The Scottish Government

(55) The strength of a homeless person's social networks should be an integral part of the assessment of their needs and of the support offered to them in temporary accommodation and during permanent resettlement. All projects serving homeless people should pursue strategies to promote and support opportunities for positive social interaction.

RAG status: Amber

Delivery contact: Homelessness Team, SE; Scottish Social Networks Co-ordinator

Progress to date:

• Executive is aware of a number of projects building a social interaction approach into their work.
• Series of seminars held in Summer 2005 by Scottish Social Networks Co-ordinator to raise awareness of importance of social networks and building social needs of homeless households into wider needs assessment.
• Revised Code of Guidance on Homelessness published May 2005 includes material on importance of social networks.

Action required & by whom:

• Scottish Social Networks Co-ordinator to organise National Social Networks Conference - May 2006.
• Scottish Social Networks Co-ordinator to produce guidance on successful approaches based on evaluation of existing practice.

Key milestones:

• Social Networks Co-ordinator appointed August 2004
• Revised Code of Guidance published May 2005.
• 5 local seminars held to raise awareness of social networks - Summer 2005.
• National Social Networks Conference - May 2006.

(56) A national co-ordination role should be created to build and co-ordinate local mediation, befriending and mentoring services for homeless people across Scotland. This role would also evaluate existing projects, disseminate good practice and facilitate information sharing.

RAG status: Green

Delivery contact: Scottish Social Networks Co-ordinator

Progress to date:

• Lesley Stenhouse appointed as Scottish Social Networks Co-ordinator in August 2004. Lesley has publicised her role through circulation of a factsheet, personal contact with a range of organisations and a series of regional seminars held in Summer 2005.
• Social Networks Reference Group (including representatives from the Scottish Executive, Communities Scotland, the Scottish Mediation Network, Befriending Network Scotland, Scottish Mentoring Network, Scottish Churches Housing Action, Scottish Council for Single Homeless, the Ark Trust and the Rock Trust) established November 2004. Workplan and communications strategy for Co-ordinator agreed. The Reference Group continue to advise and assist on the development of the work plan.
• Awareness raising of: the importance of Social Networks in combating homelessness; the role mentoring, befriending and mediation can play in developing Social Networks: and the forum to support the development of services has continued through presentations, articles and visits.
• Five very successful seminars were held in June 2005 - Inverness, Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Edinburgh and Dundee. 200 people were directly involved with interest expressed by many more. The purpose and theme of the seminars was to look at national issues and contribute to local solutions which will enable people affected by homelessness develop positive social networks. A report of the seminars is available from the Co-ordinator.
• Newsletter established and work commenced on Social Networks website.

Action required & by whom:

• Scottish Social Networks Co-ordinator to take forward work plan including: raising awareness of Scottish Social Networks Forum and of befriending, mediation and mentoring services; mapping provision of services and dissemination of good practice and case studies; and development of electronic communication system.
• Co-ordinator to arrange National Social Networks Conference by May 2006
• Reference Group to agree forward work plan for Co-ordinator for 2006/2007.

Key milestones:

• Appointment of Lesley Stenhouse -August 2004
• Establishment of Reference Group - November 2004
• Seminar/roadshows June 2005
• National conference May 2006