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Chris HampsonChris was appointed Look Ahead’s Chief Executive in January 2015 after 15 years at the organisation, including time as both a Director ...more
Incentivise associations to provide supported housing properties
It is time for specialist and developing associations to join forces and provide the NHS with much-needed accommodation-based support, writes Chris Hampson
Many housing associations’ roots are in care and support, but times have changed and the pressure to deliver more general needs housing means that many associations have disposed of this risky, non-core marginal side of their business.
Look Ahead was set up as a specialist provider, and supported housing is our business.
This means we don’t have the same pressure to deliver homes, but we also don’t have the financial capacity to develop a large number of properties each year.
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As an organisation we are concerned that, as many associations exit the delivery side of support, there has been a dramatic decrease in suitable buildings being developed to provide supported living services for people with mental health needs and learning disabilities, as well as care leavers.
We’ve already seen a number of large buildings, including hostels, Foyers (accredited learning and accommodation centres) and other sites that were originally intended for specialist housing being added to general development pipelines.
“The NHS and adult social care is increasingly viewing supported housing providers as the providers of solutions.”
In prime locations once lost these properties are gone forever.
This is unfortunate timing.
After years of arguing that health care commissioners need to acknowledge the role of supported housing in not only saving taxpayers’ money, but also in providing the kind of care that people want and need, the housing sector has finally got what it wanted: the NHS and adult social care is increasingly viewing supported housing providers as the providers of solutions to bed-blocking and expensive in-house housing solutions.
The NHS’s Five Year Forward View for Mental Health report, published in February 2016, stated: “More ‘step-down’ help should be provided from secure care, such as residential rehabilitation, supported housing and forensic or assertive outreach teams.
“By April 2017, population-based budgets should be in place for those clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) who wish to commission specialised services for people of all ages, in partnership with local government and national specialised commissioners.”
The NHS has capital funding available for appropriate move-on options for individuals leaving secure or forensic care settings, yet its commissioners often struggle to identify suitable building options.
At Look Ahead, we believe it is time for specialist housing associations and developing housing associations to join forces, share expertise and provide the NHS with the accommodation-based support it is looking for.
By doing so, the housing sector would be able to unlock NHS funding, benefit more service users and save public money.
“NHS commissioners often struggle to identify suitable building options.”
We have evidence to show that the right accommodation solutions can provide the stable structure and solid foundations that are vital in providing the support individuals need to recover and move forwards with their lives.
Our Tabard Forensic Service in east London, for example, offers accommodation-based support for 19 men with complex mental health needs and offending histories.
The step-down service, which is located in a property owned and developed by Look Ahead, was commissioned by the local authority and NHS CCG, and co-designed by Look Ahead and the East London NHS Foundation Trust.
It has become a critical part of the pathway leading from secure inpatient services to independence in the community, and has saved Tower Hamlets commissioners more than £750,000 in under two years, for just 19 people.
We believe there are some interesting conversations to be had between housing providers and NHS trusts, transforming care partnerships, CCGs and local authorities, and some highly effective partnerships to be formed.
Navigating the NHS can be difficult, but specialist niche providers like Look Ahead have expertise in working with the NHS and accessing funding.
“Despite the desperate shortage of all housing, we must not forget supported housing.”
We understand the risks involved in being associated with complex support services is not always appealing, but it’s our job to deal with these every day.
Together specialist organisations and developing organisations can provide services to customers like our Tabard Forensic Service, for those who have been stuck for years in secure inpatient services or with unsuccessful placements in the community.
So, a question: could and should developing associations and Homes England be incentivised to provide more supported housing properties for the sector?
I think they can and they should. Despite the desperate shortage of all housing, we must not forget supported housing.
It is a vital component to the wider health and social care economy, which desperately needs to think and act differently to meet the challenges it faces.
Chris Hampson, chief executive, Look Ahead
