Local Authorities

London Borough of Lewisham Supporting People programme
Project:- interim management of the Programme
SP Solutions provided interim management of the Lewisham Supporting People programme for a six month period. We are currently working with Lewisham on implementing centralised access and referral arrangements, exploring commissioning and procurement options for DSP services and agreeing contract prices with providers.

Northern Area Housing Market
Project:- Review of housing needs amongst older people
We are working with the District Councils of Bassetlaw, Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover on research into the housing and support needs of older people.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Project:- Strategic Review of Supported Housing Services for People with Mental Health Problems
We have recently concluded this Review which included a Desk Top Review of the Supporting People Strategy, the Kingston Mental Health Service Business plan, the Joint Housing and Social Services protocol, ‘A guide to supported housing in Kingston’ and CRF data for the last 4 years. There were also interviews with key stakeholders, a survey of users and focus groups at house meetings, a survey of carers and a half day stakeholder event.

Southend-on-sea Borough Council Supporting People programme
Project:- interim management of the Programme and preparation for Audit Commission Inspection
SP Solutions managed the Southend SP programme for one year. This project included interim management of the programme, undertaking a major review of their five-year strategy, agreeing Steady State contract prices and implementing the actions arising from an Audit Commission inspection.

London Borough of Ealing Supporting People Service
Project:- interim management of the Programme and other projects
SP Solutions has been working with Ealing since 2005. For 12 months we provided the lead officer function for the programme and oversaw the completion of service reviews and implementation of the actions arising from an Audit Commission
Since 2006 we have undertaken various pieces of work for the Authority including a strategic review of mental health provision and a major exercise in negotiating steady state contract prices. We are currently undertaking a review of the Councils SP strategy.

London Borough of Haringey Supporting People Team
Project: Development of five year strategy and other projects
SP Solutions has been working with Haringey since 2002. In 2004 were given the contract to develop LB Haringey’s five year SP strategy. We were required to undertake needs analysis, carry out focus groups of clients and stakeholders, undertake an extensive consultation and ensure that the diverse needs of various stakeholders were reflected in the final strategy. This also required the development of an approach to procurement and commissioning that met the needs of the various stakeholders. We have subsequently completed a prioritisation planning exercise for the Authority and are currently reviewing the contract prices for a variety of services.

London Borough of Bexley Supporting People Team
Project: Needs analysis and development of five year strategy
SP Solutions has worked with LB Bexley since 2003. in 2004 We undertook a detailed analysis of unmet need for housing related support services for the Borough. We also project managed the development of the five year strategy. This included a similar range of tasks to that involved in Haringey although in a very different Borough context. More recently in 2007 we were commissioned to undertake a pre Audit Commission mock inspection.

London Borough of Redbridge Supporting People Service
Project:- interim management of the Programme and preparation for Audit Commission Inspection
LB Redbridge commissioned SP Solutions in June 2005 to Manage the SP programme and complete the Review of Services and prepare for the Audit Commission Inspection. In 2007 we were commissioned to undertake a pre Audit Commission mock inspection.

London Borough of Haringey Housing Directorate
Project:- Reconfiguration of Homelessness Services
LB Haringey undertook an ambitious reconfiguration of Statutory homelessness and housing advice functions with a range of services better focussed on homelessness prevention. SP Solutions ensured that SP funded services were included as an integral part of the menu of options that can help to prevent homelessness. This work has involved detailed joint working with SP service providers as well as developing a partnership approach with colleagues in statutory mental health, substance misuse, probation, Connexions and youth offending services.

Various Boroughs – review of SP contracts
SP Solutions has undertaken contract reviews on behalf of various Authorities. These have typically been large complex contracts which required substantial negotiation over contract prices and/or future strategic direction and purpose of the services. SP Solutions has been involved in contract reviews in 16 local authorities.