Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report and presentation of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and Gill Leng (specialist consultant), which presented the findings of an assessment of health care provision for those sleeping rough in the City of London.  Gill Leng  was pleased to give this presentation to the first meeting of the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Sub Committee and commended its timeliness in respect of the Government’s strategy and funding.

During the discussion and questions, the following points were noted:

•           The City Corporation were commended for being the first in London to be looking at this work in detail.  Officers advised that a number of the recommendations set out in the report were already in hand and Members asked for an update on what was being implemented.

•           Ms Leng agreed to provide information on the ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ network and Members noted that Government funding had been allocated to assist clients in this situation.  Members noted that the CBT had provided a grant to one of the charities which supported this group and discusses how the situation could intensify with Brexit and a lack of ‘settled status’.  Officers suggested a report to the Sub-Committee on the Legal Frameworks behind ‘No recourse to Public Funds’. 

•           Members noted that a CCG nurse and mental health practitioner visited the hubs and hostels.  A Members suggested the provision of flu jabs as part of the work of the mobile facility, for those clients willing to receive the vaccination.  Members also noted the success of the Street Triage project, which employed a specialist mental health nurse.

•           Officers were meeting with the Care Commissioning Group in respect of a Multiple Needs Exclusion Project.  Members noted that a ‘Housing First’ model for chaotic groups had been successful.

•           The substance mis-use team had been successful at St Mungo’s and extended the hours of operation at Neman Practice to Monday evenings. 

Members welcomed a detailed and helpful report, which highlighted a couple of areas for improvement in respect of holistic case management and co-production of services. Officers advised that the report presented a framework for a co-ordinated strategy, which would identify accountabilities.   The Town Clerk agreed to circulate the slides to Members.

RESOLVED, That – the report be noted.