Sustainable Communities

Based on local Sustainable Community Strategies, each local authority has to formulate a Local Area Agreement (LAA), which is a set of priorities for a local area agreed between central government and that local area, represented by the lead local authority (council) and other key partners. That body is the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), which in Liverpool is, Liverpool First. Localities now have to report to central government against a single set of 198 indicators (as opposed to 1200 previously) from which 35 priority improvement targets will be agreed for inclusion in the LAA. The idea is that local partnerships are better placed than central government to understand the needs of their communities and thus more able to drive better outcomes for their citizens. Whether it is health and wellbeing, safer communities, employability, housing and greater independence for vulnerable people, Park View is proud of how we are contributing to the bigger picture in our own small way. Here are some of the indicators, including those within our scope prioritised for Liverpool, where Park View is making a real impact : NI 151, overall employment rate, NI 153 working age population claiming benefits, N I 163&165, working age population achieving level 2&4 respectively, NI 16, serious acquisitive crime, NI 30, re-offending rate, prolific and priority, NI 32, domestic violence, NI 39, Alcohol related hospital admission rates, NI 141 vulnerable people achieving independent living, NI 40 drug users in effective treatment, NI 141, percentage of vulnerable people able to maintain independent living.

One of the most gratifying elements of our work here is the privilege of seeing people who have not only broken free from the misery of addiction, but who have gone on to live full lives. We are constantly impressed by the progress people make in terms of education, training and employment. That journey begins at Park View, chiefly at our secondary unit, but it is their courage and determination to pursue difficult goals after move on that is most inspiring. As a result, a very pleasing number of our ex-clients have began whole new careers, returned to old ones or are still involved in the education and training required in order to work. Our clients often face significant barriers to work, but the very things that can be problematic for our clients in the pursuit of employment, can be turned into assets if that employment is within the drug and alcohol field. Below are some of the responses we received when we asked for quotes from some of our ex-clients who are working in and around Liverpool in the drug and alcohol field.