Thursday 26th July 2007
(ref:
222/2007)
Social care chiefs in Wigan have welcomed a report which praises the council’s groundbreaking project to help vulnerable people live independently.
The national Audit Commission has heralded Wigan Council’s Supporting People programme as ‘good’ with ‘promising prospects for improvement’ in an independent report published today (Thursday).
The £7.6m programme is part of a national initiative to provide housing-related support to vulnerable people within the community, allowing them to lead more independent lives.
The Wigan scheme was given a two-star out of three or ‘good’ rating following a thorough review of the service by independent Audit Commission inspectors.
The report highlighted the following areas of the council scheme:
- Service users’ views have been sought and have led to important improvements.
- Housing support services for vulnerable people have improved because of strong contract management and positive relations with service providers.
- Improvements in value for money and efficiency have been made throughout the three years of the programme.
Audit Commission senior manager Melanie Rees says about the Wigan scheme:
“Strong leadership has ensured that the programme is well supported by partners and integrated with complimentary services for vulnerable people. While we found some weaknesses, the council’s progress to date gives us confidence that the service will improve further in the future.”
Wigan Council’s Director of Adult Services, Bernard Walker, says:
“As well as funding housing-related support services, we monitor their quality and plan how they should develop and improve.
“We make site visits and talk to people and find out how these services are making a difference to people’s lives.”
Mr Walker adds:
“The project can help people set up their own home, develop domestic and social skills and manage their finances. It can even give them help with education and finding a job.”
Cabinet Champion for Healthier Communities and Older People Cllr Kevin Anderson, welcomed the Audit Commission’s findings.
“In the three years since Supporting People was launched it’s fair to say that the Wigan team has risen to the challenges it presented with enthusiasm and passion,” he says. “It is now an integral part of what we do both as a department and a council. We are committed to improving the quality of life for all our residents and Supporting People is a fine example of how we are achieving this.
“Whilst we are not complacent and appreciate that there is always more to do, the findings of this report are a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved.”
