Minutes of Supporting People Core Strategy Group

29 April 2008

Present

Apologies

1.  Introductions

2.  Apologies

3.  Minutes of the Last Meeting

Kathryn Hanna said there is a document about Individual Budgets due to be published in June.  Cara Cliento said it would be useful to have a future meeting about Individual Budgets.  Marie Earle said she was attending an away day on individual budgets at the beginning of May and suggested arranging something after then.

4.  SP Strategic Direction 2009-2011

Kathryn Hanna presented a paper on the above.  The paper has been circulated.  It refers to the priorities of SP over the next 3 years.  These include a sustained emphasis on:  continuous improvement of service delivery within the Quality Assessment Framework (QAF), more accurate completion of outcomes, performance indicator and client record form data, addressing issues such as the quality of life for older people and achieving outcomes for service users.  The new strategic direction will focus on: addressing 'worklessness', tenancy training and life skills training, supporting service users to fulfil their aspirations, providing enhanced housing options and enabling residents in supported housing to achieve owner occupier status such as shared ownership.

Kathryn Hanna asked for volunteers to facilitate groups at the Service User Consultative Forum.  Mike Petrou volunteered.  All other commissioners said that they'll either check their dairies or arrange for someone from their services to volunteer.  Marie Earle asked that volunteers contact herself or Lee Morgan directly.

5.  Key Priorities

Marie Earle asked commissioners to give brief presentations on the key priorities of their areas.  Papers were circulated.  A brief summary is as follows:

• Learning Disabilities.  There is an increase in the number of children coming through transition to adult services.  A minimum of 10 looked after children (LAC) needing 24 hours support each year over the next 5 years.  An increase in the proportion of people requiring ground floor/adapted accommodation.

• Offenders.  There is the Reducing Re-Offending Strategy 2008-2011.  This document covers reducing re-offending, reducing crime, delivering co-ordinated responses to the resettlement of offenders, contributing to the building of safer communities and the regeneration of the city.  Pathways out of offending - accommodation, education, training and employment, drugs and alcohol, health, finance, children & families, attitudes, thinking & behaviour, victims of crime (ensuring that their voices are heard).

• Older People.  Priorities include: increasing the provision of extra care housing, providing more specialist dementia schemes, individual budgets, increasing the choice of low level and preventative services.  Older people are raising the following issues - affordability, manageability and feeling safe.

• Mental Heath.  There is a need to improve the information available about needs (including dual diagnosis) and widen the number of providers.  Looked after children (LAC) having access to appropriate support and accommodation on leaving care is an important priority.  Other key priorities link in with priorities of other partner commissioners.

• Drugs & Alcohol.  There is a need for better links with accommodation and treatment services, substance misuse training needs to be rolled out to all accommodation providers, policies and protocols need reviewing or developing, and specific quality standards need reviewing, establishing and implementing.

• Physical Disabilities.  Have started work on their housing strategy.  There is a need to extend quality and choice and work with the new local housing companies on accessibility and the social model.

• Homelessness.  Priorities include preventing homelessness, the hostel replacement programme, MOPP, supporting families with challenging behaviour.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Tuesday 15 July 2008, 10.30 - 12.30.
Room 2014, Town Hall Extension.

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