Advice and Health Project James Sandbach, Low Commission

Background Low Commission – established on SWL advice Health & Advice Barings Roundtable Event, July participants from both sectors Key outcome was to run a project to look at how advice can engage with health services (& vice- versa) more strategically Policy churn in both sectors – LASPO, Care Act, NHS reform, public health, mental health etc. Building the evidence base – lots out there (Marmot etc), but needs to bring out value of advice Future Advice Funders Forum Support

Objectives and Delivery Improve access to advice for vulnerable people especially those with health problems; Strengthen the position of advice services in delivering health outcomes & identify/ promote service models for delivery of advice within a health context; Develop strategic sector-wide approach to strengthen links, influence commissioners & diversify funding Develop evidence base for relationship between advice and health outcomes  Polling GPs around SWL needs  Rapid Assessment of Evidence  Mapping current work between health and advice services  Produce Report and use as influencing tool

Challenge How to engage with two different sectors at three different levels: How to bring sectors together – project guided by expert steering group

POLL OF GPs

REA Report RAPID EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT Evidential context: Marmot review and social determinants 140 studies, mix of primary and secondary research; 43% generalist advice, 57% was social welfare law or more specialist category specific advice. 40% about primary care, 11% secondary care, and 49% general health benefits Strong debt / mental health link

PROJECT MAPPING Study of 58 examples of advice services working in health settings, over half in primary care settings. Wide variation in models & health funding channels: Eg:-  Bromley by Bow – Social prescription  Wirral Primary Care Advice & Advocacy Services – CCG funded in 60 surgeries  Sheffield Mental Health CAB  Steps to Wellbeing – Dorset Healthcare  MacMillan/Claterbridge Cancer NHS Trust  Community Navigators working with hospital discharge teams – eg Croydon.

Evaluation, Monitoring & Evidence Gaps Lack of common measurement systems – plus lack of longditudinal and RCT data, needed for actual cost-benefit and efficiencies analysis. WEMWEBS probably most robust tool The issue is the strength of causality – and what evidence standards do commissioner require.