Lincolnshire County Council considering extending homeless support service
A council is considering extending a service which supports people at risk of being made homeless.
Members of Lincolnshire County Council’s adult care and public health scrutiny committee heard that the authority is proposing a six-month extension to its Housing Related Support (HRS) Service contract with the current provider until March 31, 2027 – at a cost of £1,101,000.
The service is currently delivered by the Lincolnshire Housing Related Support Partnership (LHRSP), with Framework Housing as the lead provider and subcontractors Amplius (previously Longhurst), The Salvation Army, and NACRO (National Social Justice charity).
The HRS offers short term support to vulnerable adults with substance misuse and/or mental health concerns who are either homeless or threatened with homelessness – and helps them to live independently.
The county council said that the HRS can support up to 323 people at any one time (195 in accommodation and 128 in floating support).
Accommodation-based support is currently provided for people facing homelessness, while floating support targets people who live in accommodation which is either temporary or at risk due to their issues.
At a meeting on Wednesday, March 25, Carl Miller, Senior Strategic Commercial and Procurement Manager, said: “The current contract expires on the 30th September this year with the future service provision scheduled to be considered by the executive on the 9th June this year following the conclusion of a 12 week consultation relating to the future delivery of those services that happened earlier in the year.
“The anticipated options for future provision which will essentially either be to cease commission or recommission in whole or in part the scope of the services.
“Either way, that will require a longer period to safely manage and implement the decision that will be available based on the remaining term of the contract at the point that the decision is taken.”
Mr Miller explained that the county council is proposing to extend the contract until a final decision is made about whether it should continue in the future.
He added: “It will provide certainty of continuation at this point and that will enable the provider to offer improved security of employment for its staff team and in so doing reduce the risk of them seeking an alternative employment whilst the service needs to remain proportionally functional and viable.”
Coun Kelham Cooke suggested the proposed extended contract should focus on providing better outcomes for the people it supports, rather than the cost.
He said: “In terms of the June decision, so that could still potentially involve decommissioning or recommissioning in full or part potentially.
“What evidence is going to be presented to us in terms of comparative outcomes and value for money across accommodation-based support and floating support so then the future decisions are then based on impact rather than just contract affordability?”
Mr Miller replied: “Key to informing that decision is going to be an analysis and assessment of the impact that the services are having – and particularly in relation to if a future proposal is to deliver part rather than all of the current scope of services.
“That will absolutely need to be a focus – what makes the most difference to people who rely on support from the service.”
A final decision on the proposal will be made at an executive meeting on June 9.