Adults

What support is available?

Support is available to a variety of vulnerable groups through the Supporting People programme.

What type of support?

It is support that helps someone to live independently in their accommodation. Support includes a variety of types of assistance such as:

• managing debts, budgeting and applying for benefits;
• gaining access to other services and organisations that can provide support and help;
• learning life and social skills;
• finding out about work or college;
• keeping an eye on personal wellbeing;
• alarm systems to enable people to call for help in an emergency;
• dealing with other professionals, family and neighbours and advocating on behalf of people.

It does not include:

• personal care, like washing and dressing;
• healthcare or medication;
• preparing meals, shopping or cooking on a regular basis;
• cleaning;
• specialist counselling or treatment;
• childcare;
• outings or holidays;
• gardening.

Floating support is support delivered direct to the service user in their own home up to a period of 18 months.

Outreach support is long term support delivered directly to the service user in their own home.

Who can the programme help?

Supporting People can help a wide range of adults, including the following groups and services. Follow the highlighted links for more information on each group.

How does Medway Council ensure Supporting People services are effective in meeting the needs of service users?

The council monitors all services providing support to vulnerable people on a regular basis. Providers send in information which shows if they have been delivering the service they are contracted to provide. Every service is reviewed on an annual basis. The purpose of monitoring and review is to ensure that the service:

• is needed;
• is being used;
• is high quality;
• offers good value for money.

The council ensures that service users and other stakeholders are involved in the monitoring and review process as much as possible.

Does the service have to be paid for?

Any service user who receives housing benefit does not have to pay for the service. Long-term service users (that is, those using services more than two years) who do not receive housing benefit can be assessed by the Fairer Charging Team for full or partial relief from the charge, depending on their circumstances.

Most short-term service users (services that are intended to be provided for less than two years) are automatically exempt from charges. Where this is not the case, a fairer charging assessment will also apply.

Support service providers

If you are already receiving a support service from a provider and want to know anything about that service, you should discuss it with the provider. If you wish to make a complaint about a service, it should be made through the complaints procedure for that organisation.

If the organisation is unable to help or you do not feel your concerns have been resolved, please contact the council using the details at the foot of this page.

Who to contact for more information

More information about the programme nationally can be found on the government's website for Supporting People (www.spkweb.org.uk)

There is also a national Supporting People Directory of Services (www.spdirectory.org.uk) where you can search for services available in your area.

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