SCSH Briefing

June 2001

Facts about Floating Support

The purpose of this briefing is to raise the profile of Floating Support services amongst decision-makers and strategists. The briefing demonstrates that Floating Support services have robust structures capable of delivering mid to long term housing solutions to people who have fluctuating support needs. It also shows that Floating Support is a useful model for developing strategies and good practice in general housing policies, Social Inclusion frameworks and during the Supporting People process e.g. Floating Support is able to:

• co-ordinate collaboration amongst different service providers who may not otherwise work together (e.g. housing, health, specialist support organisations)
• bring together different support processes (from pre-tenancy and tenancy support to moving on to independent living) into one service framework
• helppeople with support needs to live in mainstream housing and therefore assist in the promotion of sustainable communities

The paper draws on current Scottish research and UK wide perspectives gained through a national Floating Support project facilitated by the Housing Association's Charitable Trust (hact). hact defines Floating Support in the following way

Floating Support is a flexible peripatetic service providing or facilitating a range of low to medium support to people in their own homes or tenancies with the aim of enabling or maintaining independence. The service will act as a broker: assessing an individual’s needs and enabling access to other locally available services, both initially and in the longer term. The service is provided for as long as it is needed but with a clear exit strategy. When the support is no longer required, it floats off to another person who needs it. If a person needs support again it can return to them.

Floating Support services have distinguishing criteria:

• they aim to increase independent living in mainstream housing in any tenure type
• when the support leaves the person, they don't have to leave the accommodation
• high levels of stakeholders involvement - including service user - are encouraged throughout the service planning and delivery
• support plans, the review process and exit strategy are structured
• the service can act as a broker to access other appropriate support

Experience from direct service provision shows that Floating Support can develop into a practice base which works in creating and maintaining workable tenancies. The above factors illustrate why Floating Support practice influences ways in which housing with support is defined, implemented and accomplished. Given the changes anticipated under the Supporting People proposals, it is a prudent time for Scottish policy makers to ensure that Floating Support has a key role within strategic planning.

Floating Support services are well placed to meet strategic priorities through:

• promoting general good practice. Floating Support services are accessed either by the service user or through referral agencies. The assessment process is planned and involves the service user. It links with other assessments (e.g. Community Care) and can thus minimise service duplication. Individual support plans identify the actions required to meet the assessed needs and form the basis of an agreement between the service user and providers. Reviews - including the input of the service user - monitor the progress of the support plan and ensure services adjust to changing needs and remain appropriate. A structured exit strategy determines when the support can be withdrawn.
• joint working. In many instances, this is present from the planning stage throughout service delivery. Agreed common protocols ensure that service delivery, which may be based on different working practices, achieves shared goals. Partnership working also fits in well with local authorities' enabling function (commissioning and funding etc.). Joint working also extends the potential for developing support services throughout all tenure types.
• they fit with Best Value criteria. Floating Support as a broker, uses option appraisal. It is cost effective: low capital (no outlay on accommodation) and staff costs (sessional employment is more responsive to fluctuating needs); working tenancies reduce housing management intervention costs. Performance review (of individual support and whole service) depends on consultation with all stakeholders - thus with service users. All these aspects ensure that Floating Support services can balance individual need with local circumstances.

Floating Support and Supporting People

The future of Floating Support relies, in part, on achieving greater funding security. Supporting People (affirming the value of supported housing) offers a secure legal footing for funding which may prove attractive to many service providers. A Scottish Executive Guidance Paper, published in February 2001 indicates how closely the principles of Supporting People reflect the practice of Floating Support

In particular the link of support services to tenure will be broken, so that more flexible support may be introduced where appropriate……. Housing Support services are intended to l enable people to remain, or establish themselves independently, in the community, whatever their tenure l form part of packages of provision designed to meet the varied needs of vulnerable clients

from:

This statement hints at the potential for developing Floating Support through Supporting People.

There are concerns though about the proposals and their introduction in 2003:

• some service providers are experiencing practical difficulties in accessing lead in processes including The Transitional Housing Benefit scheme
• whether mapping processes can accurately measure service levels that support people to enter and leave the system as their needs fluctuate
• what scope there will be for developing new services through a cash limited pot

Such issues need to be addressed otherwise there is a risk that good specialist services (and their client groups) could be lost. The Scottish Executive consultation process - giving clear information and guidance - is important for increasing confidence about and access to the Supporting People process.

In conclusion

Current service and strategic developments can benefit from using the Floating Support model more widely. Local Authorities can play their part by taking account of the potential of Floating Support services when drawing up their Supporting People Plans. Floating Support stakeholders, also need to engage with this process - to ensure that fine ideals are transformed into a workable reality.

© 2001 Scottish Council for Single Homeless