Public Partnership Forum

Executive Group Meeting

Held on 19th of June 2014

Glasgow Kelvin College Haghill

Present

Ann Souter,Jim Skinner,Ruth Matheson,JohnFerguson,

Morag Skinner, Lomond Stewart,Brian McNally,James Duncanson

Frances Scott

Eric Steel Head of Homelessness Service

Ann Forsyth Homelessness and Asylum Service Manager

Tony Devine CommunityDevelopment Engagement Officer

Lorna Mcillverry Scottish Health Council

Apologies

Allison Lawson, Jane Proudfoot, Gary Dover Lorraine Kennedy,

Jamie McCarron, George McGuinness, Agnes Lloyd, Sharon Keenan

Item (1) Previous Minute

The minutes of the previous meeting amended to record Brian McNally as having attended approvedby John Ferguson seconded by

Morag Skinner

Item (2) Health and Social Care Integration feedback from the PPF

Chairs meeting with CHP Director Alex Mackenzie

Ann Souter reported on discussions that took place between the 3 PPF chairs at meetings held on the 20th of May and the3rdof June.

The purpose of both meetings was to discuss and agree a citywide PPF approach on public involvement/governance in the new health and social care partnership proposals.

The main points arising from the joint meeting were

  • What are the plans to involve the wider public in the integration of Health and Social Care
  • How do they intend to embed patient/carers in the decision making process

The 3 PPF Chairs met with CHP Interim Director Alex Mackenzie

on 9th of June to discuss these points

The meeting with Alex Mackenzie started of in a positive fashion each of the chairs gave examples of PPF member involvement that helped deliver a more localised and improved service the example

Alex Mackenzie admitted that he did not have a lot of definitive answers at this time .However he did inform them that the interviews for the Chief Officer post would take place on the 20th of June after which he was sure that things would start moving forward.

He was very positive about the PPFs contribution over the last five years and felt that engagement with service users would continue to receive support from the NHS after the April next year.He also agreed to attend the next City PPF Meeting on the 5th of August and he stressed the importance of PPFs groups and individual PPF members of taking part in the Gov consultationon Integration.

Members agreed with the chairs proposal to make a joint response on behalf of all the 3 PPF forums and the response would be formulated at the city wide PPF meeting on the 5th of August

Item (3) Homelessness and Asylum Service Redesign report from

Ann Forsyth Homelessness and Asylum Service Manager

and Eric Steel Head of Homelessness Service

Ann began by explaining that a major policy change had taken place in the way homelessness services were now being provided in city.Glasgow began a reviewof its Homeless Service in November 1999

The aims of the review was to improve the provision of accommodation, and other support for people with complex support needs; and to make recommendations for action.

This resulted in the closure of Glasgow outdated large-scale hostels and replacing them with more suitable smaller scale accommodation with increased support services

  • James Duncan House (331 Bell Street) closed March 2008
  • Peter McCann House (22 Kyle Street) closed July 2006
  • Robertson House (260 Broad St) closed February 2005

There is now a much greater emphasis on preventing Homelessness and this approach is helping reduce the overall number of applications homeless applications

  • Glasgow City Council (GCC) discharged duty to a Registered

Social Landlord (RSL) tenancy 525 times, a 30% reduction

on the same period in 2012;

  • GCC discharged duty to a Private Rented Sector (PRS)

tenancy 57 times, which is down 5% on the same period

in 2012;

  • There were 1,139 dependent children in temporary

accommodation on 30th September 2013, down 20% from

2012;

  • There were no reported breaches of the Unsuitable

Accommodation Order, which matches performance in 2012.

CHCPs established in April 2005 have played a central role in this policy development with the emphasis on providing local solutions

for those who become homeless

Ann went on to highlight a number of other policy developments that have had an impact on the homeless service

Housing Options is an approach to prevent homelessness by providing a person centered service to those at risk of becoming homelessness.

This approach aims to increase choice and focus existing services to work more effectively together. One example of this would be a teenager presenting as homelessagreeing to mediation with his family to make it possible for him to stay at home

Welfare Reform Act 2012 has had many implications for those

people accessing the welfare benefits system.

Meeting opened up for general questions and answer session.

Question: What criteria do you use to decide if someone is homeless?

Answer Eric Steel No single reason why someone becomes homeless

there are both personaland external factors that can contribute to a person becoming homeless for example

  • You do not have anywhere to stay
  • Your house is not safe to live in
  • You are fleeing domestic violence
  • Your house is overcrowded and a danger to your health
  • You are at risk of abuse or the threat of abuse
  • You are living in a hostel or bed and breakfast
  • It is not reasonable for you to continue living in the accommodation

Question

Who do you contact and what happens when you contact them

Answer Eric Steel the main but not the only point of contact would be with one of the 3 Casework teams based across Glasgow

Once contact is made the person would be offered a private interview with a trained councilor a full assessment of all the factors would be made and the applicant would notified of the decision within 28 days

One PPF member commented on an article in the Daily Record which described the conditions one of their reporters witnessed in a Hotel

in the Gallowgate area that made them ashamed to be a Glaswegian

Eric Steel said he was aware of the article however the service did

not refer any homeless applicants to the hotel mentioned in the newspaper article.

PPF members invited both officers to a future meeting once the review of the homeless service has been completed and they also asked formore information on the housing options allocation model

Item (4) A.O.B.

Lorna Mcllreavy from the Scottish Health Council provided feedback from the SHC PPF network meeting held on 16th May.

Lorna also informed members that a new SHC local officer had recently been appointed and that in future they would be covering the North East area

The Chair thanked Lorna for her commitment in covering the vacant

post ensuring PPF members were kept fully informed of both local and national policy developments especially with regards to the regulations

relating to the Public Bodies (Joint Working Scotland Act 2014)

PPF Meeting Dates for 2014

Jan 23rd, 20th Feb, 10th April, 22nd May, 19th June

August 21st, September 18th, October 23rd, December 4th.

Any one requiring more information please contact

Tony Devine Community Development Engagement Officer

On Telephone 0141-232- 0169 Mobile 0777-265-4641

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