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Jargon Buster

> Administering Local Authority (ALA)
Worcestershire County Council

> Benchmarking
Similar services are compared in terms of quality, performance and cost. This is one way of ensuring that services are continually improving.

> Best Value
Local authorities have to continually review their services to ensure they are effective, efficient and good value for money. This must be done in consultation with the people who use the services and the wider local community.

> Block Contract
The purchase of support services for more than one person, usually before the service is delivered

> Block Gross Accommodation Contracts (BGC)
Payments are paid to providers assuming that they are operating at 90% capacity. The payments are fixed even though the provider may be operating at below or above the 90% level. Therefore, the same payments are made every month. If the levels of support being provided fall significantly and consistently below the payment levels, then an early service review may be instigated.

> Block Subsidy Contracts (BSC)
Payments are paid to providers depending on eligible clients within their establishments. This can differ from month to month, and providers are asked to notify the SP team when any changes take place. However, any changes that occur can only be made up to the maximum capacity level as indicated at the time of the platinum cut.

> Commissioning Body (CB)
The Commissioning Body is made up of representatives from the district councils, health and probation services. Its role is to develop and oversee housing-related support services that are funded through the Supporting People grant.

> Contract Schedules
These form part of the Supporting People contract. They detail the services to be provided in the contract, the cost of the services and the criteria against which service performance will be measured.

> Cross Authority Group
Neighbouring local authorities work together to plan and develop policies.

> DV/DA
Domestic Violence, now termed at Domestic Abuse, in acknowledgement of psychological abuse and bullying.

> Fairer Charging
Abbreviation for Fairer Charging for Home Care and other Non Residential Social Services. This is the statutory guidance issued by the Department of Health, which governs the locally set charging policy for Supporting People-funded services.

The Fairer Charging financial assessment is a locally set means test that will be used to assess how much service users have to pay for their support service, if they do not already receive a free support service and they are not eligible for Housing Benefit.

> Floating Support
Support that is provided to tenants and homeowners in a number of different places, rather than in one specific property. Floating support is low level support which can be provided to vulnerable tenants living in ordinary accommodation.

> Grant Conditions and Eligibility Criteria
This means that the council and its partners have an understanding of grant conditions and have completed work with all its partners to agree grant eligibility criteria within ODPM guidelines that reflect positive practice.

> Home Improvement Agency (HIA)
An agency that provides advice and help to ensure that vulnerable people can remain in their home for the foreseeable future. This includes older people, people on low incomes, disabled people and so on. These people would usually be a homeowner or a private tenant.

> Housing Benefit
A means tested state benefit paid to tenants who need help paying their rent.

> Joint Commissioning Body (JCB)
See Commissioning Body above.

> K-Web
The Supporting People Knowledge website at www.spkweb.org.uk

> Managing Agent
This is an organisation providing housing management services on behalf of another body - usually a registered social landlord. The managing agent may also provide support services.

> National Service Framework
Set up by the National Housing Federation to set standards for supported housing. They have been developed to address the variations in standard of care from one provider to another. NSFs will achieve greater consistency in the availability and quality of services by putting in place processes which will enable everyone to receive the best possible care.

> Needs Mapping
The ALA has systems in place to update the housing related support needs of all vulnerable groups and at appropriate intervals analyse the outcomes and reviews the five year strategy for the Supporting People programme.

> ODPM
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

> PAG
Probation Accommodation Grant, paid by the Home Office to provide accommodation and support for ex-offenders.

> PCTs
Primary Care Trusts. PCTs are the cornerstone of the NHS, responsible for the planning and securing of health services and improving the health of the local population. For example, PCTs must make sure there are enough GPs to provide for their population and that they are accessible to patients. PCTs must also ensure the provision of other health services including hospitals, dentists, mental health care, Walk-In Centres, NHS Direct, patient transport (including accident and emergency), population screening, pharmacies and opticians. In addition, they are responsible for integrating health and social care so the two systems work together for patients.

> Registered Social Landlord
A non profit making group formed to provide affordable housing. This is generally a housing association.

> Service Reviews
Guidance from the ODPM requires ALAs to review all services funded through the Supporting People programme within three years.

The ALA is required to produce a service review timetable, together with a rationale to explain how the reviews have been prioritised. Progress against the service review timetable is regularly reported to the ODPM.

> Service User Involvement
The ALA needs to have mapped, relevant, established groups for involvement and consultation.

Service users and their carers are kept informed during the service review process and their views are sought.

The ALA needs to be able to show the outcomes for service users and that it is reaching individual user groups who have not previously been involved.

> Sheltered Housing
Housing aimed at older and disabled people. It enables people to live independently knowing that help is available if needed. A warden may visit every day or live on-site.

> SHG
Social Housing Grant. A grant paid by the Housing Corporation to a Registered Social Landlord to pay for a housing development.

> Spot contract
The purchase of support services for individuals, usually on an emergency basis or on demand. Such purchases can also be paid for after the service has been delivered.

> Support Provider
Organisation providing housing-related support services - could include Registered Social Landlords, voluntary sector organisations, local authorities and the private sector.

> Support Service
A service eligible for funding through Supporting People that provides low-level housing-related support to help vulnerable people achieve or maintain their independence.

> Supporting People Grant
The money paid to the local authority by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) from 1 April 2003 to fund housing-related support services.

> Validation Visit
A Supporting People Quality Officer visits will visit a service provider to check that the provider is achieving the standards they have been contracted to deliver. The Quality Officer also talks to staff and users to find out their opinions of the service.

Page Information:
Last modification: 08:46:42, 02nd January, 2008 by
Review date: 26th March, 2008