Memorandum by Nottingham City interagency
Homelessness Strategy Implementation Group (SIG) (HOM 63)
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE
HOMELESSNESS ACT
1. Strategy Implementation.
2. Non Housing services adequacy and coordination:
— The Nottingham SIG was established
to oversee the implementation of the first Nottingham Homelessness
Strategy. It is an interagency group including Housing, PCT, Voluntary
Sector, Probation and Social Services and Supporting People.
— It works in cooperation with an elected
members and voluntary sector group—The Homelessness Advisory
Forum. This provides a degree of scrutiny for the SIG.
— After initially being chaired by
Housing the chair has since passed to the PCT thus ensuring an
objective and critical approach to the successful implementation
of the strategy and maintaining focus and energy.
— Voluntary sector representation is
through nominations from an external voluntary sector group facilitated
by an umbrella organisation.
— Members from all agencies must be
sufficiently influential to influence policy development, commissioning
and to problem solve when this is required.
— The SIG functions in practice through
a number of sub or working groups focussed on specific issues
such as the development of temporary accommodation strategy.
The SIG is recognised locally for making significant
progress on a range of homelessness issues and keeping homelessness
as a focus of activity across the partner agencies.
— This has been possible in part due
to the appointment of a Homelessness Strategy Co-ordinator.
— This post has been made possible
by Joint shared funding from the City PCT, DAAT and the Housing
Department. The appointment was made in September 2003 and has
allowed significant progress on homeless issues in practical terms.
The coordinator has been brought onto the SP core strategy group,
the homeless group of the PCT and has made representations to
a number of key strategic groups within Nottingham including Respect
for Nottingham a key crime and disorder strategic group.
— The SIG also facilitates the development
of services funded through the homelessness fund including those
connected to tackling Rough Sleeping locally.
— The SIG believes its approach to
interagency working and the development of an interagency funded
post is a model of good practice for strategy development in general
but for Homelessness Strategy development in particular. There
would be clear benefits for homeless people and linking homelessness
services, both housing and non-housing if this model was more
widely adopted.
— Non Housing service such as those
provided by the Health Team for the homeless include Health Visitor,
Nursing, Midwifery and links to drug treatment and Specialist
Treatment for substance misuse through specialist trained GPs.
The SIG has been able to influence all the major agencies in relation
to how services are developed and commissioned. Although there
is still much to be done, the joint ownership of a vehicle through
which progress can be achieved is a significant factor in future
success.
— Supporting People is the single most
significant commissioner and funder of homelessness services in
Nottingham. The SIG is understood as the organ for strategic Homelessness
development and consultation. The role of the coordinator in relation
to the Core Strategy group is critical in ensuring the future
success of homelessness services, particularly as major remodelling
is required in the City.
The SIG Chair, Homelessness Strategy Coordinator
and Executive Member for Housing would be happy to receive a request
to present further information and evidence to the committee and
answer any questions at your convenience.
Dr Michael Varnam
|
