Member Article

Housing Jigsaw to Deliver Key Piece in Homelessness Picture

New case management system to assist practitioners deliver the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017

Housing Partners has announced a pioneering partnership with the National Practitioner Support Service (NPSS) to develop and deliver a dedicated full case management system.

Launching at the NPSS conference at Warwick University, with the start of the pilot in September 2017, Housing Jigsaw is an online tool created to gather data on homelessness directly from local authorities and their partners to implement the provisions of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

Under the Act, local authorities must assess and provide meaningful assistance, including a personalised housing plan, to anyone in their district who is homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days.

A customer focused online tool, Housing Jigsaw is a full case management system which combines practical support and advice covering all aspects of housing options including homelessness and accommodation options. The partnership is also particularly proud to provide all local authorities in England and Wales with a free to use communications portal which will support the new duty to refer for specified public bodies and wider partner agencies. Tracy Hendren, Service Lead at NPSS said: “Founded in 2013, the primary objective of NPSS is to improve frontline housing and homelessness services and facilitate the early intervention and prevention of homelessness. Housing Jigsaw will support local authorities nationally to gather consistent data on a customer’s housing journey whilst also identifying early indicators that can lead to a household becoming homeless.

“NPSS wanted the ability to develop a bespoke IT system which would support local authorities and their partners to deliver the requirements of the Homelessness Reduction Act. This partnership brings together Housing Partners’ IT experience with NPSS’ practitioner expertise to deliver an innovative approach to the early intervention and prevention of homelessness.

Simon Hollingsworth managing director of Housing Partners said: “Our partnership with NPSS has provided invaluable insight into the needs of local authority housing departments and their customers to ensure Housing Jigsaw meets the demands of the market and really plays to Housing Partners’ strengths in the delivery of housing software as a service.

“For a decade we’ve worked closely with stakeholders in the industry to identify ways to improve service provision and delivery. In some cases, create entirely new solutions to often long-standing challenges.

“The role that Housing Jigsaw will play in supporting local authorities to provide an early intervention and prevention focused service is a perfect example of this. We view this partnership as an innovative journey for Housing Partners, NPSS and the housing sector as we support the consistent provision of online services and embed good practice across the country.’

The pilot phase of Housing Jigsaw will run from September 2017 to March 2018 and has already generated interest from over a quarter of local authorities in England. Local authorities wishing to register their interest and receive further information prior to launch should visit the Housing Partners website.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Housing Partners .