Integrated Prevention Pathways
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Integrated Prevention Pathways has been funded through the Homelessness Prevention Pilot Fund, administered by Advice Direct Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. It is designed to support the national implementation of Ask and Act duties within the Housing (Scotland) Act.
Under the new legislation relevant bodies including councils, NHS, Police, education, and social care, must work together to help people at risk of losing their homes.
It's about opportunities for early intervention, ensuring frontline workers ask about housing and refer to specialist support, not expecting them to be experts in housing.
This high‑impact, collaborative pilot will help Aberdeen and Scotland, shift from crisis response to early intervention. It brings together digital innovation, lived experience, and multi‑agency practice to create practical tools to support frontline workers with their new duties, and a scalable model for preventing homelessness across Scotland.
Partners are central to its success. Their involvement will strengthen local systems, improve outcomes for people at risk, and shape national policy and practice for years to come.
Partner benefits
Significant strategic and operational value from participating:
Improved outcomes for people
Workforce confidence & capability
Improved resource effectiveness
Stronger multi‑agency collaboration
Frontline benefits
Practical tools for delivery of new duties:
Training
Real time support tools
Co-ordinated response
Increased capability
What is Ask:Enact?
What ASK:ENACT does
- Supports early identification of housing insecurity and homelessness threat
- Helps professionals act quickly and appropriately when risk is identified
- Fills knowledge gaps with consistent, current and auditable guidance
How it works
- Simple conversational interface using plain language
- Users describe a scenario; the system asks relevant follow-up questions
- Identifies risk factors and contributing issues clearly
Decision and prioritisation
- Prioritises immediate harm and risk to life first
- Structures advice around basic human needs to support engagement
- Tailors guidance to the person’s current situation
Outputs and next steps
- Summarises the conversation clearly
- Recommends suitable services for ongoing support
- Produces a practical action plan
- Designed to support direct referrals where required, without collecting personal information
Who's involved?
Integrated Prevention Pathways is co-ordinated through Aberdeen Cyrenians on behalf of the partnership.
Partner involvement
Operational Participation
- Real-world testing
- Front line practice
- Multi agency panels
- Training and feedback
Data & Learning Contributions
- Data sharing
- Case studies and learning cycles
- Development of dashboards and pathways
Co‑Design & Governance
- Steering groups
- Co-production
- Language, tools and protocols
Related project: ATAP
Aberdeen Cyrenians, in collaboration with local housing associations and third sector organisations, has launched a new initiative called the Aberdeen Tasking & Activation Partnership (ATAP).
This project is part of a wider effort to prevent homelessness in Aberdeen and is supported by the Scottish Government’s £1 million Upstream Homelessness Prevention Fund.
The goal of ATAP is simple but powerful: to help people stay in their homes and avoid homelessness before it happens. Instead of waiting until someone is in crisis, we will act together to focus on early support, collaboration, and practical help to make sure tenants feel safe, secure, and supported in social housing.
Making referrals
To make a referral or find out more, please contact: ATAP@weareac.org
Regular panel meetings are held to bring partners together and co-ordinate support.