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