Service Redesign
The services delivered to households who find themselves in housing crisis in Inverclyde are changing.
People who do not have secure accommodation are not all the same.
The circumstances that lead to losing your home are varied and often very complex therefore it is no longer appropriate to treat everyone in the same way or offer them the same type of accommodation while they get their lives back on track.
A programme of change is already underway in Inverclyde and this will not only affect the way we deliver services but also how we accommodate and support people to move through their journey and go on to live sustainable lives.
A two year action plan has been developed to monitor the progress of change and regular updates will be published to keep you informed of the delivery of services during the process and the positive results we achieve as we transform.
Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership are committed to ensuring that people who use our services receive the best possible care which meets their needs and that a person-centred approach is delivered for anyone experiencing the trauma of homelessness.
Rapid Rehousing Support Team
The Rapid Rehousing Support Team is now in place and providing intensive support where required. This team in combination with the team of two Resettlement workers will work to ensure best outcome for client tenancy sustainment.
A message from the Rapid Rehousing Wellbeing Co-ordinator:
A key change to our service is the introduction of a new in-house support team.
Working to the principles of Housing First, our team of eight Support Worker’s will work with some of our most disadvantaged and vulnerable service users to help them break the cycle of homelessness and ultimately secure a permanent tenancy.
Based within the Inverclyde Centre, our support team will work alongside the person to provide support in a range of areas, of all which aim to promote tenancy stability and wellbeing. Key support areas will include tenancy management skills, budgeting, advocacy, access to other services, healthy choices and community engagement.
The support offered is individualised, person centred and ongoing for as long as needed.
Housing Options and Advice
We are expanding our services to increase the access to housing options advice available in the local area. Our service is able to provide you with information on the local housing options, assist you to access the appropriate services for your housing situation and if your circumstances reach a crisis we will carry out a homeless application for you in order to provide you with settled accommodation.
This is all part of our ongoing change programme to transform the service we provide in Inverclyde.
Change Programme Progress
We have commenced the gradual decommissioning of the Inverclyde Centre with a number of rooms now no longer in use. We will continue to move forward with room closures when able, with intention of a full decommissioning of the Inverclyde Centre.
The amount of support available to residents has seen a substantial increase as a result of the new in-house support team including; the opening of a support lounge 3 days a week, brunch club, enhancing community links etc.
Expansion of Housing First provision to support 41 individuals - Through the initiation of our team of Rapid Rehousing Support Workers the service has been able to expand it’s provision of the Housing First Pathway to support 41 individuals as of April 2023 —a model that works on the premise that a safe, secure, settled home is the best base for recovery for people who face multiple disadvantages beyond housing including childhood and early years trauma; domestic abuse; mental ill health; addictions; and time spent in local authority care or prison. It offers personalised, open-ended, flexible support for people to help end their experience of homelessness and address their wider needs
The Homelessness Service is seeing small and gradual progress in reducing the number households facing homelessness and improving their experience in Inverclyde.This is in part due to the activities progressing under our four RRTP objectives and the work of our ongoing two year Programme for Change.
In the year to date, April 1st – December 31st 2022, the service has promising figures which indicate an improved position to that of year end 2021/22. These figures are reduced stats on:
- Numbers of homeless applications - In 2021/22 there was an average of 81 applications per quarter (323 applications total), this has reduced to an average of 68 in the first three quarters of 2022/23 (204 applications total).
- Number of households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness - An average of 69 cases per quarter assessed as such in 2021/22, compared with the 62 cases on average per quarter from April 1st –December 31st 2022. As of December 31st 2022, the service had 33% less applications assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness than 2021/22, indicating that at end of 2022/23 financial year the service is on target to be in an improved position to the year previous.
- Case duration - The average case duration from open to closure has reduced from 25 weeks to 24 weeks.
- Time spent in temporary accommodation - The average amount of time spent in temporary accommodation in 2021/22 was reported as 138 days, while cases closed in the period April 1st - December 31st 2022 time spent in temporary accommodation amounted to around 89 days on average – a 36% decrease.
The service is currently assisting 121 households who do not have their own accommodation to find a settled and secure tenancy. We will continue to strive to ensure that people who use the service receive the best possible care which meets their needs and that a person-centred approach is delivered for anyone experiencing the trauma of homelessness.
For more information please contact:
The Inverclyde Centre, 98 Dalrymple Street, Greenock PA15 1BZ
Phone: 01475 715 880
Email: homelessness.services@inverclyde.gov.uk