Local Welfare Provision. The Salford Discretionary Support Scheme (SDSS) Scheme Design 2013/14

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1 III Annex 1 Local Welfare Provision The Salford Discretionary Support Scheme (SDSS) Scheme Design 2013/14 SaLford City CounciL

2 ill Contents: 1. Purpose of the Scheme 2. Resources 3. Scheme Design 4. Accessing the Scheme 5. Eligibility Criteria and Exclusions 6. Council Tax Hardship Scheme 7. Decision-making 8. The Awards Process 9. Award Methods 10. Appeals and the Review Process 11. Safeguarding 12. Partnerships and Other Funding Sources 13. Monitoring and Governance 14. Scheme Review 1. Purpose of the Scheme 1.1 The Salford Discretionary Support Scheme (SDSS) will replace the provisions of the Social Fund in relation to Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants from 01 April The scheme will administer the funding allocated by central government to Salford City Council in respect of these activities. 1.3 The scheme will provide a response to instances of extreme hardship for Salford residents and in very exceptional circumstances to households being resettled into Salford. 1.4 The delivery arrangements for the scheme provide for Salford's approach to these changes for 2013/14. The scheme will be reviewed through the year, and changes to the delivery model may be undertaken during the year. A revised delivery model for 2014/15 will be developed through this year. 2. Resources 2.1 The Council has been allocated resources from central government both for the delivery of the scheme and for its administration for 2013/14 and 2014/15. The resource allocations are as follows: I Function 2012/13 - (set-u - p)- 2013/ /15

3 Ill Administration F-1 1, 000 F-250, 448 E229,563 Delivery f-1, 185, 000 F-1,185, The administration set-up funding for 2011/12 will support the delivery of an ICT platform to enable delivery of the scheme on 01 April The Administration Grant will support the delivery of the Scheme through a co-located bespoke SDSS Assessment Team. Subject to analysis of future demand, the proposed team structure from 01 April will be as follows: 0 1 x Scheme Manager (Grade M) 0 5 x Assessment Officer (2x Grade H, - 3x Grade F-G) 2.4 At 01 April, and subject to a review within 2013/14, the Assessment Team will be based in the Community, Health & Social Care Directorate as part of the response to vulnerable people in the city. Delivery from the Opportunities Centre on Churchill Way will enable the co-location with existing customer payments, goods distribution and support services facilities, including facilities for people with no recourse to public funds. 3. Scheme Design 3.1 The Scheme will consist of two operational responses, details of which are identified below.- Immediate Emergency Assistance (IEA) Reseftlement Grants (RG) 3.2 Immediate Emergency Assistance (IEA) The IEA Scheme exists to support eligible households who are suffering extreme hardship 'in emergency situations. These situations will be temporary instances of hardship and the scheme is not designed to meet all needs, or to manage long-term situations of poverty or deprivation An award under the IEA criteria may be made in the following circumstances'. Households who have experienced a recent major disaster or emergency and who require basic replacements of essential items Households who have no essential food Households with children who require essential items, for example baby food and white goods Households with children or vulnerable adults who have no heating Households who need immediate assistance to attend a job interview or place of work

4 ccc Households who are awaiting their first payment of wages and who require emergency assistance to cover basic living expenses who are not eligible for payments from DWP From April 2013, IEA payments will be made in the form of a limited number of non-repayable cash awards or the direct provision of essentiai goods or vouchers for the purchase of these goods In order to ensure that the cash-limited scheme is managed fairly and effectively, a maximum of two awards per household will be made in any twelve month period. A third application may be made where major changes in needs can be demonstrated, such as in the case of a disaster or accident, but may only be considered with the authorisation of the scheme manager. In these cases, conditions may be attached, including engagement with money management or Welfare Rights & Debt Advice services. 3.3 Reseftlement Grants (RG) The Resettlement Grants Programme exists to support the long-term resettlement of households with a local connection to Salford into the community, with the exception of cases covered by 3.3.6, below. Households will be supported to enable them to establish a home in the city, particularly where households are leaving care or institutional seffings and who require support which will enable them to become independent The RG Programme will support the Council's strategic corporate aims in areas such as corporate parenting, promoting independence and reducing the cost of institutional placements The RG Programme will also support Registered Social Landlords' tenancy sustainment strategies through linking with the allocations system to support vulnerable households who are about to be rehoused A payment under the Resettlement Grants programme may be made to support the following circumstances: A household leaving long-term care A household leaving supported accommodation for independent living A household fleeing domestic abuse A household leaving prison or criminal justice establishment 33.5 Households will be limited to one application from the Resettlement Grants Programme in a 24-month period Support may also be provided to households who are settling into Salford from outside of the city where this is caused by domestic abuse. Awards in these cases would be subject to verification of the individual's circumstances by a supporting agency or direct referral from another local authority. 4. Accessing the Scheme

5 ill 4.1 The scheme will be accessible through the following means: In-person applications Applications by telephone Web-based applications 4.2 Due to the pressing nature of immediate needs, it is expected that applications for IEA will be primarily made by telephone or In person. These can be made directly by the applicant or through an acceptable nominated third party support agency, to whom the individual has given express consent. 4.3 A minority of cases will require responses outside of normal working hours. The IEA Scheme will be accessible for cases of immediate hardship on a 24/7 basis, with out-of-hours responses co-ordinated through the Emergency Duty Team. This may be an interim response pending further assessment. 4.4 Face to face access will be managed from the Opportunities Centre on Churchill VVay. 5. Eligibility Criteria and Exclusions 5.1 The Scheme will be open to applications from single households and households with children. It is anticipated that most awards will be made to households containing children or other vulnerable people, where wider safeguarding risks may exist. In order to be awarded a payment from the Salford Discretionary Support Scheme, the following eligibility criteria must be met and verified: The applicant must be aged 16 or over The applicant must have recourse to public funds in the UK The applicant must have a local connection with Salford, defined by verifiable residence in the city for 6 of the last 12 months, or 3 of the last 5 years Be a low income household (60% of median earnings) Have an immediate need for essential assistance Must not have access to alternative funds or a level of savings which is adequate to meet their needs Must not have access to support from family Must be prepared to apply for support from other agencies 5.2 The following applicants will be excluded from the scheme: Applicants who have no recourse to public funds Applicants who have been awarded 2 awards under the IEA Programme in the last 12 months and/or 1 award under the RG Programme where no exceptional circumstances exist

6 ccc Applicants who have failed to maintain loan repayments where loans have been awarded under the scheme at any time Applicants who have failed to abide by conditions agreed as part of an award 6. Council Tax Support Scheme 6.1 The SDSS will incorporate facilities to ease extreme hardship faced by residents who are negatively affected by government changes to Council Tax arrangements. 6.2 In the event of customers facing extreme hardship through Council Tax changes, direct referrals will be made into the Assessment Team for consideration for assistance. 6.3 Assessments will be based on needs and levels of hardship and against the needs criteria and eligibility criteria set out in paragraphs and 5.1, above. 6.4 In the event of an award being made to ease extreme hardship, of which Council Tax changes have been a factor, a direct resource transfer will be made between the SDSS and Council Tax services, for allocation against Council Tax records. No payment will be made to the applicant, who will be notified of any award in writing. 6.5 Payments made in respect of Council Tax hardship will be reported as part of the systems of monitoring and governance set out in section 13, below. 7. Decision-making 7.1 All decisions will be made by a single SDSS Assessment Team. In 2013/14, as the scheme is based on an assessment of needs, the team will be based in the Community Health & Social Care Directorate, and will be delivered through services integrated to provide a service response for vulnerable people. This will maintain the link with vulnerable households and also enable co-ordinated approaches to the Reseftlement Grants Programme, where rehousing is often facilitated by, and support provided by, services within the Community, Health and Social Care Directorate. 7.2 In the case of applications for assistance under the Immediate Emergency Assistance scheme, it is accepted that there will be a need for extremely rapid decision-making. In many case, these will need to be immediate. Turnaround times for IEA decisions will be prioritised in these cases.

ccc 7.3 The decision-making process will take full account of issues of vulnerability and the Council's wider safeguarding responsibilities in determining whether to make an award under the scheme. 7.5 Decision-making will be as consistent as possible within the scheme designation.

7 ccc 7.3 The decision-making process will take full account of issues of vulnerability and the Council's wider safeguarding responsibilities in determining whether to make an award under the scheme. 7.5 Decision-making will be as consistent as possible within the scheme designation. However, as the Scheme is subject to a cash-limited fund and the levels of demand are unpredictable, monthly monitoring of spending and demand assessment may mean that the prioritisation of awards will be subject to change during the year. 7.6 Every application will be managed by a SDSS Assessment Officer, who will carry their own caseload. Assessment Officers will be responsible for making assessments of each individual case, including the level of vulnerability of each household. The Assessment Officer will also be responsible for making appropriate referrals to other support agencies, such as Welfare Rights & Debt Advice. Assessment Officers will carry a mixed caseload of IEA and RG applications. 7.7 Service standards for decision-making will be as follows - Programme Standard Target Immediate Emergency Assistance Reseftlement Grants Decisions made in 48 hours of application Decisions made within 14 days of application 90% 100% 7.8 Assessment Officers will be responsible for signing-off their own decisions. 8. The Awards Process 8.1 Where an award is made under either IEA or RG Programme, the award will be recommended by an Assessment Officer, including a recommendation of how the award is to be made, for instance in terms of vouchers, goods or food parcels. 8.2 Awards may include elements of conditionality. For example, Assessment Officers may combine awards with referrals into Debt Advice or other support agencies. 9. Award Methods 9.1 It is the Council's intention to minimise cash awards wherever possible. However, it is accepted that some cash awards will be required in some cases, particularly for awards under the IEA Programme. 9.2 However, it remains the intention to provide support under the scheme in the form of goods or vouchers for the purchase of food or essential goods. In particular, as awards under IEA will be for immediate need, direct links to foodbanks and furniture providers will be critical. Arrangements are being

ccc made to deliver a pathway into a Salford Food Network, to manage the distribution of essential food where an award has been made under the Programme. 9.

8 ccc made to deliver a pathway into a Salford Food Network, to manage the distribution of essential food where an award has been made under the Programme. 9.3 From 01 April 2013, any awards made in cash will be made in the form of one-off grant payments. However, during 2013, a programme to delivery a portfolio of loans will be delivered. This will be a partnership arrangement with a preference for the portfolio to be delivered by a third sector agency. 9.4 All awards of whatever type will be made 'in person, and subject to a verifiable and acceptable form of identification. 9.5 Awards will take the following forms: Programme Nature of Award Extent of Award Immediate Emergency Award of food parcels, 2 Awards per 12 month Assistance vouchers, essential goods period, unless exceptional including baby food and circumstance enables 3rd nappies, and in extreme application to be circumstances cash awards considered of a maximum of F-40 per family household and E20 per single apolicant Reseftlement Grant Essential goods to enable 1 award per 24 month establishment of home in period, unless exceptional the community, including white 000ds change in circumstances 9.6 Where an award has conditional terms attached, these will be documented and signed fcr by the applicant in every case. 9.7 Where an award has been made in the form of essential furniture or white goods, the existing Furnished Homes service will provide this service from its existing contract from 01 April During 2013/14, resources from the scheme will be diverted to appropriate third sector organisations who deliver second-hand furniture services. In these cases, supervised resource transfers will take place directly between the Council and the provider. 9.9 Where the Council believes that there are risks of inappropriate utilisation of the scheme, it reserves the right to make awards on the condition that they are supervised or managed by a nominated support agency. For instance, where applicants have support workers who can act on their behalf with consent. 10. Appeals and the Review Process

9 ill 10.1 There will be limited rights of appeal following an awards decision by an Assessment Officer Applicants can request a review of a decision under either Programme. Appeals must be in writing, outlining reasons why they believe the decision should be reconsidered under one of the following criteria ~ * The Council has made a decision based on consideration of a factual inaccuracy * There are extreme consequences directly resulting from the decision, such as serious harm to a vulrerable person 10.3 Service standards for the Appeals Process are as follows: Programme Appeals Submission Response Time Immediate Emergency Assistance Reseftlement Grants Within 7 days of the decision Within 7 days of the decision Within 7 days of receipt of the appeal request Within 14 days of the appeal reouest 10.4 Appeals of decisions made under the IEA Programme will be dealt with by the Team Manager and the responsible Head of Service Appeals of decisions made under the RG Programme will be dealt with by a panel of nominated managers from all corporate disciplines to ensure independent oversight of the decision-making process There will be no higher right of appeal beyond this process Complaints will be managed within the Council's existing Complaints procedures. ii. Safeguarding 11.1 The Council will consider its wider safeguarding responsibilities within the management of the scheme Members of the Assessment Team will be responsible for making appropriate safeguarding referrals as part of their role. 12. Partnerships and Other Funding Sources 12.1 The SDSS will explicitly support external partnerships in delivery. During 2013/14, partnerships will be delivered with third sector agencies in respect of: * Credil Unions * Food banks

10 ccc Second hand furniture Delivery of loans portfolio 12.2 The scheme will over time be distributed through these mechanisms following the decision-making process The scheme will not replace existing funding or support mechanisms, particularly where these represent statutory provision. 13. Monitoring and Governance 13.1 There will be a regular and formal monitorj'ng process for the scheme. This will include, but not be limited to, the following performance data: Applications by number, type, month and client group Spend data by Programme type Spend data by month Decision-making performance Appeals by number, type and outcome Support for the Council Tax Hardship scheme in applicant numbers and financial contribution 13.2 Performance and outcomes data will be reported to the City Mayor, the Assistant Mayor for Adult and Older People's Services, to Members through regular reporting to the Health & Welibeing Board, to senior officers through the Corporate Management Team and to agreed stakeholders and partners During 2013/14, profiling data will be built up, and this data will be used to inform the operation of the scheme, including changes to in-year priorities and review of the eligibility criteria Budgetary management will be reported by the responsible Head of Service to the Strategic Dire.-Itor for Community, Health & Social Care on a monthly basis. This will ensure consistent spend and also that the scheme does not overspend, resulting in resources bei'ng unavailable at the end of the year In the highly unlikely event of any underspend in 2013/14 due to strict eligibility criteria, consideration will be given to rolling this forward into the 2014/15 delivery allocation, or to utilise this in another way. 14. Scheme Review 14.1 The operation of the scheme will be subject to regular review to ensure that it ccntinues to meet the most pressing needs in the city for the most vulnerable people The scheme w'll be reviewed formally by a corporate officer group, as delivered the scheme design. The remit of the group and its reporting med~ anisrn will be decided by senior officers and Members.

11 ccc 14.3 The outcome of the ongoing review process will be reported during 2013/14, and any recommendations for changes to the scheme will be made in this way A revised Scheme Design will be developed for 2014/15.

12 ill Annex 2 Salford Discretionary Support Scheme - The Customer Journev 0 AW -40-4W 0 4 AF- -W -4F,

Local Welfare Provision Policy

Local Welfare Provision Policy Purpose The purpose of this policy is to set out how Sandwell MBC will deliver Local Welfare Provision (LWP) and to outline the factors that will be considered when deciding