1. Stakeholder Event
Local Authority Commissioning Approaches for Advice Services (Scotland)
Monday 14th January Satinwood Suite, Glasgow City
Council Chambers, George Square, Glasgow, G2 1DU

2. Agenda 11.00: Welcome (Lesley Haddow, Glasgow City Council)
11.10: Improvement Service Update
Andrew McGuire, Head of Transformation, Performance & Improvement
Sandra Sankey, Project Manager, Money Advice Outcomes
11.40: Scottish Government Update – Joe Dowd, Team Leader
Consumer and Citizens Advice Team
11.55: Big Lottery Fund (Scotland) - Philip Morland, Funding Manager
12.10: Group discussions
12.30: Lunch
13.10: Citizens Advice Scotland Update - Aaylia Seyal, Director of Customer Journey
13.30: A focus on ‘Quality’ – Scottish Legal Aid Board - Alison Bean, Policy Dev Officer
13.45: Embedding the framework – a Local Authority approach
John Campbell, North Lanarkshire Council
14.00: Group discussions
14.50: Summing up and next steps
15.00: Close

3. Aim of the event
Create a space for promoting the use of the Framework for Public Funding of Advice
local authority commissioners of advice network to support each other and share experiences
learn from the reviews of advice services which have been taking place this year
update on the progress for commissioning approaches for advice services implemented this year
discussing the challenges and risks around certain funding models
agree what further support and guidance may be needed and mechanisms to assess and review effectiveness on an ongoing basis
Group session aims:
to allow members to share information and discuss areas of success/failure – in confidence
explore ideas for alternative approaches to funding
discuss solutions for ongoing support and further guidance

4. Sandra Sankey Improvement Service
Local Authority Commissioning Approaches for Advice Services (Scotland)
Sandra Sankey
Improvement Service

5. Key project activities 2018/19 include:
Supporting the embedding of the principles of the Framework for Public Funding of Advice in both funders' and providers' practice.
Publication of Common Advice Performance Management Framework (CAPMF), which reports on the performance of welfare and money advice services funded by Scottish local authorities. Formerly, the framework was known as the Money Advice Performance Management Framework (MAPMF).
Production of guidance for local authorities to promote and support the delivery of financial capability and improve financial wellbeing for employees
Coordination and provision of support for the Scottish Financial Education Forum
Reporting on the current position of local authority-funded advice services and highlighting the potential impact of future legislation and policy initiatives on the provision of advice
Identification of measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of advice services by increasing channel choice for customers and the co-location of advice services

6. Commissioning of Advice Services
Publications Scottish Local Authorities’ Commissioning Approaches for Advice Services in 2017/18 and Onwards Money Advice Service Quality Monitoring and Performance Reporting in Scotland Case Studies A New Commissioning Model for Advice and Information Services in North Lanarkshire Highland Council Review of Debt Advice and Related Services - A New Commissioning Approach Fife Advice Partnership - A Fife Approach to Fair Commissioning A Partnership Approach to Co-commissioning Financial Inclusion Services in Glasgow City Others – funding sub groups and advice services partnership working
Survey 17/18 - feedback suggested a need to gather intelligence – review carried out
Evidence of practice what is/not working
Understand the decision making process
Build the relationships with commissioners – both local and national
Explore opportunities to collaborate
Identify the challenges and how best to address
Highland – not present but will be following up to learn from the benefits of the new model and how it is embedding. Shift from 8 contracts provided to 1 single contractor.

7. Local authorities were asked to submit their total annual investment in the delivery of money and welfare rights advice in 2017/18, including direct overheads.
Total LA investment is £25.76m across 32 LA’s LA’s reported funding in-house services to a total of £13.93m while 28 reported that they funded external services to a total of £11.83m.
LA’s were also asked to report on investment received from other sources for WR and advice services. Based on data submitted by 23 LA’s a total of £3,494,330 was secured from other sources in 17/18.

8. Funding Received from Other Sources in 2017/18
Rank Source of Funding Scotland-wide Amount
1 Scottish Legal Aid Board £1,529,249
2 Other £885,863
3 European Social Fund £517,349
4 Macmillan Cancer Support £258,643
5 Scottish Government £257,467
Big Lottery Fund £44,759
Total £3,493,330
These findings indicate that funding from other sources represents an additional 12% over and above what LA’s invest. This demonstrates that investment in MA & WR services often results in additional funding being levered in from other sources.

9. Seeking alternative sources of funding
Exploring the funding?
Seeking alternative sources of funding
What’s the capacity across the sector?
Where can you draw down support?
Strategic partners and joint-funding
Who has the expertise?
Funding Officers/groups
Funding portals/database/reporting
Funding news bulletins
What opportunities exist or should be explored to help bring more money in to meet the Strategic local and national outcomes
Opportunities to build partnership links with other local and national funders of advice

10. SCVO provide searches to a number of Local Authorities and you can see the list here, We shortly also launch North Lanarkshire.
SCVO is also working on a big upgrade to the website which will improve usability and functionality.

11. Reviews of Advice Services – Key Findings
17/ LA’s reduced their investment and 14 indicated an ongoing review for 18/19
5 LA’s proposed to reduce in 18/ had savings proposals rejected by members
Positive shift – 18/19 (17 LA’s to LTF)
Consultants reviews – commissioned
Internal project teams formed
Internal lead officers
Some – go beyond money, benefits and housing
Tendering process and internal restructuring
Some reviews complete and recommendations now to be implemented – others still progressing.
In the main reviews set out to achieve a better understanding of how services are currently delivered, review of customer journey process and how they an be improved to meet customer demands, considering localities.
To review gaps in service delivery and enable a more efficient and preventative approach
To improve the quality of advice and performance management of funded providers
Improve on the referral pathways and infrastructure to support this and partnership working.
Discuss some of the challenges – let people share that with each other – highlight few examples if time
No need to go into the specifics about individual areas as people can do that today by networking. I’ll be capturing more of the learning for an updated publication that will be shared.
Influencing factors - Budget setting process – reductions, Stat v non stat service, Welfare reform,
Scottish Social Security Bill
Procurement legislation Scotland and EU level
Poverty & social inclusion -prevention
LOIP
Homelessness
Scottish Welfare Fund
Community Justice
Child Poverty Bill
Anti-poverty and financial inclusion

12. Reviews of Advice Services
Produce an updated publication – reviews and any new commissioning
Produce any further guidance
Produce checklists of evidence and support for evidencing the application of the framework
Share any further good practice and learning
Communicate and disseminate – across key stakeholders

13. Independent Review of the Funding of Debt Advice (Peter Wyman)
Devolved funding of debt advice to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales as a result of the move to the Single Financial Guidance Body.
Debt Advice Steering Group (DASG)
DASG – agreed to prioritise 5 key areas for delivery 2018/19
increasing capacity in the sector by 50%;
broadening the base of organisations who contribute to funding;
measures which ensure high quality advice;
increasing investment of the debt advice levy in coordination, infrastructure and technology;
increasing collaboration in the sector.
Yvonne MacDermid, CEO, Money Advice Scotland (Member of Scotland Forum) – member of the DASG
SFGB – Mike Dailly (Non-Executive Director and Chair, Remuneration and People Committee)

14. Tackling Problem Debt Working Group
c£4.7m – Jan 19
transitional year
Consultation on recommendations (8)
Aims
By September 2019, - publish a debt routemap
Secure free debt advice model – focussed on people
Increase collaboration – user journeys
SG funds integrated with wider debt advice landscape to support local delivery
IS is represented on the TPDWG – consultation event taking place today at Money Advice Scotland
By September 2019, - publish a debt routemap which will outline the vision for and steps needed to achieve a sustainable, effective and user-centred debt advice delivery landscape in Scotland by 2025.
Refer to printed copy of the recommendations – on each table and if time permits people can feedback and make sure feed in to the Scottish Government consultation for the final meeting of the TPDWG which will take place on 1 February.
(Save for group discussions )

15. Thank You
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