Agenda item

The Director of Housing submits a report to the Housing Scrutiny Commission which provides an update and overview of the STAR service (Supporting Tenants and Residents) that is currently provided to tenants within Leicester. Members are asked to note the content of the report.

The Director of Housing submitted a report to the Housing Scrutiny Commission for noting, which provided an update and overview of the STAR (Supporting Tenants and Residents) service that was currently provided to tenants within Leicester.  Cath Lewis, Service Manager, STAR (Floating Support Team), and Suki Supria, Service Manager, presented the report.

Members heard the STAR service was currently under the umbrella of Tenancy Management and made up of four distinct parts:

1.    Five community-based STAR teams based in decentralised housing offices;

2.    STAR Family Support service provided from Border House;

3.    STAR Amal team set up in response to the Government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement (VPR) Programme to support refugees displayed from Syria;

4.    The Revolving Door team who provided the support needed to repeat homeless.

Members were informed the STAR service had not yet been subject to any service review, however, they were aware of the government requirement to reduce rent by 1% per year for the next four years, and the savings needed had been estimated at £11.72million. STAR would be evaluated to see if there were efficiencies or savings to be made.

It was noted that STAR had received 146 compliments in 2015/16, and was a well-liked service by Members, Tenants Forum and tenants.

Members were invited to comment and ask questions on the report, and points made included the following:

·         A budget of approximately £1.7million covered staffing and administration costs. A reduction in staff had not been defined and the current service provided would be looked at by undertaking a service review, during which eligibility criteria, the increase the number of caseloads and staff levels would also be looked at. A business case would be produced but as yet there was no image of the future service. Members of the Commission would receive an update report at a future meeting of any proposed changes to the service.

·         It was confirmed that STAR services would retain its branding when it moved into Housing offices, and there had been no significant issues with people using the service.

·         The current staffing level for STAR for was 5 team leaders and 32 housing related support workers.

·         Data was collected on the number of clients assisted and the income tenants received, for example discretionary housing payment.

·         Duplication of services was avoided. If a tenant had the capability to use another service, for example, Citizens’ Advice, STAR would refer them on. For vulnerable people an assessment would be made by the service, and would be referred later, but the initial assessment would form part of the case.

·         A breakdown of services and funding over the past 12 months for the four parts of STAR would be circulated to Members.

·         New Parks office would be closed for refurbishment. When it re-opened it would have the self-service offer through Channel Shift. STAR and the Housing team would be relocated in the building.

The Chair thanked officers for the report. It was suggested the item be an ongoing agenda item, and requested an update in 6-12 months.

AGREED:

that;

1.    The report be noted;

2.    That an update report on the STAR service be brought to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Commission in 6-12 months.