Inclusive Forum
A key part of the Supporting People programme is consultation with stakeholders. The role of the Supporting People Inclusive Forum is to involve organisations in the planning process and help make sure that the needs of vulnerable people within Knowsley are met. This also involves workshops and training to support the needs of providers in meeting the 'new' challenges which the Supporting People programme has brought about.
The Knowsley Supporting People team has an invite list of organisations and people who are invited to events. If you are interested and would like to be added to our list, please contact us by using the details at the bottom of this page.
Notification of change of cirumstance
If your services are supported through the Supporting People programme you must report any changes of circumstance as part of the contract. This enables us to achieve the most accurate subsidy payment.
The Client Changes Form should be used to submit details of any changes to your clients circumstances within chargeable services.
Supporting People Strategy
Knowsley's Supporting People Strategy contains information about support, allowing the development of improved, flexible support provision which is ultimately led by local community needs and it recognises the need of diverse communities, including black and minority ethnic customers. It will be published in December 2004 and includes:
- information about existing services
- details of planned changes
- identification of resources and funding
- an agreed framework for monitoring and managing schemes
- details of how services that work across authority boundaries will be managed
The Supporting People team have already produced a 'Shadow Supporting People Strategy'. This document sets out the current position within Knowsley and covers many services people need to be able to stay safely at home in the borough. These include:
- warden services for older people in sheltered housing
- hostels for families and people who find themselves homeless
- young people living on their own for the first time
- those who need more specialist services because of health or special needs
The Shadow Strategy has been approved by all of our partners in the Supporting People Programme. However, we would welcome views from anyone with an interest in this strategy and particularly from people who themselves may be in need of some help to live independently - or who knows someone who does. If you would like to comment, please read the supporting people shadow strategy and use the contact details below to send your comments.
Accreditation
All non-statutory providers funded by Supporting People have to be accredited. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister guidance means that:
- all independent sector providers must be accredited
- new contracts will only be issued to accredited providers
If an existing provider fails to meet the accreditation criteria they may be given up to a year to achieve the criteria, but this depends on the level of risk.
The purpose of the accreditation process is to ensure that the organisation is capable and competent of delivering certain services to specific customers. The five standards are as follows:
- Standard 1: The organisation is financially viable
- Standard 2: It is competent and has adequate procedures to handle and account for Supporting People finance
- Standard 3: It has effective employment policies
- Standard 4: Its provider has necessary and robust management policies and procedures as a basis for delivering Supporting People services
- Standard 5: Its provider has either service-related competence and/or a good relevant track record
Service Reviews
All Supporting People services will be reviewd before April 2006. The Knowsley Supporting People team are following Office of the Deputy Prime Minister guidance on the process.
Service Performance Indicators
There are three mandatory Service Performance Indicators (SPIs) for service providers in relation to:
- service availability
- utilisation levels
- staffing levels
The performance return form should be returned to the Supporting People team four times a year, every three months.We can help you complete this form. If you require a paper copy of this document, contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.
Quality Assessment Framework (QAF)
As part of stage 2 of the service review, providers are required to provide information using the QAF. The QAF helps service providers to continuously improve their services, through the use of a self-assessment toolkit. The QAF has two main purposes:
- to provide a means for the Supporting People team to assess the quality of services provided
- to help raise standards within the sector
The QAF is made up of six core objectives and 11 supplementary objectives. The six core objectives must be satisfied at the first service review and they are:
- needs assessment
- support planning
- security, health and safety
- fair access, diversity and inclusion
- protection from abuse
- complaints
For Contact Information, links and Documents please visit:
http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/social/supporting_people/