Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Advice Strategy for Central Bedfordshire

Peter FraserHead of Partnerships, Community Engagement and Youth Support

On behalf of: CBC Welfare Reform Board

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Welcome

Welcome

Introductions

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Agenda• Welcome and introductions

• Background to the current Advice Strategy and Advice Planning Board

• Need for refresh of Strategy

• Group discussions (scope, vision, format, and application)

Break: 10.45

• Group discussions (continued)

• Feedback

• Next steps and timescale

Finish: 12.30

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Welfare Reform Phase 2

Workstreams:

→ Support, Information and Advice

→ Shaping the Council’s offer

→ Intelligence Reporting and Resident Impact

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Current Advice Strategy

Focus is on social welfare, civil legal advice issues

Benefits

Housing Debt

Consumer Family

Employment

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Importance of advice

ADVICESTRATEGY

Changing national

environment

Local changes and issues

Economic / Poverty / Health / Justice

Recession / Targets / Legislation / Big Society

Community Strategy / Disjointed funding / Council cuts

Why did we need an Advice Strategy?

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Current Advice Strategy2009-2010 Initiated by local advice sector (through Bedfordshire Advice Forum)

2010 Promoted by Stronger Communities Thematic Partnership

2011 Adopted by Central Bedfordshire Together

July 2011 Launched – one of firstin the country - innovative

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Current Advice Strategy

Central Bedfordshire will be an area where people experience less poverty and social exclusion, because their needs are being met effectively through easily accessible, well-publicised and high-quality social welfare information, advice and advocacy services across the voluntary and community and statutory sectors

Vision

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Current Advice StrategyPrinciples

• Co-ordinated and collaborative planning to meet needs

• Commitment to equality and supporting disadvantaged people

• Free services

• Variety of services - provided at different levels, using diverse delivery methods to meet diverse local needs

• Quality services

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Current Advice StrategyStrategic aims1. Develop strategic framework for planning advice services

2. Respond effectively to changing needs for advice

3. Enhance collaboration between advice services

4. Ensure quality of advice services

5. Improve access to information and advice

Recommended action22 action points

Overseen by Advice Planning Board – supported by Bedfordshire Advice Forum

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Advice Planning BoardSet-up in 2012 to oversee Advice Strategy

Multi-agency group

• CBC - SCHH, Children’s Services, Public Health, Equalities and Diversity, Partnerships and Community Engagement

• BAF - voluntary advice sector agencies – LB CAB, Age UK

• AdviceCentral• Aragon Housing Association• Bedfordshire CCG• SCTP

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Advice Planning Board

Key achievements• 2 reviews of local advice provision• Strategy provided support for AdviceCentral bid• Developed links with other community strategies• Volunteering Campaign for advice services• Supported BAF networking, training and

collaborative work• Review of Advice Strategy

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Refresh of Advice Strategy

Key Drivers

Welfare Reform

The Care Act 2014 / wellbeing / prevention

Child and family poverty

Supporting people into work

Relevance

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Challenges Who is it for ?

Relationship to other strategies?

Over what period?

Format ?

Breadth?

Deliverability?

Impact?

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Workshops

Stay in Your Seats! Facilitators will move

4 Facilitators

Group discussions - 4 topics over 2 sessions

Feedback – 4 key points

Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Finalising the Strategy

Timetable:

October 2015 1st draft for consultation

December 2015 Final draft

January – March 2016 Welfare Reform Board

Executive Committee