Measuring Impact Task and Finish Group: final report and recommendations

5. Recommendations and schedule

5.1 The case for a broad sector consultation

Improvements can be made to data collection and reporting on homelessness in the short-medium term with a modest outlay in terms of time and resource, as outlined above. However, more significant improvements could be made with a greater outlay by considering:

i. Alignment of datasets including HL1, PREVENT1, the national health and wellbeing outcomes framework and the development of a new core data set for the prevention duties.

ii. Development of a case management and common monitoring system; and/or

iii. Greater interoperability between existing data and software systems used by local authorities with unique identifiers to enable better integration and exchange of information.

These more advanced improvements could have the following potential benefits:

• Reduce unnecessary data burdens on local authorities through data sharing.
• Integrate third sector data in key areas, especially on rough sleeping measure.
• Integrate data in relation to new prevention duties.
• Link SHIP and HNDA frameworks to homelessness and RRTP data.
• Create new linked data sets and new opportunities for statistical analysis.

However, a broader view is not yet clear on what would be desirable and proportionate to key stakeholders and especially local authorities.

To move to a new digital monitoring system, or even to improve interoperability of existing systems, would involve a time and cost outlay in design, training, implementation and maintenance. However, this would also be an investment that is time and resource efficient in the longer term and ultimately assist better outcomes.

5.2 Scope of consultation

A broad sector consultation is not intended to significantly alter the detail of the strategic outcomes or indicators set out in the EHT Monitor, although top-level confirmation of its suitability will be sought to consolidate it.

Instead, it is intended as targeted roundtable discussions through existing structures, combined with a survey response option, to determine the following:

• How to enable and maximise local interaction with the national EHT Monitor, including feedback on reporting cycle and frequency.
• A core data set for the prevention duties in the Housing Bill in conjunction with a review of PREVENT1 data. As this will cut across the wider public sector, the need to fine-tune core data and methods will be key.
• How to measure the extent to which people access coordinated health and social care, from the perspective of health and social care partnerships. This will include consideration of the national health and wellbeing outcomes framework and Standard 8 of the Medication Assisted Treatment standards.
• The appetite among local authorities and other key stakeholders for a common monitoring and case management system or for alternatives that improve interoperability between existing systems.
• The benefits of a combined system that enables data partnership with third sector organisations, specifically on an improved rough sleeping count in key areas.
• The feasibility of collecting data about the scale and circumstances of people with restricted or uncertain eligibility due to their immigration status.
• The scope of a route-map to connect the commitments in the EHT Plan with the outcomes in the EHT Monitor (see 5.3).

5.3 Short-term recommendations

The Measuring Impact Task and Finish Group recommends the following short-term actions during 2024-25:

• Scottish Government and COSLA adopt the EHT Monitor as the outcomes framework for measuring the EHT Plan and as a structure for reporting annually from 2024.
• Scottish Government considers options to enable a clear route-map between the commitments in the EHT Plan and the outcomes in the EHT Monitor. This is intended as a mechanism to sequence, cost, target and time the range of actions needed.
• Scottish Government facilitate a broad sector consultation on the terms outlined at 5.2 above and commit to sustain the agreed data and reporting infrastructure required to monitor the EHT Plan.
• A core dataset to be developed for the new prevention duties in conjunction with a review of PREVENT1. This should be included in the broad sector consultation.
• The design and development of the ‘Personal Housing Plan’ approach taken forward by partners with a schedule to implement.
• An analytical project on caseloads for key support and casework roles working within the EHT Plan. Determine optimum range for best practice and financial implications.
• An annual survey of organisations be developed by Scottish Government and/or a relevant intermediary, network or membership organisation to address the data gaps specified in the EHT Monitor.
• Support wider efforts toward data integration. The Scottish Government strategy for data-driven care should include stronger focus on housing and homelessness [ref 26].

The EHT Monitor should be updated during this period when:

• The hidden homelessness research is published to ensure key principles, definitions or recommendations are included.
• The All in For Change peer research programme has identified the outcomes and indicators specified as pending in the EHT Monitor.

5.4 Medium-term recommendations

The Measuring Impact Task and Finish Group recommends the following medium-term actions from 2025-26 and beyond:

• Corresponding activity is scheduled following the EHT Monitor broad sector consultation, including a position on whether new systems or frameworks need scoped and developed.
• Bring forward the timetable for the Scottish Government Homelessness statistics review of HL1 data and use experimental statistics if it so requires in the short-term. Ensure data gaps and limitations listed at 3.1 are included in the revised version of HL1 data monitoring as part of the review.
• Scottish Government undertake an annual national assessment of affordable housing need using the stock-flow model adopted for the CIH Scotland, SFHA and Shelter Scotland commissioned ‘Affordable Housing Need in Scotland’ [ref 28]. This model estimates existing housing need in Scotland, adds an estimate of future ‘newly arising’ need, within the existing and new population. Then deducts the supply of affordable lettings to provide a measure of affordable housing need in Scotland.