Central Bedfordshire Council Advice Strategy for Central Bedfordshire Peter Fraser Head of Partnerships, Community Engagement and Youth Support On behalf of: CBC Welfare Reform Board

Central Bedfordshire Council Welcome Introductions

Central Bedfordshire Council Agenda Welcome and introductions Background to the current Advice Strategy and Advice Planning Board Need for refresh of Strategy Group discussions (scope, vision, format, and application) Break: Group discussions (continued) Feedback Next steps and timescale Finish: 12.30

Central Bedfordshire Council Welfare Reform Phase 2 Workstreams: →Support, Information and Advice →Shaping the Council’s offer →Intelligence Reporting and Resident Impact

Central Bedfordshire Council Current Advice Strategy Focus is on social welfare, civil legal advice issues Benefits Housing Debt Consumer Family Employment

Central Bedfordshire Council Importance of advice ADVICE STRATEGY Changing national environment Local changes and issues Economic / Poverty / Health / Justice Recession / Targets / Legislation / Big Society Community Strategy / Disjointed funding / Council cuts Why did we need an Advice Strategy?

Central Bedfordshire Council Current Advice Strategy Initiated by local advice sector (through Bedfordshire Advice Forum) 2010Promoted by Stronger Communities Thematic Partnership 2011Adopted by Central Bedfordshire Together July 2011Launched – one of first in the country - innovative

Central Bedfordshire Council Current Advice Strategy Central Bedfordshire will be an area where people experience less poverty and social exclusion, because their needs are being met effectively through easily accessible, well-publicised and high-quality social welfare information, advice and advocacy services across the voluntary and community and statutory sectors Vision

Central Bedfordshire Council Current Advice Strategy Principles Co-ordinated and collaborative planning to meet needs Commitment to equality and supporting disadvantaged people Free services Variety of services - provided at different levels, using diverse delivery methods to meet diverse local needs Quality services

Central Bedfordshire Council Current Advice Strategy Strategic aims 1.Develop strategic framework for planning advice services 2.Respond effectively to changing needs for advice 3.Enhance collaboration between advice services 4.Ensure quality of advice services 5.Improve access to information and advice Recommended action 22 action points Overseen by Advice Planning Board – supported by Bedfordshire Advice Forum

Central Bedfordshire Council Advice Planning Board Set-up in 2012 to oversee Advice Strategy Multi-agency group CBC - SCHH, Children’s Services, Public Health, Equalities and Diversity, Partnerships and Community Engagement BAF - voluntary advice sector agencies – LB CAB, Age UK AdviceCentral Aragon Housing Association Bedfordshire CCG SCTP

Central Bedfordshire Council Advice Planning Board Key achievements 2 reviews of local advice provision Strategy provided support for AdviceCentral bid Developed links with other community strategies Volunteering Campaign for advice services Supported BAF networking, training and collaborative work Review of Advice Strategy

Central Bedfordshire Council Refresh of Advice Strategy Key Drivers  Welfare Reform  The Care Act 2014 / wellbeing / prevention  Child and family poverty  Supporting people into work  Relevance

Central Bedfordshire Council Challenges  Who is it for ?  Relationship to other strategies?  Over what period?  Format ?  Breadth?  Deliverability?  Impact?

Central Bedfordshire Council Workshops Stay in Your Seats! Facilitators will move 4 Facilitators Group discussions - 4 topics over 2 sessions Feedback – 4 key points

Central Bedfordshire Council Finalising the Strategy Timetable: October st draft for consultation December 2015 Final draft January – March 2016Welfare Reform Board Executive Committee