Better Futures: measuring housing support outcomes, making a difference

Better Futures is an outcomes-monitoring and case management tool used by housing support providers throughout Scotland.  As well as housing associations, it supports the work of a host of local authorities, voluntary sector and independent providers of housing support across the country.

Supporting communication of service impacts

It has a unique scoring system that enables support workers to create individually tailored support plans and update and track progress over time. With functionality to aggregate and report data, it has played a key role in enabling services and providers to understand and articulate the impacts and outcomes of the services they provide for well over a decade.

Recognising unique needs

Operated by the Housing Support Enabling Unit and funded by the Scottish Government, Better Futures was launched in March 2011.  Its framework balanced consistency and standardisation with the recognition that all individuals receiving housing support have unique circumstances and needs.  Thirty-six provider organisations and almost 2,000 support staff now log into the system on a regular basis, supporting 50,000 people across the nation.

Ensuring individuals are in control

Better Futures uses innovative approaches on information sharing – including direct service user and advocate access – to keep individuals at the heart of decision-making and in control of their lives. Today, as Scotland grapples with matters of regulation and data in the digital era, Better Futures is proud to continue to deliver sector-leading solutions for housing support providers and service nationwide.

Testimonial from Steven Cranston, Assistant Service Manager at Blue Triangle Housing Association

“I have used Better Futures for many years and found it invaluable. From the outcome monitoring side, allowing you to track progress of individual supported people, to the reporting function that has enabled us to see trends across the association broken down to local authority level.  This has allowed us to tailor support on certain topics and areas – for example, supported people in East Lothian have different needs to those in Glasgow, allowing us to tailor and target support at the right time to the right people. We have found the system easy to use and it enables transparency as supported people can access their records at any time.”

To find out more or register an interest, visit the Better Futures website or email hs.unit@ccpscotland.org.