Supporting Treatment, Accommodation and Recovery in Suffolk The STARS Contract Supporting Treatment, Accommodation and Recovery in Suffolk

STARS Appropriate housing and related support are critical factors in supporting and sustaining recovery. It provides the foundation from which people can enter and continue in education, training or employment and secure housing is a known factor in helping ex-offenders to avoid re-offending. The government recognised the role of housing in supporting recovery in its 2010 Drugs Strategy Reducing demand, restricting supply, building recovery: supporting people to live a drug free life. It explicitly stated that recovery required a ‘whole systems approach’ including housing alongside health, probation, education and wider support services.

Recent Studies 38% of rough sleepers in London have a drug or alcohol support need. There is a greater risk of repeat cycles of homelessness where people have a drug or alcohol problem, and a greater likelihood of occupying poor housing People can become homeless for a whole host of complex reasons - whether alcohol, drugs, losing a job or the breakdown of a relationship.  Studies show that a third of all rough sleepers have spent time in prison Stable housing is a vital element in sustaining recovery

Service Specification The DRUG STRATEGY 2010 Reducing Demand, Restricting Supply, Building Recovery: Supporting People to Live a Drug Free Life states:   ‘We will create a recovery system that focuses not only on getting people into treatment and meeting process-driven targets, but getting them into full recovery and off drugs and alcohol for good. It is only through this permanent change that individuals will cease offending, stop harming themselves and their communities and successfully contribute to society.’ ‘Our ultimate goal is to enable individuals to become free from their dependence; something we know is the aim of the vast majority of people entering drug treatment. Supporting people to live a drug or alcohol free life is at the heart of our recovery ambition.’

The Background Started in late 2008 Pilot Scheme in West Suffolk Expanded county wide in early 2011 by Suffolk Public Health Genesis awarded a new contract from January 2016 for two years with an option to extend for a further year

Barriers It has been noted that the provision of stable housing can help individuals in their recovery from substance misuse but equally it is acknowledged that it is not always easy for people to access accommodation particularly if they have a previously poor experience including disruptive/antisocial/criminal behaviour and non-payment of rent and bills associated with continuing drug and/or alcohol misuse.   It can also be very difficult for people who are trying to stay substance free to live in a locality or in accommodation where people may well be “using” and where dealers know that people are vulnerable.

Barriers There are many barriers to accessing housing faced by substance misusers, as noted below: Previous ‘track record’ of tenancy/accommodation failure - e.g. debt, eviction, anti-social behaviour – puts accommodation providers off: Likelihood of being regarded as ‘intentionally homeless’ under homeless legislation because of acts and omissions associated with substance misuse: Location of available accommodation may increase the risk of relapse if it is associated with drug and/or alcohol misuse:

Barriers Lack of motivation and ability to access accommodation because of complex needs, drug and/or alcohol misuse, and/or mental health problems: Lack of supply of suitable and affordable housing: Lack of means to access private rented accommodation e.g. deposit, references:

Service Outcomes Service Outcomes   The overarching outcomes for this service are for clients to; Recover from Drug or Alcohol misuse and sustain it Gain the skills required to live independently and sustain a tenancy Stop committing crime

Functions The service will offer advocacy and support in each of the three main localities Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds & Lowestoft to any client who is considered to have a housing need via the STARS Advocacy & Support Service. The staff in the service have an in depth knowledge of the accommodation options available throughout the county and have experience of the barriers facing this client group. The Intensive Support Service will be suitable for those clients with a long history of Drug or Alcohol misuse who are unable to find accommodation elsewhere. These clients will have the need for intensive support to enable them to eventually live independently and achieve recovery.  

Advocacy and Support Service Clients in treatment who have a housing issue will be identified by the treatment agency or other stakeholders and referred to the service. Staff will undertake preventative work with those who may risk losing a tenancy, support to those who need to access suitable housing and accompany clients on viewings where necessary.  

Advocacy and Support Service The service will be mainly based within substance misuse agencies, holding surgeries, drop-in sessions and one to one appointments as necessary. Where clients are identified who require a high level of support and are unable to access suitable accommodation elsewhere due to previous behaviours, the service will refer the client to the Intensive Support Service.

Intensive Support Service Where barriers exist preventing access to accommodation, the service will provide individually tailored, intensive support; allowing clients to make steps along the journey to recovery from substance misuse and ultimately achieve abstinence, stop committing crime and gain the skills required to live independently. This service will offer a range of levels of intensive support.

Intensive Support Service It is likely that those clients returning from rehabilitation service will require continued intensive support for some time. Clients involved in the Criminal Justice System who have entrenched substance misuse issues will require up to two years intensive support. Therefore it is vital that assessments identify the level of support necessary for each individual. All clients will co-develop an outcome focused Recovery Plan to identify issues and capture progress made and goals achieved

Eligibility Those eligible for the service will be identified through a comprehensive risk assessment and will fit the following criteria: Accessing and engaging in effective treatment from drug or alcohol misuse. Be over 18 years old Have a significant housing need such as having no fixed abode or housing problem.  

The STARS Team We have a team of ten working across Suffolk A team of Housing Advice & Advocacy Workers A team of Intensive Recovery Workers A Intensive Housing Management Worker A Service Coordinator A Services Manager Peer Supporters The full support of Genesis services

Partnership Working We work with 180 Integrated Offender Management The programme only works providing all agencies work together as a team Suffolk Public Health, Probation, Police, Turning Point, Rehabilitation Treatment Services and many other partners

Meaningful Occupation Work experience at outside catering events Painting & Decorating Scheme Activity Days Volunteering Opportunity's Care Farms Building Confidence & Self Esteem

Changing Lives A former prolific offender has turned his life around since engaging with our service. He has stopped offending and is at an advanced stage of his recovery from drug use He fully engaged with our painting & decorating scheme and recently received a Genesis outstanding resident achievement award

Changing Lives He said Genesis was different, they gave me somewhere decent to live and treated me with respect My recovery worker was there when I needed him and he did not give up on me when I messed up. Recovery is hard and you have to take it one day at a time and Genesis understands that. Some of our clients have gone on to full time employment both with Genesis and our partner agencies. Other clients have become peer mentors and are providing a valuable service to those in recovery or just starting the journey

Social Impact Genesis is a large organisation that delivers local services The STARS service is an innovative programme that has developed with the support of Suffolk Public Health. Genesis commissioned an independent social impact study in 2015 (Envoy Partnership) This study showed that the STARS service produced £4-80 of social value for every £1 that was spent. Genesis has re-commissioned a further study in 2017 and this will be compete in the next few weeks

Envoy Partnership Extract from the report Every £1 that is invested in the STARS programme around £4-80 of social value is created. This equals a social return on investment ratio of 4.8:1. This is a fantastic achievement and shows that the STARS initiative is highly successful in benefiting service users, reducing reoffending, promoting community safety and creating robust cost efficiencies. The STARS team are creative and always improving: they never stand still and have developed in response to clients needs as they have been identified Oliver Kempton, Envoy Partnership

Executive Team Neil Hadden Chief executive has visited our flats and met our residents He and his team pay regular visits to the scheme. They meet and provide support to residents and staff. Residents are happy to meet them and are frank and open regarding what we do for them. One former resident has come through the programme and is now employed by Genesis.