About Supporting People
The Supporting People programme in Kingston pays for services to help people live independently in their own home or in supported housing. Supporting People works with our partners in Housing, Community Care Services, Kingston Primary Care Trust, Probation, Registered Social Landlords and the voluntary and private sectors to provide Housing related support.
What type of help does Supporting People pay for?
Supporting People pays for services called housing related support that help people to become or remain independent and live in their own homes for as long as possible. It includes things like:
- Helping people to be safe in their own homes
- Helping people to deal with neighbour disputes
- Helping people to budget and manage their money
- Supporting people to move to more independent accomodation
- Assisting people to deal with their landlord or other professionals and to arrange appointments
- Helping people to organise repairs in their own home
- Helping people to develop their social skills
- Helping people to develop life skills such as learning to cook their own meals
- Arranging social events
- Occasionally accompanying people on shopping trips or helping with errands
What can't Supporting People pay for?
Supporting People cant fund all kinds of help or support a person may require. Supporting People can't fund personal care, for example help with washing, dressing, giving people their medicine or any form of specialist counselling or health treatment. Supporting People doesnt provide services on a one off basis. Supporting People services are part of a package of support for a period of time from a few months up to many years.
What can I expect from a Supporting People Service
Kingston Supporting People Team monitors the performance and quality of the Supporting People services that have been contracted with Supporting People providers. Supporting People services are expected to provide support services that meet minimum standards. These standards are set out in a Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) that is used by most Local Authorities. Providers are expected to meet minimum standards in the following key areas:
Needs and Risk Assessment and Support Planning
- this is making sure that people's support needs and any risks to them,are considered frequently and that the person is involved in this process. That the person has an up to date support plan they have agreed with their support worker and any carers they would like involved.Security Health and Safety
- that the provider ensures the place where people live is somewhere that has no dangerous hazards and is somewhere they feel safeProtection from Abuse
- that theprovider has systems in place to safegaurd and promote the rights of the person and that they are protected from abuse.Fair Access, Diversity and Inclusion
- this ensures Providers are committed to ensuring the principles of equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion in services. That services are accessible and meet the needs of Black and Ethnic Minority service users and can meet people's cultural or religous needs.Complaints
- ensuring that service users and their carers and other stakeholders are aware of how they can complain about their service to both their service provider and to the Local Authority and feel comfortable if they needed to do this.All Supporting People Services are reviewed in detail. Pages will soon be available with more detail on service reviews and reports on the services we have reviewed so far.
How much do Supporting People Services Cost
For most people their Supporting People service will have no cost. Supporting People Services that are short term (under 2 years) are provided free to the service user. These services try to help people increase their independance within 2 years of recieving support. Some services are provided on a longer term basis, and support may be with a person throughout their life, for example sheltered housing. These services are not always free. The charge for these services will vary depending on how much support the person recieves. Help is available for many people if a Supporting People service is not free. Anyone recieving Housing Benefit does not have to pay for their support service. Depending on someone's financial circumstances help may also be available if you do not recieve Housing Benefit.