Information & Events
Older Persons Pilots - Contract's now Awarded
Click here for further details
Older Person Services Review
Older Persons Housing Support Service
During the past two years the Supporting People Team has undertaken a review of the services it commissions. The findings show that in order to meet one of it’s three key strategic priorities ‘ Enabling older people to remain living in their own home’ there is a clear case for change.
The Supporting People Commissioning Body has endorsed a vision statement that sets out the services it wishes to see delivered in Suffolk and has begun a project to deliver a pilot housing support scheme for older people in Suffolk.
Over the next year the project will:
We want to make sure that we offer opportunities to all those who have an interest in the well being of older people in Suffolk to engage with the project and over the next few weeks will be contacting over 100 organisations to let them know what’s happening and asking them if they wish to give their views.
So far we have begun to talk to District Councils, Health, Social Services and existing service providers, but we are keen to encourage open communication throughout the project. If you or your organisation have not been contacted and feel that you would like to contribute to the process, we would welcome your views. It is important that we make sure as many views as possible are taken into account so that we can make sure that the pilot schemes operate well.
The project will be overseen by a working group, which will include representatives of older people who would want to use the service. Regular updates about the project will appear on this site.
Open Event 25th March at Kerrison for Providers
We were pleased to see such a good response to the event at Kerrison with a wide variety of organisation attending.
The meeting began by running through the presentation given to the Commissioning Body about the changes needed in the provision of older persons housing support services and from which they made the decision to undertake a pilot project. Click here for further details.
Where are we now?
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Engaged with some agencies
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Identified potential providers
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Outline specification issued with invitation to this meeting
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Pilots will combine urban/rural areas
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There will be 2 contracts Mid Suffolk/Lowestoft and Ipswich/Bury St Edmunds
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Do not have to operated from existing schemes
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Applies to those over 50 requiring housing support
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6 month pilot to explore and identify gaps
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Pilot will report back to steering group with recommendations
Next steps
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2 weeks has been allowed for attendees to feedback views,
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Specification to be agreed with steering group
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Tender to be issued
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Review of pilot at 3 months – may need to shift emphasis
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6 month review and exit plan
The floor was then opened to questions and discussion:
Questions
Will there be an overlap with non accommodation based generic floating support?
The focus is on housing support needs of older people as opposed to more specific issues, like mental health. Although there may be some overlap it may well be that clients picked up through this service are referred on for more specialist support. The balance of accommodation vs. non accommodation based spend needs to be addressed. We are looking for ways to raise awareness with potential users and also at referral routes.
How will the success of the pilot be evaluated?
Evaluation criteria are not yet complete. Value for money can be demonstrated by an increase in the number of people helped to achieve goals and outcomes. It’s about skilling people up to be able to manage. We are looking for creativity, perhaps in how providers could link to existing services. Service users have been involved at all stages and will take part in tender evaluation.
The losers will be those in supported housing that don’t qualify for support?
This is not the case. The schemes may be structured differently but users will still feel OK. It’s not about what money is going in but how it is used. Too much support creates dependency. People need to be more pro-active in identifying their needs and not wait for a crisis situation.
Who are the service users involved?
There is a mix of those in supported housing and those in private accommodation. The biggest audience for this is the private sector.
Time scale is tight for a 6 month contract. Can SP commit to continuation of the pilot contract past this time?
No
Is there any flexibility in the pilot areas?
There is no issue with partnership working but there will only be one contract per pilot so need to tender as such.
6 months is not long enough to achieve outcomes. How will the pilot be evaluated?
Lots of outcomes will be achieved in less than 6 months. Complex cases will go on longer and involve other agencies but these are unlikely to be housing support only related. This is a transient service it is not long term.
Data collection?
The specification will detail performance data required. Click here for further deails
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