Working For Families Dundee Presentation by: Diane Milne Lead Officer Economic Development

WFF Structure in Dundee Steering Group Operational Group Core Staff Link Workers Money Advice Client Funds Employment Liaison Volunteer Support CLIENTS

WFF Key Projects Core Staff Link Workers Money Advice Workers Client Funds –Childcare Subsidy Fund Individual Organisational –Barrier Free Fund

WFF Core Staff Lead Officer Co-ordinator Key Admin/Finance Officers x 2 –Control database monitoring systems –Registering clients –Administering childcare funds –Administering Barrier Free funds –Key link to JobCentre Plus –Budget Management –Support for workers

Link Workers 6 Link Workers Based in a number of organisations –City Council – Leisure & Communities –Voluntary Sector – Apex, OPFS Thematic & geographic targeting –Ethnic minorities, lone parents, teenage parents, parents with criminal convictions, health issues Outreach work & recruitment Offer advice, guidance, support, & sign-posting Access to development budget

Money Advice Workers 2 workers based within Council’s Welfare Rights Team Provide benefits advice & better-off calculations Assist clients with debt issues Provide referrals to Client Funds Undertake surgeries in local areas Assisted almost 400 clients access £ of additional benefits

Client Funds Childcare Subsidy –Access to childcare – deposits –Payments until tax credits come through –Top-up support for students –Provision of crèche facilities for short courses Barrier Free Fund –Help clients overcome other barriers Travel, clothing for interviews, books, living expenses Partnership Approach

Other Initiatives Dundee College Taster Sessions Volunteer Support Officer Employment Liaison –DEAP –Apex Scotland Childcare Workforce Development –Training courses –Childminder Development IT Support Workers Fairbridge Young Parents Project Marketing –Outreach work –Marketing Materials

Working for Families - Clients Lone Parents736 Children Supported1642 Ethnic Minority Parents160 Registered Disabled27 Males61 Childcare Subsidy - Clients426 Childcare Subsidy – Total£ Barrier Free Fund – Clients246 Barrier Free Fund – Totals£39475

Clients Registered

WFF Outcomes to Dec 06 Total Clients925 Full-time Employment74 Part-time Employment hours personal dev.52 Self-Employment4 Education or Training74 Voluntary Work >3 <16 hours11 Voluntary Work >16 hours3 Accredited training < 6 months11 Sustained Activity148

Key Lessons Learned Many suffering multiple barriers One-to-one approach works well Timescales Link Worker Model Need for client funds Importance of money advice Benefits of partnership working Offering organisational support

Future of Working for Families Links to wider Employability Agenda Improved partnership working Frontline staff training Improved referral processes Co-located one-stop shop Reducing child poverty Future funding?