West London Homelessness Strategic Action Plan 2012-2013
Overarching Aim
To work together to improve services to prevent and resolve homelessness across West London and to achieve better value for money.
Methodology
Benchmark the cost and quality of services, share and embed best practise.
Where boroughs are commissioning or procuring similar services, work together to achieve value for money e.g. joint commissioning or joint tendering.
Develop protocols and agreements and carry out joint training
Key Objectives and Milestones
Objective1: Make Best Use of Housing Solutions to Prevent and Resolve Homelessness
Objective / Milestone/Action / Lead / Funding / Resources / Target Date / Progress1.1
Assess the impact of welfare benefit changes on the cost of TA and lobby Government on behalf of sub-region / 1.1a
Model the financial impact of welfare benefit changes, including overall benefits cap , changes in TA subsidy & universal credit
1.1b
Lobby DWP & DCLG in the interests of the sub-region including TA subsidy changes, overall benefits cap, transitional arrangements and regulations on location suitability / EA
IapR / Pan-London funding held by sub-regions / July
1.2
Work together to achieve efficiency savings in the procurement and management of temporary accommodation and direct lettings in the PRS / 1.2a
Work with RPs to maximise supply of HALS & HALD properties within new subsidy arrangements & overall benefits cap
1.2b
Coordinate bi-monthly Private Managed Accommodation contract liaison meetings to review performance of providers and discuss procurement plans
3.1d
Consider alternative models to increase TA supply
3.1e
Decide whether to extend PMA contract or re-tender
3.1f
Organise another West London Landlord Fair / IapR
IapR
IapR/TADL
Brent/IapR/TADL
IapR / March
Bi-monthly
Sept.
March
1.3
Work together to manage the movement of households out of Central London as a result of changes to LHA, TA subsidy and overall benefits caps / 1.3a
Monitor cross-borough moves against the IBAA
1.3b
Work with London Councils to extend Notify to direct lettings and non-homeless placements
1.3c
Coordinate pan-London TA meetings to share experience, best practise , promote joint working & monitor cross-borough procurement
1.3d
Participate in pan-London project to re-establish Setting the Standard to enable boroughs to share B&B inspection reports
1.3e
Work with London Councils to review IBAA as appropriate / IapR/EA
EA
IapR
IapR/EA
IapR/EA / Monthly
Quarterly
1.4
Work together to manage the movement of households out of London in anticipation of the overall benefits cap and other benefit changes / 1.4a
Identify preferred locations for out of London procurement and coordinate borough work, encouraging joint working & sharing of properties
1.4b
Work with PMA providers & boroughs to maximise procurement including out of London / IapR
IapR
Objective 2: Tackle Rough Sleeping
End Rough Sleeping
Objective / Milestone/Action / Lead / Funding / savings / Target Date / Progress2.1
Update action plan to end rough sleeping and monitor projects funded by DCLG / 2.1a
Action plan signed off by Housing Directors and submitted to DCLG
2.1b
Review progress on each scheme and update plan , attend quarterly review meetings with DCLG & GLA
2.1c
Review individual projects, decide whether to cease funding any projects and where to move the funding to / IapR
IapR
IapR / £543,000 from DCLG / May 2012
Quarterly
April 2013
2.2
Obtain a more accurate picture of the level of rough sleeping across the sub-region / 2.2a
Agree a common date for street counts & co ordinate to avoid missing or double counting rough sleepers
2.2b
All boroughs to carry out street counts on the same night / RS Leads / Oct.2012
Nov.2012 / 5 boroughs did street count on Nov.23/24;
the other 2 did estimates
2.3
Work sub-regionally to fill gaps in provision of services for rough sleepers / 2.3a
All boroughs to have assessment beds in place
2.3b
All boroughs to have access to supported hostel accommodation (Pound Lane available)
2.3c
Co-ordinate work with police, UKBA and other partners with NRPF and NSNO / Boroughs
IapR
Ealing/St.Mungos
Hounslow / DCLG /GLA
£35,000 (DCLG/GLA)
DCLG / April 2012
March 2012
June 2012- June 2013
2012-13
2.4
Tackle rough sleeping by people without recourse to public funds / 2.4a
Engage with UKBA to secure resources to assist with enforcement
2.4b
Set new targets and agree SLA for 1.5.11 to 31.1.12
2.4c
Coordinate monthly WLR Project meeting to monitor and direct the work of the project
2.4d
Review performance of WL Reconnect & UKBA & decide whether to extend SLA
2.4d
Tackle the problem of rough sleeping by Indian nationals in Hounslow & Ealing / WL Reconnect Project Group
WL Reconnect Project Group
IapR
WLR / Housing Directors
Thames Reach / St.Mungos / £82,500 from DCLG
Joint Homeless Transition Fund bid / April 2012
April 2012
Jan.2013
Oct.2012-14 / Achieved
Target of 50 successful outcomes agreed
Bid submitted 14.5.12
2.5
Increase access to the PRS for Single Homeless / 2.5a
Increase the incentive and expand the provider list
2.5b
Implement volunteer scheme to increase capacity
2.5c
Review provider list & voucher scheme & decide whether to allow boroughs to use funds for deposits etc.
2.5d
Work with providers and boroughs to Increase numbers accessing the PRS via provider list to 26 / month / TP
IapR
IapR
IapR / DCLG funds
DCLG
DCLG
DCLG / May
July
Sept.
March
Objective 3: Enhance Housing Options and Advice Services
Objective / Milestone/Action / Lead / Funding / Resources / Target Date / Progress3.1
Facilitate arrangements for boroughs to refer customers for employment & training information, advice and guidance / 3.1a
Work with boroughs to target families affected by overall benefits cap for referral to Families Programme
3.1b
Work with Locata and boroughs to upgrade HELP database & online referral form
3.1c
Share ideas and best practise on housing / employment issues / IapR
Ealing
WLHC
3.2
Manage Mortgage Rescue budget to ensure best use is made across the sub-region / 3.2a
Work with boroughs to maximise appropriate referrals. At least 4 boroughs to be referring cases
3.2b
Attend regular meetings with L&Q, HCA and other sub-regions to monitor spend, identify and resolve any problems
3.2c
Work with boroughs, L&Q and HCA to improve processes and speed of throughput
3.2d
Organise training, workshops and case review meetings as needed.
3.2e
Support boroughs in making the case for rescues going through >10% above the cap in exceptional circumstances / IapR
IapR
IapR
IapR
IapR / 2012-13
£1,195,774 grant from HCA
3.3
Improve homeless prevention by joint working with RSLs and other agencies / 3.3a
Monitor and review effectiveness of use of DV reciprocals agreement / IapR / March 2013
3.4
Roll out Safe & secure across London / 3.4a
Continue to work with Met. Police & other partners to influence and develop the project, as part of the Working group
3.4b
Transfer funding to Safer London Foundation, who will raise further funding and commission support
3.4c
Boroughs to use pan-London recips.
Monitor & review
3.4d
Ealing implements Safe & Secure
3.4e
K&C,H&F, Hounslow, Hillingdon and Harrow implement Safe & Secure / IapR
IapR
Boroughs
IapR
Boroughs
Boroughs / £65,000 from DCLG / June
July
Dec. 2013
3.5
Sub-regional training programme / 3.5a
Identify available free NHAS courses & decide which ones to run sub-regionally
3.5b
Agree on sub-regional training programme
3.5c
Organise and coordinate these
3.5e
Commission a pan-London AHAS conference / WLHG
WLHG
IapR
IapR / Free, apart from venue, equipment & refreshments
Pan-London funds / June
July
March
March
3.6
Benchmark services / 4.5a
Report to Housing Directors on homelessness benchmarking exercise for 2012-3
4.5b
Benchmark processes and costs involved in medical assessments and identify opportunities for joint procurement of medical assessment services
4.5b
Joint procurement
4.5c
Review medical assessment processes and design new processes in tandem with new online medical form and newly procured services
4.5d
Quarterly benchmarking of P1E data / BS/IapR
BS/IapR
BS/IapR
BS
IapR / July
March
Quarterly