Which Way Home? 39 • That plans take account of the need for reconfiguration regarding staffing levels and case-loads in the transition towards a housing-led approach. • That access to support to general and specialist services be improved upon. Cuts to frontline staff in statutory bodies are making it more difficult for people to access these services due to longer waiting times for appointments and longer waiting lists. 4. National and Local structures The research found that there were some structures at both national and local level that required attention and needed improving upon. We recommend • That there is urgent action on the recommendations of the Homeless Oversight Group1 who were appointed by the Minister in Feb 2013 and produced their first report in December 2013. The following are the most critical at present. • There is a need for full Cabinet commitment to the implementation of the recommendations of the Homeless Oversight Group Report (December 2013). • A structured Implementation Plan must be developed by the Homelessness Policy Implementation Team with input from the voluntary and statutory sector service providers to facilitate the transition from an emergency led approach to a more sustainable housing- led approach to achieve the 2016 target. The plan should outline adequate and measurable interim goals with sufficient resources, timelines and departmental and Local Authority responsibilities. This plan should include regular written progress reports to the NHCC/CDT. • There is a need for a shared and agreed understanding between service providers and funders on the parameters and operating of housing led services. This may necessitate some training, including training of frontline staff, on the issue locally and nationally. 5. Joint Working Effective joint working (inter-agency, interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary) is essential for a housing-led approach to be successful. We recommend • Maintenance and expansion of inter-agency working between Simon Communities and statutory services at local level. The development of integrated approaches ensures people have access to the most appropriate services and support. This in turn will ensure early intervention and prevention and improve outcomes. 6. Internal to the Simon Communities Very positively this research found a convergence between the ethos of the Simon Communities and the key principles of housing led approaches. Therefore, what is required is not necessarily seismic change but nonetheless the research did identify some shifts required. • The Simon Communities need to more pro-actively pursue cultural and attitudinal change amongst both staff and service users so that housing led approaches become the expectation and the norm. • The Simon Communities need to work to achieve a formal separation of housing and support and to enhance harm reduction services and wellness programmes. 1 When the Government’s Homelessness Policy Statement was published the Minister established a high-level three-person oversight group for the purpose of reviewing the approach being advocated in the Statement, identifying obstacles and proposing solutions.
Which Way Home?
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