Supporting People

Supporting People (SP) is a cross-cutting programme launched in 2003 to provide coherent funding and policy for the housing-related support to the most vulnerable in society. Local authorities determine how they focus their SP funds, based on the needs and priorities in five year strategies.

The SP programmes in each locality commission substantial preventive services with many services provide by Third Sector organisations. Investment in this sector is approximately £1 billion per year nationally. The expertise within SP programmes is a valuable resource in developing strategies for commissioning housing-related support as part of delivering local area agreements and the new local government performance framework. From April 2011, SP programmes come under the new non-ringfenced Government distribution formula.

The resources listed below describe policy, guidance and evaluation outcomes from the Supporting People programme.

Supporting People table of local data 2010/2011

This table provides a breakdown of older households in receipt of Supporting People funded services by region.

Cost Benefit Assessment of Supporting People in the North East

This paper from the NE Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership evaluates both the cost-benefits of the Supporting People programme in the North East region and the potential efficiencies that...

Personalised Supporting People Services in Norfolk

This Housing LIN Case Study no 48 describes how, working with users of housing related support services and providers, Norfolk County Council is working in partnership to achieve personalised services...

Lifting the Burdens - Task Force Review of Health and Social Care Burdens

The final report of a task force that reviewed the total burden of regulatory and performance management on health and social care and made recommendations to streamline and align the systems.

Health & social care and the Supporting People programme

Housing LIN Viewpoint No 8 - These two articles first published in Community Care magazine, describe how the changes emerging in Supporting People (SP) policy could remove the need to demarcate 'care'...

Communities and Local Government Strategy for Supporting People - Briefing

Housing LIN Briefing No16 on the new strategy for Supporting People (SP) published in June 2007 that links SP to Local Area Agreements and will test out removing the ring fence for SP funding.

Research into financial benefits of Supporting People programme

Published by Department for Communities and Local Government, this piece of research estimates the financial benefits of the Supporting People (SP) programme for a majority of the groups supported. The...

Key Findings from Supporting People Health pilots evaluation

Published by the Dept for Communities and Local Government this report contains independent research into 6 pilots in England that provided support to different user groups with the aim of improving...

Supporting People for Better Health: a guide to partnership working

This guide published by Communities and Local Government offers practical advice to operational managers, strategic planners and commissioners on partnership working related to housing related support....