Hargey announces £500 recognition payment for thousands of workers

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced that as many as 4,500 workers who assisted some of the most vulnerable people in society throughout the pandemic are to receive a special recognition payment of up to £500.

Hargey announces £500 recognition payment for thousands of workers

Minister Hargey confirmed that workers employed through the Supporting People (SP) Programme and the Homeless sector are to receive the payment as part of a £3.5 million scheme. 

She said:

“I am developing a scheme that ensures SP staff receive a recognition payment of up to £500 for their part in delivering critical services over the last year, including supporting homeless people, older people, young people, those with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and those with mental health issues. 

“Staff employed through the programme have faced many challenges throughout this pandemic, and will most likely continue to do so for some time to come. They deserve to be recognised for their hard work in supporting vulnerable people in the same as health and social care staff have been. 

“I was also able to secure additional funds for the supporting people programme to sustain services throughout the pandemic and to include SP staff in priority vaccination and testing groups.

"The payment recognition scheme, which is estimated to cost approximately £3.5 million, will be targeted at between 4,000 and 4,500 Supporting People and Homelessness staff members, employed across 85 provider organisations."

Minister Hargey confirmed that workers employed through the Supporting People (SP) Programme and the Homeless sector are to receive the payment as part of a £3.5 million scheme. 

She said:

“I am developing a scheme that ensures SP staff receive a recognition payment of up to £500 for their part in delivering critical services over the last year, including supporting homeless people, older people, young people, those with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and those with mental health issues. 

“Staff employed through the programme have faced many challenges throughout this pandemic, and will most likely continue to do so for some time to come. They deserve to be recognised for their hard work in supporting vulnerable people in the same as health and social care staff have been. 

“I was also able to secure additional funds for the supporting people programme to sustain services throughout the pandemic and to include SP staff in priority vaccination and testing groups.

"The payment recognition scheme, which is estimated to cost approximately £3.5 million, will be targeted at between 4,000 and 4,500 Supporting People and Homelessness staff members, employed across 85 provider organisations."

Notes to editors: 

1.  The Supporting People (SP) Programme provides housing support for approximately 19,000 vulnerable individuals a year, to support them in living in dependently.  SP workers are responsible for supporting homeless people, older people, young people, people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health issues. 

2.  The Supporting People (SP) Programme’s budget of £72.8m provides housing support for approximately 19,000 vulnerable individuals to support them in living in dependently.  Vulnerable individuals who receive housing support services include: homeless people, older people, young people, people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health issues. These groups of people are typically mirrored by the recipients of services via the Dept. of Health’s supported living and care services. Typically SP delivered services will include help with developing domestic/life skills, developing social skills/behaviour management, finding other accommodation establishing social contacts and activities or gaining access to other services. 

3.  A significant proportion of the SP schemes are jointly funded with or through Health and Social Care Trusts. These are services that help prevent problems that may often lead to hospitalisation, institutional care or homelessness. There are a number of jointly funded services which cover: young people, older people and mental health & disability services. This illustrates the extent and interdependence of SP housing support services and related DoH provisions. 

4.  Media enquiries to DFC Press Office on email. 

5.  The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110. 

6.  Follow us on twitter @CommunitiesNI 

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