Supporting people
The Supporting People strategy was launched in April 2003 to provide housing-related support to people who might otherwise end up in institutional care or become homeless.
Supporting People is a major funding source for meeting support needs and is critical in paying for the costs of supported housing, supported lodgings, foyer accommodation, hostels and floating support services.
It is likely that many young people who have offended will not have the skills and experience to manage independent living, so the provision of support services through the Supporting People programme can be as important as a roof over their head.
Supporting People data
You are able to extract data from the supporting people website that could help provide you with an insight into the needs and characteristics of young people or to evidence need within your local area, for example in terms of accommodation.
Anonymous data is publicly available at spclientrecord.org.uk, which can be broken down by authority, region and on a national basis.. For example, you could run reports to obtain data on the number of referrals from YOTs in comparison to other referrals.
If further information is required that the online reporting function offers, contact the Supporting People Lead Officer in your authority by going to www.spkweb.org.uk/Your_local_area.
How can YOTs influence their local Supporting People strategy?
Every commissioning body has drawn up a five-year Supporting People strategy, which were delivered to the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in March 2005. The strategies set out the objectives and priorities for Supporting People funds in the local area and will be updated on a regular basis.
It is critical that all YOTs play their part in the development and consultation of their local Supporting People strategy to ensure the needs of young offenders in their area are fully considered. However, currently YOTs may not have direct representation on commissioning bodies, so YOT interests should be channelled through the appropriate Probation Service representation. The contact details for Probation Service representatives with Supporting People responsibilities are listed in:
Local authority social services and Primary Care Trusts are also directly represented on the commissioning bodies and, as statutory YOT partners, are well placed to ensure that YOT interests are reflected in the emerging strategy.
After the local Supporting People strategy has been agreed, the YOT should continue to participate in the Supporting People process.
Supply evidence of local need
Local authorities have a standard needs assessment and methodology to map the need for supported housing in their area. This should be continually updated. YOTs need to liaise with Supporting People teams to ensure that young offenders are fully represented in the needs mapping process, as this information underpins the strategic allocation of funding.
Participate in Supporting People consultation
It's important that YOTs continue to engage fully with the Supporting People process. As noted above, the needs of YOTs' clients can be raised through the representatives of the Probation Service, social services and Primary Care Trusts on the commissioning bodies. YOTs will need to continue to work closely with these representatives to ensure that any shortfall in the housing and support needs of young offenders are addressed as part of the development of Supporting People services. YOTs can, however, directly participate in local inclusion forums and should ensure that well-briefed representatives attend the forums regularly.
Participation in service reviews
Supporting People will be undertaking regular reviews of services provided through the programme and YOTs will need to encourage young people they work with who are placed in Supporting People-funded projects or access floating support services to participate directly themselves in service review opportunities. Service reviews are a direct opportunity for YOTs to inform the Supporting People programme as to whether supported housing provision is accessible to their client group, meeting their needs and delivering appropriate services.
