Supporting People
Supporting People (SP) is a national government funded programme, overseen by the Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG 
), and is the responsibility of each local authority. It is a discretionary grant for which there is no statutory right and is intended to meet the housing related support needs of vulnerable people.
SP manages the purchase of:
- long term services such as sheltered housing for the elderly
- supported housing for people with a disability
- short term services such as hostels and refuges for vulnerable people
- floating and visiting support to more independent people and
- monitors these services to ensure and sustain quality
Short term housing related support services (up to 2 years duration) are provided with the aim of equipping people with the life skills needed to live independently in the community in the future.
The Support People programme and its activities are overseen by representatives of the Bournemouth & Poole Primary Care Trust (PCT), the Probation Service and the Borough of Poole. These representatives form the Commissioning Body group which is responsible for monitoring progress, dealing with management issues and recommending policy and agreeing strategy and policy development. The Council, however, are responsible for any strategic, financial or legal decisions defined by grant guidance.
Supporting People works closely with housing, social services, children and family services and voluntary and statutory agencies who work with vulnerable people.
Contact us:
Staff working within the Supporting People team now come under the umbrella of the Service Improvement Team. This team is responsible for contract monitoring of all Supporting People contracts as well as Home Care and Residential.
The team comprises:
Senior Service Improvement Officer
Service Improvement Officers
Finance and Contracts Officers
Admin Assistant
At a corporate level the Strategic Commissioning Manager, historically the Supporting People Manager, still advises the Commissioning Body and leads the programme on behalf of the Borough.
For any further information please contact: email supportingpeople@poole.gov.uk
Agencies We Work With
The National Supporting People Programme (SPKWEB) is overseen by the Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG) however each local authority is responsible for implementing the programme based on local need and demand for Supporting People services. The programme in Poole is run from the Civic Centre. The team works and consults with many other statutory and voluntary agencies including:
- Housing, housing providers and housing needs officers
- Citizens advice , youth advice workers
- Probation, social services
- Health professionals, mental health support workers
- Bournemouth & Poole Primary Care Trust
- Housing Brokerage
If you are looking for a Supporting People service a directory is available to all giving services across England.
Funding and Grant
Supporting People pays service providers for "housing related" support services to help people to live independently in their accommodation. It cannot pay for medical or domestic or care services, property maintenance or basic housing management.
Support services should meet local strategic needs at a fair cost and be able to evidence clear outcomes for service users.
The Government is reviewing national levels of Supporting People funding and in Poole we anticipate future reductions. New developments can only be funded through savings in the programme.
The number of people supported in Poole depends upon the turnover of vacancies. So for example for older people the turnover will be less than for homeless provision. Moves can depend on securing suitable alternative accommodation.
Please use the links below and the Categories (top right of this page) to discover further information :
Directgov