In 2002 central government commissioned the Audit Commission to develop a methodology to inspect a new grant programme called Supporting People. The inspection programme went live on 1 April 2003. The methodology, based on that used for housing inspections, was developed and piloted during late 2002 and early 2003.
From 2003-2009 the Commission carried out inspections of all 150 unitary and county local authorities responsible for administering the Supporting People grant and associated programme. Where authorities had received poor inspection grades DCLG and the Audit Commission offered additional support prior to a required reinspection. Inspections were carried out with partner inspectorates the Commission for Social Care Inspection (now part of Care Quality Commission) and HM Inspectorate of Probation. Each inspection team included a trained service user inspector.
The aim of the Supporting People programme was to deliver a strategic, integrated policy and funding framework, delivered locally in response to identified local needs. It replaced the previous complex and uncoordinated arrangements for providing housing related support services for including older people, people with mental health problems, young people, people with learning difficulties, women suffering domestic violence and offenders. This funding was the largest single investment by local authorities to voluntary sector service providers. The amount invested in the sector exceeded £1 billion each year.
Administering local authorities worked in partnership to agree Supporting People strategies and delivery mechanisms for housing related support services with housing, social services, health and the probation service. Negotiation and consultation was also required with all housing and support service providers, other statutory service providers, the private sector and voluntary organisations to plan and commission support services to meet identified needs.
Until April 2009 Supporting People programme funding was ring fenced and subject to conditions covering governance and use of grant. From April 2009 the ring fence was removed but the monies allocated were identified as a separate line in the overall grant allocations to single tier and County Councils. From April 2010 the allocation was included in the area based grant and from April 2011 was not identified as specific allocation.
In October 2005 the Commission published a national study (Supporting People 2005), reviewing the state of the programme, and made a number of recommendations for the future. The Commission carried out a further review, for the DCLG between November 2008 and February 2009. It looked at the overall impact and successes of the programme; the progress against the 2005 recommendations; ongoing and existing concerns and new challenges linked to developing policies and changes in the external environment. It also looked for options for overcoming identified barriers and promoting opportunities. The Supporting People review report was published in October 2009.