Information for Service Providers

A Providers Independent Forum (PIF) runs in Torbay. This is run by service providers to share good practice and advise the Supporting People programme locally. There is feedback from strategy groups on possible changes planned for services and guest speakers are also invited to meetings. If you are a service provider and would like to attend or would like to be included on the email list please contact Lorraine Baillie at lorraine.baillie@sanctuary-housing.co.uk.

Future meeting dates are: 13 April, 6 July and 12 October 2010.

The Quality Assessment Framework details the standards that Supporting People services are assessed against. This was revised with a new version from April 2009. All services must meet level C of the Framework. The Quality Assessment Framework is available in the related documents section below.

A Guide on how to involve vulnerable people in services (see Related Documents) has been produced as part of Torbay's role as Regional Champions for client involvement. This guide gives ideas on how to engage with and involve clients in the planning and development of services.

The Torbay Supporting People communication and involvement strategy details how the Supporting People Team will communicate with and involve people who use services, service providers, other organisations with an interest in Supporting People (such as the Care Trust, Probation service and voluntary organisations) and the local community. This can be found in the related documents section below.

Providers need to fill in quarterly performance indicator returns for each of their services. The performance indicator return is in the related documents section below. For more information on quarterly returns please contact the Supporting People Team.

All providers except sheltered schemes for older people need to complete a client record form for each new client who accesses their service(s). Information and the form to be completed can be found at www.spclientrecord.org.uk .

The Outcomes Framework is used to gain information about the benefits and outcomes being achieved by clients because of Supporting People. Providers need to complete a form when each client leaves a short term service. The outcomes they have achieved while in the service are measured against each support plan, only measuring outcomes where the service user has an identified support need. The way of monitoring outcomes is different dependent on whether the service is short or long term. Whilst short term services only complete a form when a client leaves the service, long term services will record outcomes for a sample of current clients each year. All forms and information on the Outcomes Framework can be found at www.spclientrecord.org.uk