The Scottish Government

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HOUSING SUPPORT AND WIDER FORMS OF SUPPORT

69. As is outlined above, the Executive's approach to preventing and addressing homelessness is predicated on the belief that accommodation alone cannot be a realistic solution. A key element in preventing homelessness, arresting the cycle of repeat homelessness and resolving antisocial behaviour and other behavioural issues is the provision of housing support and other wider forms of support. Repeat homelessness must be tackled as an important element of making progress towards the 2012 target - for the sake of the individuals concerned but also to ensure that more efficient use is made of available housing stock.

70. Local authorities - through developing their homelessness strategies with partners - have put in place a wide range of arrangements to provide the support required by homeless households in their area.

Housing support

71. The Supporting People programme came into effect in April 2003 and provides a coherent policy and funding framework to support vulnerable people in different types of accommodation and tenure. A revised funding formula was put in place in December 2004 and local authorities are currently carrying out reviews of their Supporting People services. The Executive is currently taking forward work to ensure more effective co-ordination between Supporting People and other linked funding streams.

72. It should be noted that:

• While the overall Scottish budget for Supporting People fell by about 6%, following a review of the programme that indicated improved efficiencies were achievable, the budget grew dramatically before then.
• At over £400m, it is still eight times higher than it was in 2000/01.
• The huge rise in funding between 2000/01 and 2003/04 provided councils with considerably more resources to meet the housing support needs of homeless people.
• Supporting People was therefore able to help 19,000 homeless people in 2003/04, with £50m invested in services for homeless clients - the same amount as the total budget available for all 18 different Supporting People client groups in 2000/01.

73. We recognise the concern expressed by respondents to the consultation regarding Supporting People funding. As is set out above, we will therefore continue to assess local authorities ability to meet support needs in their area as part of our overall assessment of their capacity to move towards the 2012 target. Arrangements have been put in place to monitor the impact of the recent funding changes on service capacity and on related strategies such as homelessness. The first returns have been received and are being analysed for discussion with external stakeholders.

74. Research is also being commissioned to provide a full cost / benefit analysis of the impact of Supporting People funding on all its many different client groups, including homeless people.

Accommodation with intensive support

75. Some homeless households require more intensive intervention, supervision and support if they are to be able to live successfully within a settled community. Whilst the Executive is committed to finding appropriate accommodation and support for every homeless household we also note the right of other households to enjoy their homes free from neighbour harassment, nuisance or noise.

76. The Executive will be funding demonstration projects to provide intensive intervention and supervision to particularly troubled or troublesome families. The aim of the demonstration models - called Breaking the Cycle: Intensive Intervention and Supervision - is to widen the range of intervention models available and share experience and good practice with other local authorities. An independent evaluation of the projects will be carried out, considering their effectiveness in changing behaviour, the sustainability of the outcomes achieved and links with homelessness.

77. We will also aim to reflect the necessary balance between finding appropriate accommodation for homeless households and safeguarding the rights of other households in implementing the new regime for intentionally homeless households (see below).

Social work

78. The 21st Century Social Work review has explored the context in which the social work profession is operating in the Scotland of the early 21st century and how to make best use of the significant resources that society invests in social work services. The review recognises the need to bring to bear social work knowledge, skills and intelligence about the needs of communities to the design, planning and delivery of services to support vulnerable people and communities. Its report will emphasise the need for Social Work to contribute to a joined up approach to prevention and early intervention, ensuring people get the help they need in order to address the causes of homelessness before a crisis occurs.

79. Social workers will increasingly work as members of integrated teams working with those individuals and families where there are high levels of complexity and risks. Their knowledge and skills are needed in multi disciplinary working to address the support needs of the most vulnerable homeless people to make accommodation sustainable and prevent recurring homelessness.

Health

80. All Health Boards have Health and Homelessness Action Plans. The experience of assessing these plans led to the development of the Health and Homelessness Standards published in March of this year and these provide a framework for Board performance. The standards are at the centre of the Scottish Executive's commitment to improve the health of homeless people and require NHS Boards to re-state and further refine their commitment to meeting the health needs of all homeless people. NHS Boards are expected to implement the standards from April 2005 onwards and actions will be incorporated into the wider plans of the Board.

81. Strategic links are being made and developing well in many areas ensuring that the needs of homeless people are reflected in a wide range of appropriate strategies including drug and alcohol misuse. Strategic links are seen as vitally important and where such links have been established there is evidence of the complex needs of homeless people being mainstreamed through the wider planning process. We are also working to ensure that the needs of homeless people with addictions are identified, and that they are able to access appropriate treatment.

82. Standard 1 of the Health and Homelessness Standards reinforces the need for NHS Boards to incorporate the health needs of homeless people into the Board's Health Inequalities Strategy and all other relevant strategic planning frameworks.

Employability

83. The Scottish Homelessness and Employability Network was launched in 2004 to improve opportunities for homeless people through engagement with education, training and employment. The network builds links between organisations and individuals working in homelessness services, education and training providers, policy officers and statutory organisations. It also works with businesses and employers to develop practices which will enable vulnerable people to gain employment.

84. In 2006 the Executive will publish an Employability Framework for Scotland which will support action at national and local levels to increase the numbers of people in sustained employment. We will continue to pursue the recommendations of the Homelessness Task Force within the context of this Framework and in liaison with DWP and Jobcentre Plus.

Social networks

85. The Scottish Social Networks Forum has been established to support the development and integration of befriending, mentoring and mediation services for people affected by homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The Forum aims to raise awareness of the important role these services can play in enabling homeless people to (re)build positive social networks; test and develop approaches which support the building of social networks; share good practice and information; provide a forum for discussion and support and assist the local authorities and homelessness projects in the delivery of the Homelessness Task Force recommendations.

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