To hear evidence from Matthew Pelling (Supporting People Commissioning Manager) with regards to services provided for older people.
Minutes:
The Supporting People Programme is funded by Central Government and managed in partnership between Haringey Council, Probation and Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust.
There are two main areas that Supporting People is responsible for:
1 – Supported Housing for example Sheltered Housing for older people. This is different from residential and Nursing Care.
2 – Support services for example support workers who visit people in their own homes to provide support. The support they are offered includes benefit help (for example advocating on behalf of the client), money management (for example budgeting and managing arrears). This service is about people’s independence and is very different from domiciliary home care.
The emphasis is about enabling people to ultimately do things for themselves, however the issue can be slightly different for older people.
Supporting People provides a robust monitoring framework for providers. For example:
Ø Health and safety
Ø Complaints procedures
Ø Managing of support planning
Ø Performance Indicators
The programme currently receives £20,000,000 of funding annually. This is, at present, ring-fenced.
Ø This supports approximately 19 client groups, including older people, people suffering from domestic violence and the community alarm service.
The average age for a person entering sheltered housing is going up. It is now people aged 75 years and above that are entering whereas it was previously those aged 65 years and above.
Supporting People undertook a needs mapping exercise approximately 18 months ago. The information showed that there is a need to consider alternate types of provision, for example Extra Care Sheltered Housing. It also showed that there would be a need for 300 units of extra care over the next 10-15years in Haringey.
Supporting People also funds the Sixty Plus scheme, which is a support service.
This service is accessible over the telephone and anyone can refer someone to the service. For example, self referral, neighbour, councillors, doctors.
The scheme offers a support worker who sets outcomes with the older person, if after these outcomes are met further ones are identified then support will continue.
Supporting People is monitored through the Partnership Board and also through the Haringey Association Voluntary Community Organisations (HAVCO).
The Audit Commission recently praised the Supporting People Programme for its strong governance arrangements.
The Council does not have powers to inspect schemes that it is not funding or where there is no contract in place (there is no statutory framework in place).
Do Older People know this?
Extra Care Sheltered Housing
Becoming increasingly popular.
Buildings are adapted, for example corridors are wide enough for wheel chair users.
There is overall a higher level of facilities than in normal sheltered housing. This can include hydro pools, rehabilitation rooms and assisted bathing facilities.
There is a 24/7 support service plus care services e.g. domiciliary care.
Extra Care Sheltered Housing can bridge the gap between supported housing and residential care or even provide an alternative to residential care.
There are currently two new Extra Care schemes going through the Planning Committee stages in Haringey:
1 – A site on Hornsey Lane has been acquired by One Housing Group for a 40 unit scheme. Subject to approval this site will be up and running in 2-3 years.
2 – A site has been acquired by Hill Homes in Highgate Village.
Both schemes are working with the Council and with Occupational Therapy.
Points of discussion
Discussion around the possibility of going from owner occupation to extra care sheltered housing. This is currently unclear in areas, for example, those with substantial capital assets.
The Urban Environment Directorate have set up a Project Board to look at the issues raised in the Supporting People Needs mapping exercise. Part of this will be to look at accessibility; including from owner occupation. It will also consider Older People Lease projects.
Discussion around the reality of an older person having to sell their home in order to get the level of care needed. The Council can only sell a person’s home if the decision is taken that the older person needs long term care.
Anything over £20,000 is payable.
If the client has, for example, £5,000 in the bank a £250,000 home and a pension then a charge would be placed on the person’s home until it is sold.
Noted that Supported Housing operates a different financial regime.