Supported Housing Providers: Views of need in Somerset

The Somerset LINk is part of the Technical Working Group for the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) in Somerset. One of the themes for the JSNA 2011 is housing.

During June and July 2011 the LINk engaged with supported housing providers through a survey asking for their views on supported housing needs in Somerset. The following questions were asked:

1. What do you think is working well in terms of supported housing services in Somerset?
2. What do you think is not working well in terms of supported housing services in Somerset?
3. Where are there gaps in services?
4. What might be needed to improve the services offered to users of supported housing in Somerset?
5. What cost savings, if any, do you see your service as providing for statutory services?
6. Over the next three years, what sort of factors do you think might influence the health and wellbeing of people that you provide services for?

Twelve housing providers responded. Those providers cumulatively provide support for around 2,450 people in Somerset per year. The housing providers that responded reported that they served the following client groups:

• older people
• young people
• domestic abuse
• mental health
• single homeless
• ex offenders
• mental health
• learning disabilities
• physical disabilities

What did we find out?

The responses to the survey show that there is a great deal of concern about reductions to funding and how the current financial climate will impact upon both clients and providers over the next three years.

In general it was felt that housing providers had good relationships between each other and with commissioners, although it was felt that more joined-up partnership working would improve efficiencies and services to clients.

Providers felt that their services were providing significant cost benefits for statutory services, for example in reducing the need for residential care, hospital admissions and police interventions, as well as reducing the need for supported housing when preventative services found alternative solutions for clients. They also felt that they provided added value by attracting additional non-statutory funding to support volunteering and community initiatives which bring in work and services to the area.

There was also concern that there is insufficient affordable moving-on housing available, and that there was inconsistency of service provision across the county.
In general however, concerns largely focused on the financial climate. A common theme was concern that a 'perfect storm' may be brewing in supported housing where client's personal circumstances were being pressurised (for example, in reduction of social security benefits) at a time when service provision is being reduced due to the current financial situation. Concerns were also raised about how short-term and insecure funding is impacting on staff; resulting in staff feeling unsettled and therefore increasing turnover.

There is also concern that while general provision may be being maintained, provision at either end of the spectrum is being insufficiently supported. In particular, there is concern about the loss of preventative services for low-risk client groups (for example, people with low or moderate learning difficulties) and the loss of specialist services for high-risk client groups (for example, people with mental health difficulties).

The loss of preventative services for low-risk client groups is leading to concerns that such clients may be pushed into crisis if support is withdrawn. The loss of services for high-risk clients is leading to concerns both around safeguarding of young people and the escalation of antisocial behaviour and problematic behaviour in high-risk client groups.

For more information

For more information about this project, or to request a copy of the report via the post, please email Lucy at the Somerset LINk office on lucy.nicholls@helpandcare.org.uk or telephone 01458 250674.