Housing service helping adults with complex needs praised by inspectors

Published 11 September 2025

A specialist Council service which aims to help adults with complex needs find their own homes and sustain tenancies has received praise from the Care Inspectorate.

Housing First West Dunbartonshire supports people who have been or are at risk of becoming homeless and who may be facing the likes of addiction, mental health challenges and involvement with the criminal justice system.

During an unannounced visit by the inspectors earlier this summer, the service was rated as very good across all four categories it was assessed on; supporting people’s wellbeing, leadership, staff and planning of care and support.

Inspectors spoke with staff, service users and family members and found significant strengths in aspects of the care provided and how these support positive outcomes for people.

The feedback received from service users was overwhelmingly positive, outlining how staff helped them maintain their homes.

Housing First support is tailor-made to the individual, with plans also subject to change depending on progress and the individual’s circumstances. It is available until it is no longer needed.

Help provided extends far beyond sustaining a tenancy and includes establishing a household budget, paying bills, as well as housekeeping tasks like cleaning. Staff also encourage people to look after their physical and mental wellbeing as well as engaging with key services like harm reduction services to address addiction issues. The service, which has supported 74 people into permanent, secure housing to date has also helped some gain employment as well as part-time voluntary work. 

Staff also spoke highly of the support they receive acknowledging that they found regular supervision to be really valuable. They discussed how this provided opportunities for them to discuss with their supervisors how people supported were doing and agreeing any changes to help improve outcomes. It also provided space to discuss developmental issues like training and regular team meetings enhanced this approach.

Convener of Housing and Communities, Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, said: “This incredibly positive Care Inspectorate report reflects the hard work which members of the housing team undertake to support people in challenging circumstances maintain a tenancy.

“Having a secure home is an excellent basis to allow someone to deal with complex issues and the support provided through Housing First has clearly helped get people back on their feet.”

Vice Convener of Housing and Communities, Councillor Hazel Sorrell, added: “I am delighted to hear about this fabulous report from the Care Inspectorate. It is brilliant to hear about the positive impact the service is having on people’s lives thanks to the care, dedication and effort that staff put in every day.”