Deborah McAlpine West Lothian Council

Social Networks and Homelessness

Deborah Sharp McAlpine – Contracts & Commissioning Officer (Social Policy)

Kirsty Smeaton-Brown – Housing Need Manager (Housing, Building

& Construction Services)

No Light Bulb Moment

Work in progress in various stages!!!

West Lothian in Context

• Semi Rural Community - Main towns of Livingston, Bathgate and Linlithgow

• Growing Population

• Young Population

• Entry Level Employment

Homeless Presentations

Year 09/10 08/09 07/08

Total presentations 1760 1752 1655

16-17 years old: 123 151 138

18-25 years old 682 685 618

Total under 25 years old

805 836 756

• 46% to 48% of presentations from under 25 years old

Whose Problem is it anyway?

Homelessness Strategy

What’s the solution?

Social Networks?

West Lothian's approach to Housing Options, Sustainability & Prevention

•Assessment

•Housing options

•Support

Role of Contracts & Commissioning Officer

• Monitoring/Evaluation• Contract compliance• Service Review• Commissioning Strategy and

implementation

External Provision & Support

Plus other specialised provision… Penumbra, SAMH, Action Group, Places for People……

Social Networks Training

• Approached by Rock Trust• In-house “ housing need staff” first• Corporate recognition• Multi Agency training calendar

Review of Housing Support

Ring Fence Gone?

Supporting People Gone?

Housing Support Gone?

Housing Support

• 21 tasks

• Enabling and assisting • Not housing management and not care• Grey areas• Legislation....December Bill

Grey Areas in WLC mainly “social activities”

These include things like : -

•Taking service users to the cinema.

•Daniel O'Donnell Concerts

•Going to the swimming pool.

•Taking service users to the gym

•Social Networks is not social activities!!!!

•All of the above can generate OUTCOMES for individuals.

Self Directed Support

• Personalisation • “Enables the individual alone, or in groups, to find the

right solutions for them and to participate in the delivery of a service. From being a recipient of services, citizens can become actively involved in selecting and shaping the services they receive”

Changing Lives Service Development Group 2009

Contracts & Contracts Monitoring?

Tough Choices?

How does Self Directed Support fit?

Outcomes

• The West Lothian Life Stage Planning Model.

• Measuring

Work in Progress • Organic process which leads service

development & individual outcomes

• Achievable goals for LA’s

• Achieving efficiencies through social networks

Does it end?