Changes proposed to improve supported living

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Vulnerable adults who use care services from Rochdale Council, supporting them to live at home, are having their say on possible changes to how services are run.

The Supporting People Programme provides a range of housing related support services to enable vulnerable people to live independently in the community in partnership with the Adult Care service.

Users of the Supporting People service are being reassured that they will still receive care where they live. The difference they might see would be who the staff providing day to day services for them are employed by. The proposals concern people supported in tenancies by Mencap, Rochdale Council and the Heywood and Middleton Primary Care Trust.

Users of the service, and their carers, have been invited to drop in sessions around the borough this week, so they can find out more about the project and ask any questions about the proposals.

Michele Tynan said, "We are trying to find out, what service users feel works well for them now and how they want to be supported in the future." Any changes would be implemented from Spring 2007.

Supporting People aims to provide housing-related support services that improve the quality of life for vulnerable people by developing or sustaining their ability to live independently in the community.

Housing-related support services will often complement services provided by those in social services, health, housing authorities and associations, probation services, the voluntary and private sector, and by carers. The fund to pay for these services is called a Supporting People Grant. The total budget for 2004/5 is currently £16.4 million. This money is used to purchase over 330 support services from 55 support providers. Examples of the services we purchase are sheltered schemes, single and homeless family units as well as a woman's refuge.

Further information Michele Tynan, Project Manager, Learning Disabilities Service, Tel (01706) 864343