Housing for people with Learning Disabilities and Mental Health issues A flexible and person centred response Robin James Service Development Officer

SIATP – Housing Project Service User Review Fair access to Accommodation Funding Plus …. Market Development Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Market Development I am working on increasing the range of accommodation available to people with learning disabilities and enduring mental health issues. Options…… Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Options include: Shared Housing or Supported Lodgings Shared Lives Rented Housing Association Flats Keyring scheme Private Landlord’s Accommodation FOCUS 1 – Best Housing Options Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Progress: Completed: –Cambridge Court, Dorchester –Trailway Mews, Blandford –Prince George House, Dorchester –Digby Court, Dorchester –Orchard Court, Weymouth –Sunflower Cottage, Weymouth –Magistrates Court Site, Blandford On site: –Radipole Court, Weymouth –Sunnyview, Stalbridge –Worgret Road, Wareham Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

A flexible and person centred response The Council works closely with local housing authorities to source accommodation for people with learning disabilities and enduring mental health issues. In many cases they are rehoused through Dorset Homechoice or private landlords. Despite this the Council has an intermittent, and often urgent, need to find accommodation for an individual service user or a small group of service users. Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Developing an approved list of providers Despite this the Council has an intermittent, and often urgent, need to find accommodation for an individual service user or a small group of service users. Why a list…. Solution to be Contract Procedure Rule compliant Therefore, Framework, Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) or Approved List needed. Can then invite providers to deliver Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Developing an approved list of providers The list would complement the framework for the provision of domiciliary care, support and prompt services for people with learning disabilities. The list is being developed to cater for the procurement of accommodation for people with LD and/or an enduring mental health issue. The list would admit suitable landlords (‘providers’) to a group which can then be invited to source and/or offer accommodation. Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Developing an approved list of providers It is intended that the list would be open and admit appropriate new providers at any time. The accommodation would be let direct to the service user(s) by the provider. The Council will not act as landlord. Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Compiling the list What should be the criteria for admission to the list What should we ask potential providers to submit for consideration: –Name and address –Regulation? –Experience? FOCUS 2 – How should we choose providers Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Delivering a property From time to time it is intended to ask accredited providers to find accommodation in a particular area, usually for a known service user or group of service uses. Providers will be asked to submit information regarding an offer to provide accommodation. What should be the criteria for success? For the avoidance of doubt a care provider with little experience of delivering housing would be unlikely to be selected. Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Delivering a property What should we ask potential providers to submit for consideration: –Acquisition arrangements: buy / lease ? –Tenure type? –Tenure length? –Rent / Top Up? –Void / Nomination arrangements? –Any other deal breakers? FOCUS 2 – How should we choose a provider Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

And what about…. Nominations and Voids Provision of Care and Support Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Nomination Rights The Council may be willing to enter into a nomination and void agreement However: –with the enactment of the Care Act 2014 and the consequent repeal of the ‘Ordinary Residence’ rules? –the need to safeguard vulnerable service users? –the potential for Providers to insure against void loss or charge rents which allow for a proportion of void time? and –the potential to grant a joint tenancy instead of single room licences? The Council will work constructively with Providers to ensure cost effective utilisation of accommodation. Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Nomination Rights The Council’s financial involvement is potentially an agreement to pay the landlord’s rent/service charge loss if a property were vacant. This would be would be a time limited agreement, which is likely to be renewed if the accommodation is fit for purpose and in use. Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Care and Support Background –It is the preference of the County Council that care and support, including housing related support, should be purchased separately from the landlord service –This maximises resident choice and does not tie the resident to receiving these services from their landlord –But never say never Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

A flexible and person centred response So: –Any opportunity for a landlord to deliver care / support in addition to accommodation might be procured: outside this List by the use of a contract exemption or by the service user using a direct payment –For the avoidance of doubt a landlord with little or no experience of providing support to people with learning disabilities or enduring mental health issues would be very unlikely be granted a contract exemption to deliver a care / support. Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

Questions NB World Café session will consider: –The best housing options –Choosing providers to be admitted to list and then to acquire property Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015

For further information please contact: Robin James Service Development Officer Supporting People T: E: Provider Engagement Morning - 31st March 2015