The Supporting People programme was launched in April 2003 to provide a better quality of life for vulnerable people and help them to live more independently. The programme is delivered locally by administering authorities through an estimated 37,000 services with over 6,000 private, voluntary sector, housing association and local authority providers.
This report reviews the current state of the Supporting People programme, looking at stakeholder concerns about the programme and at the future of housing-related support.
The aim is to identify whether change is needed at a national, regional or local level to support future improvement. It balances the advantages of change against the associated risks of uncertainty, loss of goodwill and opportunity costs. It also highlights areas where a lack of change is likely have an adverse effect on some users. The conclusion and summary suggest priorities for national action by the government and for local improvement by administering authorities and their partners.
The key findings were:
- Services have improved.
- There needs to be a long-term commitment and a financial framework to underpin minimum standards.
- Delivery on the ground is not consistently good.
The conclusion and summary suggest priorities for national action by the government and for local improvement by administering authorities and their partners.