Conference told two thirds of SP contracts at Risk

Two thirds of Supporting People contracts are at risk following the removal of funding protection for the programme, CIH Conference delegates were warned today.

Domini Gunn-Peim, national lead for vulnerable communities at the Audit Commission, said: ‘We know from our research that two thirds of SP contracts are due to end after 2009.

‘So there’s a real issue about the risk to two thirds of the current contracts.’

She added: ‘The best-performing local authorities are already in negotiation to renew these contracts. But we do on an increasing basis come across providers who don’t have a contract in place and who are very concerned about the future sustainability of their services and most importantly, [about] the future housing-related support to the vulnerable people they serve.’

Ms Gunn-Peim outlined some of the main findings of a review of the £1.6 billion Supporting People programme, conducted by the watchdog last year and due for publication by government in the autumn.

To find out more about our SP Solutions visit our stand during the CIH Annual Conference, email OH@ibsopensystems.com or call our Account Management team on 01635 550088

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