[Sandra Lomax]

Although SP aims to provide services to a range of customers with various levels of need, I am concerned that there is still major gaps in support services available to customers with a high level of needs.

I recently came across the case of a 17 year old, regular criminal activity, excluded from home, ADHD, irregular use and abuse of medication, low attention span, vulnerable to financial abuse from "friends", no education or training in place and in emergency B&B provided by the Local Authority Homeless Section receiving 1 hour floating support per week which wasnt proving effective on either part.

All of the surrounding Supported Housing Schemes turned him down on the basis he was too high risk and support needs were too high for the service they could reasonably provide.

Where is there to turn to?

I found that the hostel staff wanted to help but just didnt have the "hours" or stafffing levels to be able to commit to delivering the support he needed and felt that ultimately, without this, they would be setting him, and themselves up to fail.

I thought that if SP were able to offer a "one-off" additional hours package to individuals in these circumstances that this would have had a siginificant impact on the situation.

Im interested to hear how you, your services, approach these cases and how SP teams are responding to high level needs of individuals in your area.