1. Benefit cap – joint working Kate Robertson and Sally McTernan
Striving for excellence

2. Discussion points
One model doesn’t fit all – depends on current organisational structure and size of problem
Joined up communication, assessment and interventions has made the biggest difference
Real value in informal sharing of information within council, still issues with data sharing with government
Proactive briefings for voluntary sector, landlords and wider staff/partners worthwhile as are joint events
Need for flexibility – risks of predicting behaviour change and people’s circumstances months in advance
RSLs proving difficult to engage

3. Enfield’s story
Last summer expecting over 2000 families (6000 children) to be capped – now looks like 1400 families (but possibly 300 on incapacity benefit)
Large numbers of lone parents on income support living in private rental sector.
Significant variation between scans with large numbers coming off and on again
Cross council steering group on welfare reform chaired by Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services supported by a Taskforce steering group with reps from voluntary orgs
Agreed a MoU with local Job Centre Plus to provide 2 staff focusing on mitigating impact through housing, employment and money management support

4. Enfield’s story continued
Ongoing data matching/sharing within council – adult social care, mental health teams, children’s social care, troubled families, Revs and Bens, housing, ALMO, children’s centres, free nursery places team
Virtual cross council team – JCP & Benefits together, others remain in current location but regular meetings and shared case management
Use shared EDMS system to record interventions, progress and outcomes
Access to DWP/JCP data
Proactive communications and outreach programme – combination of face2face, telephone contact and events
Referral routes in JCP support and debt counselling from CAB

5. Other models
Haringey – co-located team (the Hub) including money advisors, support workers, housing, Benefits staff, JCP staff (up to 5). Joint interviews with named other services - mental health, social workers, health visitors. Targeted outreach campaign with personal interviews
Croydon – co-located JCP, Benefits and Housing staff. Successful events with voluntary sector, employers, credit union. Dedicated JCP job search pcs in libraries and face2face centres
Bromley – not co-located but named contacts in JCP for liaison and information sharing with joint weekly surgeries and interviews. Worked well on identifying & prioritising vulnerable. Smaller numbers affected – under-occupation a bigger problem. Worked well within the Council in joining up support.

6. Learning points Know your organisation and what would work for you
Very clear messages and plain speaking often said in person rather than by letter – if you want to stay in London you have to work
Relationship with JCP improved significantly – enhanced mutual understanding
Many unaware of JCP funding and information - still issues with relationship with work programme providers and complex referral routes into employment support and training
Depends on quality of JCP staff and their management – often pulled back to do DWP priorities
Still many barriers to work but council can give a more proactive and joined up support package now
Resolution of issues much quicker
Use of DHP as a carrot and stick to ensure people take responsibility for devising their own plan
Understand legislative conflicts re: housing – effective monitoring and record keeping will be key

7. Learning points continued
Co-ordination of communication and intervention and joint assessment/resolution of issues key to success
Landlords have been difficult to engage – want to know who’s affected but little evidence this is being used to support tenants. Jitters in private rented sector, often unfounded
Flexibility – tried to get ahead and got lots of DHP applications in early but priorities and circumstances change and people’s behaviour doesn’t always go to plan
Pragmatism – not everyone will want to work, discuss alternatives options and how they can be met
Take control of the situation yourself – DWP pre-planning has been poor with a lack of shared project plans, risk logs and very few written documents. Their understanding of council services and processes is poor.
Funding a monitoring officer & additional staff to deal with housing, DHP applications, rent collection and customer contact

8. Any questions?