Agenda item

To consider a report on the Draft Rough Sleeping Strategy 2017-20.

9.1       Members received a presentation on the Draft Rough Sleeping Strategy 2017-20. Richard Cressey (Principal Policy Officer) began by advising that the strategy was about to go to consultation and he then highlighted the strategy’s three priorities, these being:

·                     Preventing rough sleeping and providing a rapid response

·                     Supporting people to rebuild their lives

·                     Tackling anti-social behaviour and keeping the city safe.

9.2       Focusing on supporting people to rebuild their lives, Richard Cressey advised that a key objective of this priority was improving rough sleepers’ health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on addressing mental health and substance misuse issues. He advised that the Rough Sleepers Joint Strategic Needs Assessment in 2013 had identified that rough sleepers have more health needs and suffered from greater health inequalities than the general population, with their life expectancy around 30 years shorter than the average population. Rough sleeping was also associated with ‘tri-morbidity’, involving physical and mental health issues and substance misuse, as well as complex health needs and premature death. Members heard that rough sleepers were more than four times more likely to use Accident and Emergency Services and their secondary healthcare costs were at least five times more expensive than the general population. In addition, there were specific barriers in accessing services for rough sleepers and hospital discharge was not always managed well.

9.3       Jennifer Travassos (Senior Manager of Rough Sleeping) then informed Members of the initiatives taken to take to tackle rough sleeping to date. This included an Integrated Care Network to provide physical and mental health bed spaces in hostels for those rough sleepers needing extra support, such as those patients discharged from hospital, and this also helped reduce hospital admissions. Homeless health peer advocates were also being used to help break down barriers and navigate rough sleepers through the health system. A new Common Health Assessment Tool had been introduced to the rough sleeping pathway and there had been 100% completion of this for all residents in 2015/16. Jennifer Travassos added that 99% of people in the rough sleeping pathway and over 90% of core rough sleepers were now registered with a GP. A Homeless Coordination Project in partnership with Public Health had also been commissioned.

9.4       Jennifer Travassos then informed Members about the proposed actions for the new strategy. As well as building on the achievements of the last strategy, the new strategy sought to increase the percentage of people in the Council’s accommodation services with mental health needs who are engaging with mental health services from 64% to 80%. In respect of substance misuse, dual diagnosis was proposed to explore new routes into treatment services for rough sleepers in accommodation services, focusing on areas such as users of novel psychoactive substances, including ‘Spice’. Initiatives would also be undertaken in addressing patients discharged from hospital in becoming homeless. Jennifer Travassos advised that the strategy would also seek to join up with Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and to work closely with the Board to ensure effective strategic oversight in delivering this priority.

9.5       During discussions, a Member remarked that two growing areas of difficulty were those being discharged from hospitals or prisons becoming homeless. In addition, as those who had remained homeless aged, hostels were increasingly becoming an unsuitable type of accommodation and these issues needed to be addressed. The Greater London Authority also depended on the Council in coordinating providers and this demonstrated the key role it played in London in tackling homelessness and rough sleeping. Another Member highlighted the importance of data sharing and consulting with homeless charities. It was noted that the voluntary sector was providing both commissioned and non-commissioned services for homeless people. A Member emphasised the need for prevention measures and early intervention to prevent younger people from becoming homeless.

9.6       The Chairman advised that the proposed strategy had Cabinet support and indicated her support on behalf of the Board in welcoming the proposed new strategy.