2. Supporting People –Ex-offenders Service Focus Group
Introduction
In order to re-tender the Supporting People service for Ex-offenders floating support service, it was
important to gather evidence of the service and the impact of this on people’s lives and assess the
effectiveness of the current pathway and if possible identify where further improvements can be
made in order to reshape the service specification to deliver a more effective service that offers
value for money and positive impact on people’s lives A focus group was arranged with 9 rough
sleepers and homeless people to give them an opportunity to tell their story regarding the service
on the 12th
December 2014.
The service will provide support to individuals in their accommodation to develop skills to maintain
their independence and live successfully in their communities without re-offending.
Floating support
Floating support is a short term service available from one-two years for people who find it
extremely difficult to manage their tenancies and are at risk of losing their home, or who are
moving into a new tenancy and need help to do this. The aim of the service is to ensure that
people are supported to develop skills to maintain their accommodation as an example; you may
have difficulty around budgeting, money, paying your rent and bills or help with paperwork.
The service will work with people to identify their support needs and provide assistance in:
Budgeting paying bills and debt management
Supporting service users to sign and maintain their Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST)
Making sure they claim the right benefits and seek advice
Dealing with their day to day repair and maintenance issues with the appropriate agencies
Actioning relevant paper work and queries
Attending appointments
Accessing relevant health and social care services and appointments so that the service
users health is not deteriorating
Accessing education, training and volunteer opportunities
Accessing social, leisure and community activities
Developing social networks and maintaining friendships
Supporting service users to maintain a clean and tidy home environment.
Feedback -What works well?
Allocated Key workers works really well who is dedicated and committed
The property is the recital element of the service which the current provider support
then operates from.
Support people through complex cases
What improvement can be made?
More properties to help more people like this as it is really needed,
Opportunity to meet others and talk through issues and build relationships/friendship
and support each other if possible
3. Information pack in relation to other services offered by the provider, people are given
a welcome pack but this does not contain other services they offer, which could
benefit people.
