Local Welfare Provision Ellie Anderson March 2013
Background • Abolition of discretionary Social Fund administered by DWP • Funding from Crisis Loan and Community Care Grant transferred to Local Authority • Local Authority tasked with developing Local Welfare Provision • Better placed to seek a local solution
Funding and Demand In 2011/12 • £780,000 spent by DWP in North Tyneside • 8480 applications received and 5780 awards made 2012/13 figures not available until Autumn 2013 For 2013/14 • £716,790 awarded to the Council to support local people • A reduction of £63,210
Overarching Aims • Provide people with help at a point of crisis • Build individual resilience • Build community resilience • Single point of entry for people in need of support
Gateway Single front door for: – Adult Social Care – Supported Housing – Welfare Assistance Combined skill set: social care, housing and welfare benefit expertise in one team Holistic Approach to Need
Gateway Function • Assess need and risk • Provide support to those eligible • Signpost ineligible people to alternative support • Map volume, type and location of demand • Map community resources • Identify gaps and develop additional community resources
Sarah’s Story Sarah comes into a customer services centre and says she has no money to feed herself or her 3 children because she has had to spend all of her money paying off a debt to a loan shark She wants to know what help is available to her Staff give her the number for Gateway
Gateway Contact Officer screens Sarah’s call. She is on benefit, has dependants and they have not eaten that day She has no informal support that she can call on It appears she may be eligible and she is told a welfare assistance officer will contact her within 30 minutes The Welfare Assistance officer contacts Sarah and completes a fuller assessment and checks the DWP database. Sarah is deemed eligible for immediate support
Sarah is offered a grocery pack – this is ordered and Sarah is able to collect it from Asda Loan Shark issue reported to authorities Signposted to Money Advice Service and Citizens Advice Bureau for debt management advice Sarah referred to Credit Union for future sustainable financial support
Peter’s Story Peter has contacted DWP for a crisis loan. He lost his wallet with all of his benefit in. DWP refer Peter to Gateway Screening identifies that Peter is not a vulnerable person. He has not reported the loss to the police to check if the wallet has been handed in – he is advised to do this. No further action is taken He phones back to say that the wallet has not been handed in No-one can lend him money or food
The contact officer identifies that Peter is concerned about lack of food. He has not approached the food bank. Although Peter has a lack of vulnerability and lack of dependants, he is deemed as possibly eligible because he could be at risk of significant harm without some help Peter is advised to approach the food bank and the service completes a referral All decisions are documented
Mary’s Story Mary contacts Gateway because she has spent her money moving to new furnished accommodation to escape domestic violence and is unable to top up her pre paid gas meter Gateway check out eligibility via screening tool and database check The welfare assistance officer decides Mary is eligible for immediate support. He finds out where Mary would usually make the top up He meets Mary at the relevant location and uses a purchase card to top up Mary’s pre payment meter. She brings proof of ID with her
Reg’s Story Reg makes contact because his washing machine has broken. He can’t manage without it because he looks after his wife Joan who is bed bound and incontinent on a regular basis. After assessment the officer agrees that Reg is eligible and arranges delivery of a refurbished machine from Makeport
Tracey’s Story Tracey is a single parent. Her daughter has been admitted to hospital in Newcastle as an emergency and is very ill Tracey cannot afford to travel to hospital even though the hospital will reimburse fares After assessment to ensure eligibility the Welfare Assistance Officer arranges for Tracey to be taken to the hospital using the taxi contract Tracey is advised to ask ward staff for advice about ongoing assistance with travel
Donald’s Story Donald is being released from prison. Probation has secured some unfurnished accommodation His probation officer contacts Gateway for assistance with furnishing the flat A written referral is made and assessed. Donald is deemed eligible A basic furniture pack is arranged via Makeport. Asda can be used if Donald requires clothing
Dispute Resolution • Predict high number of disputes • Senior client officers at both decision stages • Written representation • Council complaints procedure
Challenges • Unknown demand • Cumulative impact of welfare reforms • Finance • Community Development • Managing expectations • Unidentified risk to individuals
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