Authors: Steve Ariss, Scott Weich & Phil Joddrell
This report presents the final findings of an independent evaluation of the Promoting Independence programme (PI).
The aim of programme was to support around 113 service users with severe mental illness (SMI) to move from 24-hour staffed accommodation to more independent tenancies, over a 5-year period, starting in 2019. The project, undertaken in partnership with South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA), was a key element of Sheffield City Council’s (SSC) strategy to commission social care in ways that support personal recovery.
Between its inception and Spring 2025, the programme demonstrated significant successes in enabling move-on, delivering financial savings, and shaping new approaches to commissioning and service delivery.