Inclusion of Supporting People within the Area Based Grant (ABG)
From 2009/2010 Supporting People will be allocated to council's as a non-ring fenced grant, paid separately to, but with the same financial flexibility as Area Based Grants. This removal of the ring fence provides Supporting People partnerships with the opportunity to develop new and innovative ways to support vulnerable people in a range of different situations.
Liverpool's Supporting People programme was invited to become a Pathfinder from April 2008, resulting in the removal in the ring fence following which SP was included within the Local Area Agreement (LAA). During 2008/2009 the fund was used to pay for local priorities but was still used for housing support with some relaxations where there was a link to improving outcomes for service users in relation to housing and independent living.
Following on from the successful pathfinder pilots, Supporting People nationally is likely to be included within the ABG from 2010/2011. Council's performance in delivering housing support will be measured through the new Comprehensive Area Assessments (CAA) and through two Key Performance Indicators (NI 141 - Short Term Services and NI 142 - Long Term Services) in the slimmed down National Performance Framework - ensuring that the changes in funding lead to improved services for vulnerable groups.
On 3rd November 2009, the CLG Select Committee announced the outcome of their enquiry into the national Supporting People Programme. This declared that there would be no re-instating of the ring fence for Supporting People funding due to the enhanced ability its' removal had provided in commissioning more flexible services. Liverpool's Supporting People Programme will continue to commissiong and fund flexible and innovative services which demonstrate clear, positive outcomes in relation to housing and independent living.