To ask the Minister for Social Development how his Department engages with relevant stakeholders to identify demand for supported housing for vulnerable adults.

The Housing Executive, on behalf of the Department for Social Development, engages with relevant stakeholders in the voluntary and statutory agencies on an ongoing basis to identify demand for supported housing for vulnerable adults.

The Housing Executive is the administering authority for the Supporting People programme in Northern Ireland and demand for supported housing is identified and considered through a commissioning process.

Both the Commissioning Body and the 5 local commissioning groups known as the Area Supporting People Partnerships (ASSPS) include representatives from the Health and Social Care Board, Health and Social Care Trusts and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. During the commissioning process, the needs of vulnerable adults are explored and validated, drawing on relevant research and agreed through consultation with all members.

Supporting People services that have been recommended by the Commissioning Body are then considered by the Housing Executive Board. Once a Supporting People service has been established the Housing Executive monitors quality and performance to ensure the needs of stakeholders and those of the vulnerable person receiving the service are being met.