The Kingston Partnership Board met on Tuesday 6 February 2024 to discuss housing and homelessness, and the development of Family Hubs. The Board also reviewed proposals for future public meetings and received updates on the Better Care Fund and other key initiatives.

Housing and Homelessness

The Board received an update on actions and progress from a September 2023 workshop concerning housing and homelessness, noting that short, medium, and long-term actions were in place. Key highlights included the successful implementation of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) on all required occasions, with positive feedback received and approximately a dozen individuals utilising the service. A Winter Night Shelter, commissioned through KCAH & SPEAR, was operational until the end of March 2024, having opened in November.

A data-focused approach to homelessness prevention was being employed, utilising council data to identify preventative measures. This included providing support for those falling into arrears, engaging with private housing landlords, and working with individuals to help them maintain their rental agreements. The Board also considered extending this preventative approach to other areas, such as Bereavement Services, to address the housing needs of those living alone, exploring options like providing a tenant or a shared lives scheme. Over 30 households benefited from Christmas meal provisions while in hotel accommodation.

Concerns were raised that temporary housing or homelessness could lead to non-attendance at services, and it was suggested that schools, at-risk parents, and care leavers should be signposted to available support. A pathways document detailing support services and information on SPEAR was to be shared. Success in measuring outcomes was being tracked through night sleeper assessments conducted twice a year.

The significant link between mental health and homelessness was acknowledged, with the understanding that housing issues can impact health in numerous ways. Therefore, ensuring robust connections between health services and housing services within the Council was deemed crucial. The shared lives scheme was identified as beneficial for mental health patients and individuals living alone, with Kingston noted as having a higher proportion of people able to participate in such schemes. The Board was also informed by Kingston Hospital that an Urgent and Emergency Care Board for Kingston & Richmond would be established to explore improvements, including addressing homelessness and hospital discharge issues.

Best Start / Family Hubs

The Achieving for Children (AfC) team presented the Family Hub model, building upon the recognised importance of the first 1001 days of a child's life. This model aims to provide an integrated offer for families with children of all ages and stages, operating from existing children's and youth centres, supplemented by an online presence and outreach services. The multidisciplinary team within the hubs will include health visitors, education professionals, voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCS) providers, family support workers, targeted service specialists, and youth workers.

The core aims of the Family Hubs are to:

• Provide timely and holistic support when families require it.
• Serve as a single point of contact for families seeking help, covering all ages and stages.
• Maintain support for families even if they are open to social care services.
• Achieve efficiencies in service delivery.

Through three case studies, the importance of partnerships was highlighted, demonstrating how co-located services can offer parents, families, and children support they might not otherwise access. It was emphasised that a skilled workforce and committed partners are essential for building trust and confidence in these services. AfC also analysed common parental search queries to ensure the Family Hubs address prevalent concerns.

Discussions focused on strategies to engage families who might not typically access services, with suggestions including encouragement through other voluntary groups, playgroups, and schools, alongside clear and shared communication. The existing co-location of health visiting staff at children's centres, a long-standing arrangement with Your Healthcare, was noted as working well, with community midwives also accommodated. While early years integration was strong, the need for similar integration for older age groups was identified.

The Family Hubs are envisioned not just as physical buildings but as a network of support, characterised by a welcoming environment, a multidisciplinary network, and an online offering. This includes well-trained staff at reception points. A key feature of the Family Hub concept is that a trusted family support worker will remain with a family throughout their journey, regardless of changing needs. This early intervention approach aims to assist families at a lower service level, fostering independence and resilience by providing timely information, advice, and guidance.

Partners were invited to contribute to the Family Hubs' development and identify any missing elements. Suggestions included:

• Targeting communities that are currently underserved, such as the Korean community, which has proven difficult to reach.
• Exploring the potential of services at New Malden library due to its popularity with the Korean community.
• Engaging with organisations like Connect North Korea, noted for their organisational capacity.
• Utilising homework clubs as a means to reach older children and their families.
• Collaborating with the Kingston Good Food Group on their community food growing initiatives and school work.
• Working with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) as GPs may not always be able to provide low-level signposting.
• Establishing links with schools and school nurses, acknowledging potential difficulties due to schools not always being open access.
• Partnering with adult education services to support parents whose first language is not English, and more broadly, to enhance parental employment and skills.
• Integrating mental health support for parents within the Family Hubs, with specific mention of linking with Man and Boy and iCope.
• Exploring the possibility of offering family counselling, potentially with Korean-speaking counsellors, to address requests received by MIND Kingston.

Meeting in Public Proposals

The Board was informed about plans for the March meeting, which will be open to the public. This meeting will include the launch of the Annual Public Health report, and the Board was asked for input on other topics to be considered. It was agreed that the Adults Safeguarding Vision would also be included on the agenda.

Formal Business and AOB

It was noted that the Better Care Fund Q3 Reporting Template would be circulated for sign-off. The Board acknowledged the recent Holocaust Memorial Day and thanked partners. The Race Equality Week football event, organised by John Azah, was highlighted as a success.