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An Advice and Information Strategy for Hampshire

An Advice and Information Strategy for Hampshire. 27 March 2012. Why …and why now?. Changing strategic context

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An Advice and Information Strategy for Hampshire

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  1. An Advice and Information Strategy for Hampshire 27 March 2012

  2. Why …and why now? • Changing strategic context • Report from Justice Select Committee says that evidence suggests proposed cut to legal aid by about £350m and other funding reductions “could spell the end for the majority of the not-for-profit advice sector” • Current Cabinet review of Advice Sector looking at funding environment, likely levels of demand and role of government • Public sector cuts and drive to “deliver more for less” • Increased demand for advice • Predicted increase in child poverty • Rising unemployment threatening increasing debt and homelessness problems • Changes to the benefits system

  3. Why …and why now? • Localism/Big Society agenda • How can the move towards localism be made consistent with the drive to cross boundary working and to encourage mergers ? • How will smaller, locally based organisations be supported to compete effectively in the new environment of commissioning and procurement? • Legal duty to provide some advice services • ie: Child Poverty Act 2010 and Equality Act 2012 • Advice work helps meet Council and local area targets • Providing effective advice is a key aim of a range of county and district-wide strategies (ie: older people, MoD etc..) • Resources/capacity available • HAP is able to commit resources of £10,000 to this initiative over the next 18 months (including working budget of £5,000)

  4. Advice & Information Strategy Group (AISG) Mandate from Hampshire Advice Network on 9 November 2011:- • Despite the potential challenges facing the advice sector, significant interest from delegates for HAN to be involved in developing a strategy for Hampshire. • The consensus was clearly in support of putting words into action with nearly 20 different organisations volunteering to be part of a working group to look at the opportunities offered by a county-wide strategy.

  5. Some of the challenges identified:- • Conflict between county-wide and district authorities about who will pay for services • Funding issues as all go for the same pot of money • Risk of smaller organisations losing their identity ? • How to work in partnership at the same time as the competition. • Difficulty that local authorities are often service commissioners • Potential for woolly strategy which doesn’t really move things on • Ownership of strategy and coordination/ resources • Managing funders’ targets– the focus may be away from the network • Cutbacks may determine who is willing/able to participate • Being too big; need to retain capability to be small/maintain local links • How to maintain diversity? • May be tricky to find someone to take a lead on this to help coordinate the strategy

  6. Some of the opportunities identified:- • Better profile for small niche organisations rather than just the large well-known ones • Partnership working allows for expertise rather than having to look at the ‘jack of all trades’ approach • Reduce duplication - Identify and fill gaps • Consistent quality of advice • Easier access to specialist advice through better signposting • More funders looking for consortium-type approaches Smoother process for user (Clearer pathway/No Wrong Door) • Shared resources – volunteers, training, facilities, procurement • Better awareness of each other’s services - and referral networks • Smaller organisations gain support and a louder voice • Pooled resources for more effective campaigning and influencing policy

  7. AISG membership • Citizens Advice Hampshire • Ange Moon, Andover CAB • Jon Stuart, Havant CAB • Anita Muff, Gosport CAB • Sue Alford, CitAH Macmillan Project • Hampshire CountyCouncil • Jo Stepney, Partnerships & Well Being • Jane Edsell, Trading Standards • Gordon Smith, Corporate Services Other Advice Network members Julie Williams, One Community, Eastleigh Mary Henrikson, Pensions Service Tina Neessen, PayPlan Yvette Christian, Age Concern Hampshire Dal Warburton, Advice UK Heather Charley, SONUS Kerry Hearsey, PRT for Carers Annabel Hodgson, No Limits

  8. AISG Terms of Reference Mission Statement • The Hampshire Advice and Information Strategy Group (HAISG) has been set up to oversee the development, implementation and delivery of the Advice and Information Strategy for Hampshire on behalf of the Hampshire Advice Network. • The Group will focus on social welfare advice and information* and will focus initially on “continuing Hampshire” with an aspiration to including Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight – as and when appropriate and practical.

  9. *Social Welfare Law • Welfare Benefits • Debt • Housing • Employment • Community Care • Consumer • Education • (Working Together for Advice Project – Quality of Advice Workstream, 7 March 2011)

  10. Role of AISG • To have a strategic overview of advice services and advice provision in Hampshire • •To be responsible for the implementation, delivery, development and review of the County’s Advice Strategy • •To monitor progress on delivery of the Strategy against the agreed Action Plan • •To act as the “Champion for Advice” and be the voice for local advice services.(NB It is expected that all ASSG members will take on this proactive role and be ambassadors for advice services in their own sphere) • •To seek and allocate resources to support the work of the AISG /advice sector • •To report back on delivery of the Advice Strategy, and make recommendations regarding local advice provision, to the Hampshire Advice Network

  11. Links with Unitary Authorities • Portsmouth • Linked with Southern Financial Inclusion Group • Contact : Kate Kennard, Anti-Poverty Co-ordinator • Southampton • Linked with Southampton Connect - Gateway to a Better Future • Contact : Bernadette Hagen, Jobcentre Plus • Isle of Wight • Linked with Anti-Poverty Network • Contact : Ian Lloyd, Isle of Wight Council

  12. Links with local councils • We hope to link in initially through the Customer Service Network – attended by Customer Service Managers from district and borough councils – as well as by those from HCC and the unitary authorities. • Any other suggestions?

  13. Initial activities • Needs assessment – to consult with key stakeholders to identify previous reviews of local needs, surveys, consultation and to produce summary of indicative data. • Mapping – to pick up on the work already undertaken by HAP to review service providers identified and find some way to host and maintain the information in an appropriate and accessible format. • Priorities and opportunities – the primary focus of the next meeting on 1 May 2012 will be to use the information above to identify the priorities that the strategy wants to address and the opportunities it wants to respond to.

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