This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
The consultation – if approved by the council’s Executive on 10 February – will seek views to help ensure the appropriate services are provided to those in need at best value.
The services, which are discretionary, include outreach and accommodation support (including at hostels) for vulnerable Island residents, which since 2003 have been provided by suppliers outside the council. This includes accommodation provided via various housing associations and private providers at sites around the Island – and also support for services offering help with legal advice, alcohol and drugs issues, older people, mental health, domestic abuse and in many other areas.
Stubbings: “Important we review these services on a regular basis”
Executive member for adult social care and community wellbeing, Councillor Steve Stubbings, said:
“It is essential that our vulnerable residents receive the correct support, and we hope the consultation will provide valuable feedback to ensure this is provided long into the future – while also delivering these services at best value.
“It is important we review these services on a regular basis and, following the consultation, it may be that they will be delivered differently to make them more relevant to the needs of vulnerable residents. By recommissioning services we would hope to purchase the most relevant provision for our vulnerable residents.
“Although this is a non-statutory function, we fully recognise the major community benefits that are provided through supporting people to manage their tenancies, in tackling anti-social behaviour, in contributing to their community and in helping people to achieve independent living.
“It is important to acknowledge that the current financial challenges facing the council are also a relevant factor as we review how we operate many of our services and contracts.”
Decision to be made by April 2016
It is proposed the consultation would be with all service users, providers and stakeholders to enable a decision to be taken by April 2016. As part of the consultation, people will also be asked if they would be willing to pay for aspects of the services.
Housing-related support services are known under the title ‘Supporting People’, which is a national initiative introduced by the government in 2003 to provide lower-level preventative-type support aimed at helping vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
Currently about 1,200 Island residents benefit from such services.
The council has a budget for housing-related support services of £3.2 million in 2014/2015, but is faced with making savings of £200,000 in 2015/2016 and a further £550,000 in 2016/2017.
Image: peddhapati under CC BY 2.0
