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Supporting People News

To look at the articles featured in the newsletter section simply click on the links below to take you to the full stories

If you would like to contribute to this or any other section of the website please email supportingpeople@worcestershire.gov.uk

REACH Team Progress

The Review Team are fully trained and raring to go: Interviews are now underway. The team are very happy with progress to date - thier commitment is proving to be well over 100%. The team have also been busy presenting at the Learning Disabled Roadshow. All learning disabled services commissioned by Worcestershire Council will now need to be Reach compliant.

Strategic Homeless Review

This project is collating information on non-statutory homeless services within Worcestershire. Three more meetings are being convened in April, May and June. If you would like to join us, please call Sarah Rothwell on 01905 728825

2008 Inflationary Uplift

We are happy to announce that we are offering an 2% increase this year, payable from the 31st March.

2008 Payment Schedules

Payment schedules are now available via SPOCC 24/7. This link will show the 2008 dates This is a link to a DOC file. (30.50 KB),

SPOCC

SPOCC (Supporting People/Oxford Computer Consultants) is our recently introduced interactive software - now fully up and running. There have been teething problems and a huge learning curve involved (for the SP team as well as providers), but this system is now starting to show real value. Information can be submitted to us securely 24/7, and payment schedules downloaded in the same way. Client changes and PI workbooks now need to be submitted in this way, with outcomes to follow

SPOCC user manual. This is a link to a PDF file. (1.22 MB)

SPOCC has capacity to be developed even further in the future. Watch this space!

We would like to thank everyone for thier patience through a difficult process.

Adam Russell - Now promoted

We are delighted to confirm that Adam has been appointed as the new Strategic Commissioning Manager for Worcestershire County Council. His new post will commence at Easter.

The Reach Programme

We are very proud to be piloting Reach in Worcestershire, in association with the Learning Disability team at Worcestershire County Council. A peer review group has been trained and organised to look at service provision from the users perspective, as opposed to the traditional annual inspection. Laura Westwood is at the helm of this programme, and is very keen to welcome more organisations on board.

We would particularly welcome service users willing to be interviewed about thier experiences of sheltered housing. If you can nominate please call 01905 728820.or Laura on 01905 728826.

Reach reviews will replace QAF inspections for those taking part. All new learning disability services commissioned will need to be REACH compliant.

The new Reach website is now ready

Domestic Violence/Abuse services

The strategic review of domestic violence provision is now complete. Task groups are being set up via the Worcestershire Domestic Abuse Forum to follow through the report's recommendations. The future for this sector within Worcestershire looks quite bright.

Strategic Review - Final Report This is a link to a PDF file. (563.53 KB)

We would like to thank our partners for thieir help and support in this project, and the additional awareness promotion work; Elgar Housing, West Mercia Womens Aid, West Mercia Constabulary, The Freedom and Beyond group, Stonham Housing, Shenanigans art group, Victim Support, Gemma Bailey of the Pines.

Worcestershire Active Voices

This is the Service users group being actively run by Supporting People to ensure that service users get the services that they actually want to recieve. Supporting People welcome service users at the SP Commissioning Body meetings and arrangements are being made for each team member to be 'shadowed' for a day in the new year. This will enable SP to be reviewed by those that we seek to serve. There are plans for this strategy to be expanded into all areas of SP service provision.

WAVES currently have an interactive web site in development, due to come on line in March 08. This will run in with a message board format so you can tell us what you really think!

The original Service Users Steering Group

CLG outcomes

These outcomes no longer need to be collected for any Worcestershire SP funded service. The Worcestershire model has been agreed for use within the West Midlands region.

Supported Housing Provider Fair

The Housing Provider Fair took place at Perdiswell Leisure centre on the 19th of June. Supported housing providers manned display stands and distributed promotional materials, providing a point of contact for the public, potential providers and service professionals. It gave a chance for providers to showcase thier services and network within the industry. Additional workshops were staged throughout the day. Feedback so far received indicates that the event proved to be successful and rewarding for all who attended. We thank all the providers that took part. This could potentially become an annual event.

For other events for providers see the Events for Providers Page

Supporting People Training in Worcestershire

Over the past few weeks Supporting People Training programme has been taken to various social care, health and housing professionals in Worcestershire. This training has been designed to ensure that those who work within these sectors understand the aims and work of the Supporting People Programme and are able to access our services effectively.

The training has been very successful so far and the feedback provided has been excellent. The training itself is likely to be modified for businesses and other organisations in the near future.

If you are part of an organisation interested in receiving Supporting People Training please Email the team

Supporting People Strategic Reviews

Supporting People Strategic Reviews are currently underway for Homelessness, and Young People's Services. Research is currently being undertaken for an Older Persons review, due to begin in the spring.

The outcome of the Strategic Reviews will be a report for each client group, mapping the existing services and proposing the best way to fill the gaps that are left, both geographically and in terms of service standards and variety of options.

If you are a service user or provider and would like to be involved in the strategic review for your client group, please email the Supporting People Team

Out of Drugs, Into Housing - Make it happen

Conference took place April 2007

The aim of the day was to discuss the importance of housing provision for drug misusers and how Worcestershire can look to provide more accommodation for this vulnerable group of people

Phil Deakin, Coordinator of Worcestershire Substance Misuse Action Team said “At present, although there is some housing provision in Worcestershire for people who misuse drugs, there are still gaps that need to be filled. Drug misusers can be extremely vulnerable and without a stable place to live, the prospect of tackling their addiction can sometimes be almost impossible. I am very keen to see the development and implementation of housing provision that is sustainable and benefits both the community and individual.”

The event was well attended by a wide variety of partner agencies, including strategic housing teams, homelessness teams, supported housing providers, community drug teams, health agencies, registered social landlords, probation service, community safety, local councillors and district strategic partners.

Partners discussed how their agencies could play a role in delivering the new services required to provide a wider range of housing and support options to drug users in Worcestershire. A number of workshops during the day enabled key stakeholders to discuss in detail the priorities and actions required to move forward. By the end of the day, each agency had made a pledge of the actions and commitment they will provide.

Lead officers from Supporting People and Worcestershire SMAT are in the process of analysing the feedback and pledges from the day, and a report will soon be produced outlining the findings and decisions of the day and the actions to be taken by various agencies as a result of the event.

Supporting People Audit Commission Inspection

The Supporting People Audit Commission inspection has now been completed. We achieved the rating of 'Good with Promising Prospects'.

Audit Commission Report This is a link to a PDF file. (251.06 KB)

For more information on the Audit Commission visit their website

Supporting People Small Provider Group

These meetings have now been taken over by Karen Chidlow, who would very much appreciate contact from those who would like this group to continue. There is also more scope for choice of venue. Please contact her on karenchidlow@fsmail.net

SP will only attend by invitation.

For further details see the Small Provider Page

For more information on the Small Provider group emai supportingpeople@worcestershire.gov.uk

Worcestershire's Older Peoples Strategy

The new strategy for Older People has now been agreed Final Strategy Document This is a link to a PDF file. (1.72 MB) Research is currently being undertaken and work will commence on the strategic review in the spring of 2008.

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Last modification: 17:13:20, 16th May, 2008 by
Review date: 03rd March, 2009