Agenda item

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration Economy and Growth and presentation which provided an update on the Supported Housing Improvement Programme (SHIP) working with non-commissioned supported housing providers across County Durham (for copy of report and presentation slides, see file of minutes).

Callum Aitchison, Supported Housing Project Co-ordinator provided Members with a detailed presentation that focused on providing background to the programme including why the programme was established with detail of  the response to the challenges linked to the non-commissioned supported housing sector; context for County Durham, SHIP Funding, Objectives and Outputs of the scheme including detail of reviews and inspections undertaken with initial findings; and the strategic approach to supported accommodation being used across the county.

The Supported Housing Project Co-ordinator explained that there is no regulator of non-commissioned supported accommodation which means that providers can set up without the approval of the Local Authority with providers often setting up for commercial gain, often buying cheap properties in deprived locations with the issue highlighted in a BBC Panorama documentary in August 2021.  He highlighted that supported housing accommodates the most vulnerable people, that are eligible for the higher rate of housing benefit and that nationally and regionally there have been increased reports of poor-quality accommodation.

He continued that the supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 had been introduced to respond to the challenges linked to the non-commissioned supported housing sector and confirmed that this act had come into force in August 2023 and confirmed that further consultation will take place early in 2024, including in relation to draft regulations developed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department for Work and Pensions.  In relation to supported housing providers in County Durham, the Supported Housing Project Co-ordinator confirmed that we have 19 providers with 522 units providing transitional/short term supported accommodation for approximately 650 people.  He confirmed that this is a growing sector in the county with the clients often having multiple needs. In relation to providers in the county, a lot of the properties tend to be located in the east and centre of the county.

In relation to the funding of the SHIP, the Supported Housing Project Co-ordinator confirmed that Government had made available a £20m funding pot to help tackle poor quality supported housing and improve the support and accommodation available, with Durham awarded £578,795 to implement the SHIP in March 2025.  This funding had allowed the recruitment of staff to form a multi-disciplinary team of six staff to carryout property checks and to speak to tenants to determine the support being delivered.  He confirmed that the team works closely with colleagues from Adult and Social Care.

In relation to the SHIP objectives it was highlighted that the programme would ensure the correct level of care and refer to the appropriate support agencies, provide value for money and ensure that providers are not submitting higher claims, support the upskilling of the providers workforce and work in collaboration to produce a Supported Accommodation Charter which providers would have to sign up to ensure that they meet the minimum standards required.

The Supported Housing Project Manager continued that the SHIP Delivery Plan included initial meetings with the 19 providers in the county, property inspections, reviews with tenants to ensure that they are getting the necessary support and care, feedback report with recommendations to the provider together with an action plan to tackle any issues identified, re-inspections and spot checks, an escalation process to be undertaken with partners with the last resort reducing or withdrawing the payment of housing benefit.

With reference to SHIP outputs, it was confirmed that in relation to reviews completed the current figure is 115 with 71 property inspections undertaken.  In relation to current initial findings, they included a lack of tailored support, bed blocking with high numbers staying for four years plus, low staffing numbers with sometimes one and a half staff members to cover 30 properties, a lack of skilled support staff which results in staff not knowing how to make referrals and how to access partner agencies.

The Chair left the meeting, Councillor A Surtees in the Chair

Councillor A Batey was reassured to see established links with emergency services and asked how embedded the linkages were in the process and used the example of the fire service registering vulnerable households while undertaking home fire safety checks. She asked for clarification as to who would do referrals. The Project Co-ordinator advised that Housing Provider linkages with emergency services were already established, and they worked closely with the Fire Safety Community Manager. He confirmed that landlords take referrals directly from tenants as they would be aware of tenants needs and confirmed that support sessions were provided.

Councillor A Surtees commented that the programme was much needed and was not surprised by the findings. She highlighted low staffing numbers in some cases with one and a half staff to cover 30 properties which was not acceptable, however she was encouraged by the approach being adopted. She noted that the report and presentation had not touched upon the community disruption often caused by providers not delivering the support required by their tenants. She then highlighted that charities could claim funding to operate supported housing schemes, however Registered Providers do not currently have access to this funding. Councillor A Surtees concluded by suggesting that an update report come back to the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee to allow Members to review the progress of the programme and its findings. The Project Co-ordinator advised that Registered Providers could set up a charitable arm which would then allow them to access this funding and that this was currently being looked at by some providers.

Resolved:

(i)           That the contents of the report and presentation be noted.

(ii)          That a further update report is considered by the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee as part of the 2024/25 work programme.