Multiple and Complex Needs Programme (MCN)
The Scottish Government's Multiple and Complex Needs programme aims to improve public services for those with multiple and complex needs - some of the very hardest to reach in society who may not have benefited from recent improvements to service delivery because they find it difficult to access services and/or to maximize their own benefit from them.
Over £5 million is being made available to explore ways in which different services can better meet the multiple and complex needs that some individuals and families in society present.
A range of pilots / demonstration projects, representing a wide range of services, settings and client groups - all of whom face particular barriers, have been chosen to receive funding under the initiative until 31 December 2008.
The aim is to improve the way in which they engage with service users and attract them to use their services, how they assess and deal with their particular set of service needs problems and, how they improve service outcomes for them.
The Programme currently funds:
- A review of existing knowledge about how services deal with multiple and complex needs - including good practice examples;
- 14 pilot / demonstration projects that explore how services in different settings cater for those with multiple and complex needs;
- An overarching evaluation of the programme to identify general principles which can be applied to improve other public services in Scotland and elsewhere.
All projects will explore how they can better meet the needs of those with multiple and complex needs and will monitor and evaluate their impact on the target client groups. All will take steps to ensure that the lessons learnt for their particular service / setting are learnt from and disseminated to a wider audience.
For more information on the projects supported through the MCN Programme click here, or if you have any queries about Multiple and Complex Needs you should contact Raymond Kirk using the contact details below:
Raymond Kirk
Social Inclusion Division
Scottish Executive
Area 2-F (S)
Victoria Quay
Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Email: Raymond.kirk@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0131 244 0094
Fax: 0131 244 0810