Inspection Programmes: HMI Probation
Supporting People Inspection Programme
Supporting People is the Government’s long-term policy to enable local authorities to plan, commission and provide housing related support services which help vulnerable people live independently. The programme went live on 1 April 2003.
The aim of the Supporting People programme is to establish a strategic, integrated policy and funding framework, delivered locally in response to identified local needs, to replace the current complex and unco-ordinated arrangements for providing housing related support services for vulnerable people.
The Supporting People programme brings together a number of funding streams including transitional housing benefit (THB), which has paid for the support costs associated with housing during the implementation phase, the Housing Corporation’s supported housing management grant (SHMG) and probation accommodation grant scheme (PAGS) into a single pot to be administered by 150 administering local authorities.
The Supporting People programme is currently being jointly inspected, with the Audit Commission taking the lead, and participation from HMI Probation and the Commission for Social Care Inspection. The inspection programme commenced in September 2003, covering all 150 administering local authorities over a 5-year cycle. The programme is now largeley completed, with a small number of reinspections taking place in 2008/2009. All Probation Areas in England will be subject to inspection at various points during the programme.
