Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG The National Practitioner Support Service (NPSS) South East Homelessness Forum April 2013 Phil Turner – National Homelessness Practitioner

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG The Team 3 x National Homelessness Practitioners – Experienced in front line homelessness work, managing and putting together effective services – Experienced in reviewing local authority housing options and wider services 2 x Coordinators – Supporting Peer Reviews & Gold Standard applications: supporting the team, the Advisory Committee, and local authorities

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG The 10 Steps Step 1 - Pledge to strive for continuous improvement in front line housing services Step 2 - FREE one year Shelter Legal membership Step 3 - FREE legal training to all local authorities Step 4 - FREE bespoke Gold Standard training to all local authorities Step 5 - FREE Value for Money cost efficiency assessment tool Step 6 - FREE statistical compiler Step 7 - FREE access to verified good practice examples from around the country, and other related free toolkits Step 8 - FREE Diagnostic Peer Review Toolkit Step 9 - FREE comprehensive benchmarking toolkit available to local authorities who agree to share the results of their peer reviews and VFM assessments Step 10 - If you decide – Apply for the Gold Standard Challenge

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG Diagnostic Peer Review Toolkit The NPSS actively encourages LAs to work in groups of 3 or more to undertake peer reviews using the toolkit. This approach offers a healthy challenge & draws in experience, expertise and support from different areas To make an application for Gold Standard - there needs to be 3 or more partners involved in a peer review...and an authority needs to achieve a minimum 60% overall score There is support available from the NPSS for groups of 3 or more local authorities undertaking peer reviews in this way Local authorities can use the DPR toolkit internally to review their own services, or undertake a peer review with just 1 other partner local authority in order to improve their services, prior to considering a wider peer review or applying for Gold Standard The toolkit can also be used to support ongoing bite size reviews of specific elements of the service, for example supporting periodic case file reviews, mystery shopping exercises and other quality assurance monitoring initiatives

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG 10 Local Challenges 1.Corporate commitment 2.Partnership with voluntary sector and other local partners to address support, education, employment and training needs 3.Housing Options prevention service, including written advice, to all clients 4.No Second Night Out model or an effective local alternative 5.Housing pathways agreed or in development with each key partner and client group that includes appropriate accommodation and support 6.Suitable PRS offer for all client groups, including advice and support to both clients and landlords 7.Active engagement in preventing mortgage repossessions including through the Mortgage Rescue Scheme 8.Have a homelessness strategy which sets out a proactive approach to preventing homelessness and is reviewed annually so that it is responsive to emerging needs 9.Not place any young person aged 16 or 17 in B&B 10.Not place any families in Bed and Breakfast accommodation unless in an emergency and then for no longer than 6 weeks

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG Gold Standard Process 60%+ peer review score using the online Peer Review Tool Gold Standard application must be within 3 months of the Peer Review Applicants can apply for a minimum of (any) 3 Local Challenges at a time 3 month timescale to either apply for the next 3 Local Challenges and/or re-apply for any Local Challenges that were not achieved first time round Continuous Improvement Plans (CIPs) and Practitioner Support Recognition for committing to the process and achievements Bronze stage = Local Challenges achieved Silver stage = Local Challenges achieved Gold Standard Award = 10 Local Challenges achieved

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG Verification Gold Standard Advisory Committee comprising Practitioner Support, voluntary sector partners, housing and local government membership organisations and Gold Standard local authorities Verification Sub-groups will consider applications and provide summary recommendations to the Committee (for achievement and for CIPs & suggested practitioner support) Evidence reviewed, requested and gathered: – Diagnostic Peer Review results, local intelligence, and an online application – Targeted evidence & good practice requests – Potential for 1 or 2 day verification visits or phone interviews 10 local authorities achieving all 10 Local Challenges will be invited to join the Advisory Committee Online peer support, good practice examples and benchmarking Ongoing verification through the Advisory Committee

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG Basic Process

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG FREE Resources & Support Support you to use the toolkits (electronically and by phone) Targeted support for peer review groupings to use the Diagnostic Peer Review tools (this may be electronic, by telephone or in person, depending on the context) Provide you with more generic support to enhance your current housing options service across the ten local challenges, encourage you to offer an early intervention & prevention service and assist you to become Gold Standard ready Targeted support for local authorities to enhance front line service delivery (this may be electronic, by telephone or in person, depending on the context) Support you through the Gold Standard Process

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG NPSS will also... Set up, administer and manage the Gold Standard programme Develop and deliver specialist training for all local authorities Hold regular Sounding Board meetings with lead authorities Provide regular housing updates for local authorities including any relevant changes to national policy or legislation Offer a programme of events to encourage the sharing of good practice across housing options services, while promoting a peer review culture to raise the profile of Gold Standard as a nationally inclusive aspiration Attend regional forums and deliver road shows to keep you up to date Attend national and regional conferences to promote the approach to peer led continuous improvement Work in partnership with the National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS) to maximise the effectiveness and reach of the national Gold Standard programme Monitor the Gold Standard delivery and determine the effective use of available resources including highlighting where additional resource may be necessary to support ongoing delivery

Hosted by WCC Partnered by NHAS Funded by DCLG NPSS Ethos There are no failed applications for Gold Standard All carrot, no stick – voluntary and optional Focus on Continuous Improvement We will support local authorities to develop their approaches so that they are more effective and efficient

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