Feedback from Advice and Information Strategy Group 3 July 2012

Mapping the sector Development of online access to a signposting tool covering the range of advice and information provision across Hampshire (Link to Carechoice and”My booklet”) Information on CitAH website has been checked and updated. Now focusses only on agencies and groups providing access to free independent advice and information on identified areas of social welfare law. Would like to include local signposting information – as held by district and borough councils and local groups and agencies. Aim to have comprehensive signposting tool (with visual map displaying location of agencies featured) accessible to all online by September 2012.

Baseline information to support strategy We have requested the following information from network members – please respond by FRIDAY 13 July – if you have not already done so. This information is essential to begin to identify priority areas for the development of advice and information services and potential future funders and commissioners of such services. type and level of advice and information currently provided details of the funding received from a range of key commissioners/funders (to be shared only in anonymised format) where and how advice is delivered ratio of paid staff to volunteers within sector

Prevention and Early Intervention agenda This agenda is key to health and social care commissioners Our strategy must firmly place the Advice and Information sector at the centre of this agenda as key delivery agents

Impact measurement Our strategy must identify a robust method of measuring the “added value” which the Network brings :- in terms of improvements to the client journey to member organisations to statutory partners/commissioners

Membership criteria The Network is entering a new phase. It is time to review our membership structure and criteria to ensure that we and our strategy have credibility as “the voice of the advice and information sector”. Our recommendation is :- To introduce a “Full member” status to :- Voluntary sector organisations who provide free, confidential and impartial advice to the public OR to their client group To introduce an “Associate member” status to :- Statutory sector organisations who provide free, confidential and impartial advice to the public OR to their client group To introduce an “Affiliate member” status to :- other organisations and groups involved in the delivery of information and advice who would like to support and play an active role in the Network.

Sustainability The co-ordination and administration of Network is currently supported by the grant to Hampshire Advice Plus from the Big Lottery. This funding comes to an end in July We are seeking to secure ongoing funding for this activity – but the experience of other Advice Plus projects to date has not been positive in this respect. We therefore have to consider the following questions:- Do we want the Network to continue beyond July 2013 – or do we feel it will have served it’s purpose by then? If we would like the HAN to continue, we will need to consider:- Do we want to introduce a fee for attending HAN events or an annual membership fee? Should we begin now to reduce the costs of the HAN by using free/low cost venues and reducing the amount spent on catering?

Next steps Completion of data collation & analysis by July 2012 Next meeting of sub group – 11 October 2012 Draft strategy to be available for consultation by mid October 2012 Discussion of draft Strategy at HAN on 7 November 2012 Final Strategy produced by end of December 2012 Implementation of Strategy from January 2013