Transcript NPSS - Regional Homelessness Forum

The National Practitioner
Support Service (NPSS)
Introduction
Sept 2013
Tracy Hendren / Chris Hancock
National Practitioners
The Team
• 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
• Coordinators
– Supporting Peer Reviews & Gold Standard applications: supporting
the team, the Advisory Committee, and local authorities
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 - linked to the 10 challenges
 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
Diagnostic Peer
Review Toolkit
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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 on going bite size reviews of specific
elements of the service, for example supporting periodic case file reviews, and other
quality assurance monitoring initiatives
3 Stages to DPRs
Stage 1: Planning
– Agree a peer group (3 or more partner LAs)
– Identify who will undertake the DPR from each partner LA
(NPSS advise utilising anyone in an existing County or Sub-regional coordinator
role, plus one person from 2 of the other LAs not being reviewed at any given
time – it is important to ensure objective results and healthy challenge. Where
there are more than 3 LAs involved, always ensure that peer reviewers are
from different partner LAs)
– Review guidance
– Agree approach & consistent understanding of the scoring
framework
– Engage stakeholders and develop timetables
– Brief staff...
3 Stages to DPRs
Stage 2: The Peer Review
– Desk top review (1 day, 1 officer)
– Onsite challenge (3 days), 2 officers
– Feedback (1 day), 1 officer
Stage 3: Develop Continuous Improvement Plans
– Peer Reviewer to provide framework for a CIP
– CIPs based on the recommendations arising
– Gold Standard Challenge application...?
Gold Standard
Process
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60%+ peer review score using the online Peer Review Tool
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Gold Standard application must be within 3 months of the Peer Review
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Applicants can apply for a minimum of (any) 3 Local Challenges at a time
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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
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Continuous Improvement Plans (CIPs) and Practitioner Support
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Recognition for committing to the process and achievements
“Bronze” stage = 1 - 4 Local Challenges achieved
“Silver” stage = 5 - 9 Local Challenges achieved
“Gold Standard” Award = 10 Local Challenges achieved
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10 “Local
Challenges”
Corporate commitment
Partnership with voluntary sector and other local partners to address support,
education, employment and training needs
Housing Options prevention service, including written advice, to all clients
No Second Night Out model or an effective local alternative
Housing pathways agreed or in development with each key partner and client group
that includes appropriate accommodation and support
Suitable PRS offer for all client groups, including advice and support to both clients
and landlords
Active engagement in preventing mortgage repossessions including through the
Mortgage Rescue Scheme
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
Not place any young person aged 16 or 17 in B&B
Not place any families in Bed and Breakfast accommodation unless in an
emergency and then for no longer than 6 weeks
Basic Process
NPSS Ethos
• There are no failed applications for Gold Standard
• All carrot, no stick – voluntary and optional
• Promote wider benefits of programme
– Value for money
– Service Recognition
• Focus on ‘Continuous Improvement’ with full
support from NPSS
Gold Standard
Update
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305/326 Local Authorities completed step 1
304/326 Local Authorities completed step 2
121/326 Local Authorities completed step 3
310/326 Local Authorities contacted NPSS
53/326 Local Authorities have downloaded the DPR
41/326 Local Authorities have downloaded the
Statistical Compiler
Contact Details:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.practitionersupport.org