Service Improvement Projects

 • Engagement with Communities - The area has identified a priority of targeting vulnerable and hard to reach people and places. Neighbourhood management structures have been established to target priority neighbourhoods. The project would support creation of a map of service provision and referral structures to enable those working in neighbourhoods to make referrals for those with multiple needs (including the hard to reach, new arrivals and rural deprived) to a range of agencies. Also it will consider potential service redesign to meet multiple needs including potential efficiencies in the reduction of multiple agency visits to high need individuals/families. The project would also trial new methods of engaging with these communities.

• Combating Alcohol Related Problems - All agencies have identified the need to tackle alcohol related problems including its link with poor health, hospital admissions, anti-social behaviour and violent crime. Leicester currently ranks fifth in England for alcohol related violence. The project would increase the provision of alcohol training, tier one screening and brief interventions for alcohol misusers. It would also create consistent and branded communication prevention messages across the sub region.

• Increase Young People's Participation in Positive Activity - All agencies have identified the need to increase participation in positive activity by young people to support a number of outcomes including anti-social behaviour, crime, teenage conception rate and substance misuse. The project will increase positive activity options across the County, City and Rutland and enhance the Find Your Talent project in priority neighbourhoods to seek to engage hard to reach groups through activity such as street dance, basketball and football.

• Reducing CO2 Emissions - A project to maximise CO2 emissions reduction through joint working. Joint working in delivering the programme is expected to lead to procurement efficiencies and savings, staff cost savings, community example and leadership and provide additional capacity and mentoring across the sub region. The project would support delivery of LAA2 targets including reducing energy use by dimming certain street lights at certain times - producing efficiency savings and reducing CO2. It would also extend energy efficiency and awareness programmes such as the big switch off campaign.

• Strategic Housing and Growth - Providing new and affordable housing choices are key priorities for partners in Leicestershire. The project will make a significant step change in improving partner collaboration and coordination of activity in relation to meeting housing need including delivering housing priorities including housing growth, supporting provision of rural affordable housing, work with the private rented sector and improving design capacity and knowledge.

• Emergency Management - This proposal addresses several key recommendations made in the report into flooding, recently published by Sir Michael Pitt on behalf of the Government, which places some clear expectations on local authorities. The specific proposal is to fund the following:
o Funding for a Community Flood Project Manager for 1 year to deliver effective Community Flood Plans for the 59 areas identified by the Environment Agency as being at risk.
o Funding for a Community Warden Co-ordinator for 2 years to recruit, train and support people who will act as a first point of contact between members of the community (particularly vulnerable people) and the local authority.
o Funding to provide basic ‘first aid' equipment for use by at risk communities in the event of local flooding.

• No Cold Calling Zones - To secure the development of No Cold Calling Zones across the City, County and Rutland in order to protect vulnerable residents from doorstep criminals. This project will bring together the resources and services available through statutory bodies, Local Authorities and voluntary sector organisations to assist vulnerable people to maintain independent living.

• Multi-Agency Travellers Unit - This project will contribute towards provision of a combined, multi-agency approach to address Traveller issues across the county in an effective, efficient and economic manner.

• Identifying the need for housing support services in Leicestershire, Rutland and Leicester City - Leicestershire, Rutland and Leicester City Supporting People Partnerships wish to apply for funding to commission a needs analysis across the three authorities. The authorities will jointly appoint a consultant to carry out a needs analysis. The aim of the needs analysis is to:
o Establish current provision and forecast the housing support needs of all vulnerable clients groups and to identify potential demand for housing related support over the future years.
o Highlight areas of common needs across the three authorities to support future joint commissioning arrangements.
o Recommendations from the needs analysis will be taken on board to commission services to meet and deliver the LAA targets including NI 141 and NI 142.

• A County-Wide Single Access Point for 16 and 17 year olds - To introduce a county wide Single Access Point service for all 16 and 17 year olds's with housing problems, ensuring this is accessible in every District within the County. This service is currently delivered in one of the Districts (Charnwood). This proposal is to undertake work that will inform and facilitate the implementation of the successful model in each District across the County.

• Improving the Delivery of DFGs and Council House Adaptations - District Councils and the County Council are committed to working together to improve the services provided for vulnerable people requiring physical adaptations to their homes. Six areas of improvement focus have been agreed following an analysis of baseline performance and best practice. Increased capacity is required to co-ordinate and direct the delivery of the improvement programme. Funding is being requested to support a project manager and project costs

• Access to Services - This work was originally profiled to EM IEP 606 but has been superseded by Total Place and highlighted as a concern through the CAA. This money will be a contribution towards the work being undertaken within the Total Place: Customer Services/Access to Service ‘deep-dive'. The work is emerging with this funding approved to respond to the demands of the project on an as needed basis.