Information, Events and Updates
NEW TENDERING OPPORTUNITY - 12/11/08
TEWKESBURY: CSIP South West Regional Housing LIN meeting, 16th October 2008
Chris Lewis (Bournemouth Supporting People Project Manager) recently presented at the LIN meeting in Tewkesbury. His Bournemouth Pathfinder presentation can be viewed by clicking here.
NEW NEWSLETTER!
FLOATING SUPPORT INFORMATION DAY:
Supporting People and the providers of floating support services in Bournemouth are holding a floating support information day on Thursday 11th September 2008 at Kinson Community Centre, Pelhams Park. The service providers will be there with information stands and there will be talks throughout the day.
Please drop in anytime between 10am and 3.30pm to find out more about the services available. For further information please click here: FS information day flier
Commissioning Strategy Budget Allocation
Initial apportionment of the budget for the next 2 years:
Commissioning Strategy budget allocation June 2008
Budget Distribution Model
Local Housing Allowance
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is a new way of calculating Housing Benefit for tenants renting accommodation from a private landlord. It is being introduced nationally on 7th April 2008. It will apply to private sector tenants who make a new claim for benefit and to existing customers on Housing Benefit who change address or move into private sector accommodation.
For more information please click on the link: Local Housing Allowance
If you live in council accommodation or other social housing, LHA will not afect you.
LAA Pathfinder
Bournemouth has been accepted, along with 15 other authorities, as a pathfinder for the inclusion of Supporting People into the LAA.
The pathfinder will pilot the inclusion of the SP programme grant into the non ringfenced LAA scheme, further information on the LAA, the pathfinder and governance will be posted on the website.
The initial briefing from the CLG can be viewed on the link below.
CLG Pathfinder Briefing
SP Grant Allocations confirmation
We have received final confirmation of the funding for the Supporting People programme in Bournemouth for 2008/09 which will be £10.59 million equating to a reduction of 5%.
Letter from CLG to SP Lead Officer - Grant Allocation 2008/09
New VACANCY SYSTEM
The Bournemouth Supporting People on-line directory now includes information about the number of vacancies within a service.
In addition, if you are looking for a service with a vacancy, you can now view a list that includes those services with vacancies only.
The accuracy of the vacancy system relies on providers of services keeping the team updated when vacancies arise or are filled by contacting us at supporting.people@bournemouth.gov.uk or on 01202 458929
New Bournemouth Supporting People services
'Reconnect' - floating support for people with Dementia and older people with Dementia or memory loss problems
This service was jointly commissioned with Somerset, North Somerset and Poole Supporting People teams. The service will be run in all four local authority areas by Rethink, which is an national organisation working with people affected by severe mental illness. This service will be operational on 3rd March 2008.
Unlike other floating support services, this service is not restricted to a maximum support time of two years. Support will be available 7 days a week from 8.30am to 6.30pm and will be provided to an individual for as long as it is required. Support workers will provide between 5 - 10 hours of support to each Service User each week. Individuals requiring a higher support level will be signposted to more appropriate services.
For more information please contact Rethink on 0845 4560455
A case study about this joint commissioning between Bournemouth and the three other authorities has been produced by the South West Centre of Excellence and can be viewed on their website.
Floating support for prolific offenders
Langley House Trust, a charity which specialises in supporting offenders, will be providing the new floating support service for prolific offenders. This service will support those of 16 years or over to resettle into the community and manage their tenancy. This service was jointly commissioned with Poole Supporting People and will be operational from 1st February 2008.
For more information please contact Mike Ansell on 0845 618 0030
Floating support for people in Aftercare
Support will be delivered to people who are ready to move on from one of the Bournemouth Supporting People stage three dry houses and into independent accommodation. This service will be operational on 11th February 2008. For more information please contact John Norman at Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA) on 01202 410500.
Bournemouth Adult Learning Centre - FREE English Lessons
Please see poster for more details.
Assessment and Benefits Team - Change of Address
The Assessment and Benefits Team have moved to Cotlands Road.
Their new contact details are available to view.
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Due to the long sickness leave of the Advice Service Manager and also other staff absences, we are having to slightly change our service delivery to the public.
1) There will still be a 10am to 4pm Customer Service, Drop-In, telephone advice and specialist appointments from Monday to Thursday inclusive
2) There will only be a telephone service and specialist appointments from 10am to 4pm on Fridays. We regret that we cannot offer a drop-in service at the moment.
3) We are trying to maintain our outreach services BUT for further information, please call as usual on 290967.
We shall do all possible to maintain as full a service as we can at the scheduled times outlined above.
Move-on
The Audit Commission has recommended that we develop a move-on strategy.
The full recommendation is:
- Making best use of all available accommodation for people in supported housing who need move-on
- Move-on arrangements which where required include some form of support
- An agreed approach to managing existing tenants of supported housing who although independent are reluctant to move-on
The South West Regional Housing Strategy Vulnerable People Delivery Group have also been working on move-on and have produced a report.
Move-on is considered as part of the Homelessness Strategy but we need to do more. If you have any thoughts or comments on move-on please email Chris Lewis and Lorraine Mealings.
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