
extended.
Outcomes
linked to
Strategic
Aims
Lead
1;2;4;6;7;
SPT/ASC/District
& Boroughs
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
7
Financial Plan 2007/08 – 2009/10
7.1
Funding Position 2007/08
The total funding available for 2007/08 is as follows:
£
2007/08 Expenditure
Contracted Commitments
Contingency
Developments to support the delivery
of the SP Strategy
11,473,000
116,000
217,210
11,806,210
Funding Available
2007/08 SP Grant
2006/07 SP Grant underspend carried
forward
HIA funding
11,561,210
51,000
194,000
11,806,210
The Supporting People funding allocations for 2008/09 and 2009/10 have yet
to be announced.
7.2
Development of a 5 year financial model
A 5 year financial model has been developed, see details below, that links to
and supports the development of commissioning and service strategies for
the future.
The model was presented to the Supporting People Provider Forum on
19 April 2007, Supporting People Team awayday on 3 May 2007, the Core
Strategy Group on 9 May 2007 and the Strategic Forum awayday on 10 May
2007.
As with all forecasting models there are a number of assumptions that have to
be made about future funding and expenditure levels which will be subject to
change as and when fresh information is received or intentions change. The
current assumptions are based on the worse case scenario:

The long term funding of Supporting People will show a year on year
reduction in funding of 5%. This assumption will be subject to change
when DCLG issues further funding guidance. Based on current
allocations, a 1% reduction equates to a reduction in grant of
£115,000. The outcome of the funding distribution formula consultation
is still awaited, however, it would be prudent to allow for future
reductions in funding, given that East Sussex was one of only two
areas in the Southern region to receive a small increase in funding for
2007/08 and no increase in total national funding is expected.

Any underspend or overspend will be carried forward into the next
financial year. This is particularly important for an overspending
position as the Strategic Forum has not agreed for partners to fund in44
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project



5 Year SP Strategy Update
year budget overspends.
Contractual commitments at 1 April 2007 are the starting point for the
model.
No provider inflationary uplift has been allowed for in the model. This
does not negate the requirement for a discussion, including
consultation with the Supporting People Provider Forum, on
inflationary uplifts during the financial year.
A contingency will need to be maintained. The increased pressure on
Supporting People services resulting from reduced funding will
increase the risk of service/provider failure.
Initial indications from the model are that the Supporting People programme
will overspend as early as 2008/09 if actions are not taken to deliver savings
– in 2008/09 savings of £72,000 are required.
This is the worse case scenario and any reduction in grant funding that is less
than the 5% assumed will give the programme more flexibility, but what it will
not reduce is the requirement for long term savings to be made. Even if
funding remained at current grant levels the pressure on Supporting People
and providers to meet service demands would require “savings” to be
achieved.
There are a number of options available to the Strategic Forum to manage
this potential long term financial situation and deliver savings in excess of
£1.8m:

Decommission services

Recommission services differently

No provider inflationary uplifts

Charging for services

Cross border working

Use of Value for Money policy to deliver savings

Identifying specific savings to be achieved
45
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
A summary of the model is set out below.
Supporting People
5 Year Financial Model
2007/08
£'000
2008/09
£'000
2009/10
£'000
2010/11
£'000
2011/12
£'000
11,561
194
0
51
11,806
10,983
194
116
218
11,510
10,434
194
110
(0)
10,737
9,912
194
104
0
10,211
9,417
194
99
(0)
9,709
11,721
116
11,473
110
11,401
104
10,633
99
10,112
94
11,588
(72)
11,511
(768)
10,737
(521)
10,211
(496)
9,710
218
(0)
0
(0)
(0)
FUNDING AVAILABLE
SP Grant
HIA (ESCC cont.)
Unspent Contingency
Underspend/(Over)
Total Funding
EXPENDITURE
Commitments
Contingency
Commissioning Strategy
- Decommissioning
- Commissioning
Savings
Total Expenditure
Under/(Over)
(845)
597
(1,857)
Total Savings
Note
Contingency equals 1% of Supporting People
Grant funding
Assumption:
1.) SP Grant reduce year on year by 5%
2.) Commitments include no inflationary uplift
7.3
Savings Planning
From the savings options outlined above, the following options will be
implemented to deliver savings.

Decommission services – this will be done as part of implementing the
new commissioning ‘model’.

Recommission services differently – this will be done where existing
services are being remodelled.

No provider inflationary uplifts – this is the policy for 2007/08 and will
be reviewed annually in consultation with the Provider Forum.

Charging for services – the charging policy for SP services is
scheduled to be reviewed during 2007/08.

Cross border working – Through the south east Cross Authority Group
opportunities for cross border commissioning will be identified and
implemented where appropriate and feasible.

Identifying specific savings to be achieved/Use of Value for Money
policy to deliver savings – the SP value for money policy is being
implemented for all services.
46
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
The savings to be delivered are summarised in the table below.
Target (£000)
(Full year effect)
Year
2007/08
72
2008/09
768
2009/10
521
Total
7.4
1361
Funding the Commissioning and Delivery Plan 2007/08-2008/09
Funding for planned commitments within the commissioning plan includes:
Commissioning Activity
SP Funding commitment
(per annum)
Substance misuse floating support
service
£70,000 (tbc)
Domestic Violence outreach service
£93,000
Gypsy and Traveller floating support
service
£50,000 (current commitment is
£25,000)
Funding for the proposed ‘model’ of SP commissioning will come from existing
SP resources. The precise level of funding will be determined by:

The volume of funding currently attached to existing services that could
be replaced by a ‘generic’ service.

The extent to which value for money efficiencies can be achieved
through the procurement of this model.
47
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
8
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Procurement Policy
The implementation of the commissioning plan within this update to the 5 year
strategy will be undertaken in line with the agreed Supporting People policy
statement. All procurement activity will be undertaken consistent with East
Sussex County Council standing orders. In practice this applies to tendering
exercises and remodelling of services.
9
Move - On Accommodation
The provision of and planning for move-on accommodation from
accommodation-based services has been facilitated by the District/Borough
council housing authorities as part of their strategic responsibilities in relation
to the SP programme. The existing approach will be strengthened and
improved through the implementation of the new ‘model’ of commissioning. A
‘move-on’ group has been established by Hasting BC which aims to prevent
homelessness (reducing acceptances), ensure appropriate accommodation is
accessed and utilised, to develop consistent referral procedure for floating
support and have a quota system to enable move on with effective information
sharing between all agencies to enable tenancy sustainment.
10
Service Performance and Quality
The commissioning of services and remodelling of services through the
implementation of the commissioning plan will be subject to the current SP
contract monitoring and review policy.
In addition, the linkages with other strategies and commissioning plans will
develop outcomes that are shared across health, housing and adult social
care to which SP funded services will contribute.
11
Access to Services
Access to services has been facilitated through a range of mechanisms.
These include:

Direct access where this appropriate.

Access through the ESCC Supported Accommodation Team for mental
health and learning disability services.

Access through specific panels for extra care housing.

Access facilitated by the District/Borough councils for other supported
housing.
The implementation of the new commissioning ‘model’ will in effect streamline
and improve access to support services funded through the SP programme by
having an anticipated single point of access to services, typically by
district/borough area which will improve consistency and transparency.
However the ‘model’ will have sufficiently flexibility to allow for direct access
arrangements to services where this necessary. In line with Independence
and Opportunity we will consider the inclusion of housing support in the
emerging Common Assessment Framework for adults.
48
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
12
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Diversity
The policy of East Sussex County Council is to conduct Equality Impact
Assessments (EIAs) where there is a change in policy or a strategy. An EIA
will be conducted at the outset of the commissioning and delivery plan.
The commissioning plan will be implemented in a way that is consistent with
the SP Equalities Plan. All services will have targets to achieve in terms of
access to services and use of the services in relation to the local BME
population. These will be monitored through the Client Record data and the
annual contract review process.
13
Service User Involvement
Service users will be involved in implementing the new commissioning ‘model’
in line with the SP service user involvement policy. This will include:

A representative from the new service user group attending strategic
meetings such as the Strategic Forum;

Consulting with service users on the specifications for new or remodelled services;

Producing a summary sheet of the strategy update for service users;

Communicating progress with the commissioning plan to all service
users through the service user newsletter.
We will discuss with service users and other stakeholders the extent to which
choice of services can be improved and delivered; how service users can
exercise control over the design, specification, delivery and management of
services; and the development of charters for independent living. In line with
Independence and Opportunity we will make use of the learning from the
Individual Budget pilots and other choice led personal funding mechanisms to
enhance service user choice and control.
14
Service Provider Involvement
The SF and CSG are committed to working with the providers of housing
support services to implement the vision, strategic aims and commissioning
plan contained in this strategy update. Service providers will be represented
at all the groups within the governance arrangements for SP. Providers are
currently represented through ROCC who attend these meetings on behalf of
providers.
The SF supports the development of the independent provider forum as a
means of supporting the provider sector in East Sussex. The SF will consult
with service providers through the provider forum on the detail of how this
strategy will be implemented and a range of other policies and developments
in the SP programme.
The SF will also work with the wider third sector in implementing the strategy
through the range of local partnership groups and forums at which third sector
organisations are represented.
49
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
15
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Review of the Strategy
This update of the 5 year strategy will be reviewed in the final year of the
strategy, ie 2009/10. The key requirement of this review will be to ensure that
Supporting People commissioning has been fully ‘mainstreamed’ into the
business of the SF partners.
The Supporting People 5 year Strategy Update was written by Ian Copeman, from
the Housing & Support Partnership (www.housingandsupport.co.uk) working with the
East Sussex Supporting People team, particularly Candice Miller.
50
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Appendix 1
Service Users and other groups involved in developing the strategy update
Rye Seniors Forum
Southdown HA Tenants Consultative Panel
1066 Sheltered Housing Forum
Seaview Project service user group
Learning Disability Partnership Board reference group
Women who have experienced domestic violence
People with substance misuse problems
We have also made use of:
Feedback on the Learning Disability Commissioning Strategy
Feedback on the Older People’s Commissioning Strategy
Feedback on the Older People’s Housing and Support Strategies
51
East Sussex Supporting People Strategy
and Commissioning Project
5 Year SP Strategy Update
Appendix 2
Stakeholders involved in developing the draft strategy update
East Sussex County Council
Safer Communities Team:
 Drug and Alcohol Action Team
 Domestic Violence team
 Traveller Liaison Service
Adult Social Care:
Departmental Management Team
Commissioning managers for
 Older People
 People with mental health needs
 People with learning disabilities
 People with physical and sensory impairments
 People living with HIV/AIDS
 Housing
Children and Young People's Services
 Youth Offending Team
 Teenage Pregnancy Service
Probation Service, Sussex Area
East Sussex Primary Care Trusts
 East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust
 Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust
District & Borough Councils:
 Eastbourne BC
 Hastings BC
 Lewes DC
 Rother DC
 Wealden DC
Service providers:
 East Sussex Provider Forum
 Provider reference group
Voluntary Organisations:
 Age Concern Eastbourne
 Age Concern Hastings
 Care for the Carers
 Alzheimer’s Society (Eastbourne and District Branch)
52