The Government has published a National Statement of Expectations (NSE) for supported housing.
This sets out guidelines of best practice in the sector for standards in accommodation and āis an important step in establishing what good looks like and how it can be achieved.ā To be clear, these are not legal requirements but recommendations on how to maximise the services offered. Members may, however, find their recommendations useful.
In supported housing, accommodation is provided alongside support, supervision or care to help people live as independently as possible in the community.
The statement outlines that all parties involved in the delivery of supported housing benefit from working collaboratively to:
- assess local demand for supported housing
- plan effectively for the required provision
- deliver accommodation which is good quality and value for money
Some of the key recommendations include:
- Collaboration between local councils, providers and local delivery partners to assess, plan and deliver supported housing
- Accommodation is assessed for its suitability in meeting the needs of residents
- Regular communication and collaboration between local council housing services, landlords, managing agents, support staff and commissioners of support services, to share information so that arrangements can be adapted as resources or residentsā needs change
- Supported housing providers encouraged to participate in sector-led accreditation and benchmarking schemes which demonstrate compliance with standards and are aimed improving transparency and performance on value for money and quality of housing services
- Both local councils and providers ensure they take a consistent approach to administration and information sharing.
The full statement can be found here.
Posted 27 October 20