Cabinet Office Social Exclusion Taskforce

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Adults facing Chronic Exclusion (ACE) Programme

The ACE Programme is a 3 year, £6million fund designed to test new approaches to tacking chronic social exclusion amongst the most marginalised people in society.

12 pilots have been funded across England. They are testing out ways to improve outcomes for adults with chaotic lives and multiple needs through developing new types of intervention and changing local service provision. They are led by voluntary and public sector organisations, working in partnership with other local agencies.

About the ACE programme

The 12 Adults facing Chronic Exclusion (ACE) pilots were launched through ‘Reaching Out: An Action Plan on Social Exclusion’, in September 2006. Four Government Departments are sponsoring the programme: Home Office, Communities and Local Government, Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions. Each has contributed £1.5million over the next three years for the ACE programme.

The pilots take different and innovative approaches, focusing on three main areas:

• System change – simplifying the complexities associated with several statutory services working collaboratively (e.g. housing, social care, benefits, health and criminal justice system) to offer co-ordinated support to someone with multiple needs.
• Transition points – helping people to negotiate difficult times in their lives such as leaving prison, leaving care and fleeing domestic violence
• System navigation – Offering practical help to people to access several services at one time.

The pilots are supported by a national evaluation and national collaborative so that we are able to draw lessons on the effectiveness of different approaches. The findings from the programme will help inform government policy and local commissioners, particularly on the Socially Excluded Adults Public Service Agreement (PSA).

There is no set definition of adults facing chronic exclusion, but they are likely to have some of the following characteristics:

• History of exclusion/institutionalisation/abuse
• Behaviour and control difficulties
• Difficulty forming and sustaining relationships
• Skills deficits
• Poor housing/homelessness
• Poor health prospects (physical and mental health)
• A history of offending
• Limited economic and employment prospects.

Combinations of problems vary, but these adults have had long term problems – often beginning in childhood – but have not engaged in sustained support from social services.

Revolving Doors have devised an exercise to bring the experiences of an adult facing chronic exclusion to life.

• Lynne's story

Contact

The ACE programme is managed by a team based in Communities and Local Government.

Please contact Programme Manager, Nick O'Shea (Nick.O'Shea@communities.gsi.gov.uk) for more information about the programme.