Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations Welfare Assistance Scheme Overview Supplier Engagement Day

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations Purpose of the session – Nick Thomas Discuss the development of a Cumbria Welfare Assistance Scheme Explain the national drivers for the scheme Go through the Council’s options for delivery Gain feedback from the potential market of suppliers for the scheme

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations National drivers – Joel Rasbash The Welfare Reform Act 2012 abolished some of the discretionary elements of the DWP Social Fund – –Crisis Loans –Community Care Grants These schemes will be replaced by Local Authority Schemes from April 2013

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations How the DWP scheme worked Community Care Grants were awarded for a range of expenses, including –household equipment, –supporting vulnerable people in the community –ease exceptional pressure on families. Crisis Loans were made to cover: –Immediate short-term needs in an emergency This took the form of cash grants or loans deducted from benefits

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations Criticisms of the DWP approach The DWP scheme is based on cash transactions which has the following drawbacks: –One size fits all approach –The potential for localised solutions is not explored –The cash based model encourages dependency –No opportunity to link to the prevention agenda

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations Requirements on Local Authorities Local Authorities are encouraged to develop a scheme that meets the local need Local Authorities are encouraged to: –Work in partnership with the local Third Sector to develop schemes –Explore a range of in-kind support, and to link to advice, information and advocacy. –Explore a range of models for delivery.

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations Funding The funding is for the scheme will be allocated to local authorities, however it is not ringfenced. The cost in the past cannot be used as a guide for the future costs We expect the costs to reduce as cash will be a final resort After a year the Council will know the true costs of the running of the scheme

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations Principles for a Cumbrian Scheme Customer focus Diversity of provision Prevention and independence Equality and inclusion Partnership working

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations Models for delivery Model 1: Create a new In-house service: Model 2: Align the local welfare assistance function to existing services Model 3: Set up a managed service that would link end users to existing support schemes Model 4: Devolve the scheme to district councils

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations What would the scheme require? Clear routes for customer access across Cumbria Supply chain of providers who can assist people in crisis Criteria for judging who can access the service, when, why and how Up and running from 1 st April 2012

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations Timescales for implementation July to 31 August – Stakeholder Consultation September – decide on model December approve Cumbrian scheme January 2013-March 2013 – transition April 2013 – new arrangements up and running

Serving the people of Cumbria Do not use fonts other than Arial for your presentations Questions for Working Groups What are the opportunities and risks around the development the scheme? How do you see the scheme working? –Access routes –Locations –Eligibility criteria –Support available in kind –Examples of existing good practice