DUNDEE PARTNERSHIP FORUM
MANAGING WELFARE REFORM
WEDNESDAY 30th October 2013
MENZIESHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE, DUNDEE
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CONTENTS
Page
Welcome
2
The Impact of Reform and the Need for an Effective Response
3
The Real Cost to People in Dundee: Case Studies
4
Joint-working and Early Intervention – the Dundee Response
to Welfare Reform
5
DWP – Supporting People and Partners
5
Appendix 1 - Discussion Points, Links to Plans & Potential Actions
8
Appendix 2 - Agenda
19
Appendix 3 - Delegate List
20
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Dundee Partnership Forum
MANAGING WELFARE REFORM
WELCOME
David Dorward, Chief Executive Dundee City Council, welcomed delegates to the
second Forum event of 2013. Twice a year the Partnership brings a diverse
range of partners together to look ahead at a major issue which we face as a
city. Past events have given consideration to and agreed key priorities for action
on the transformation of the Waterfront; the potential for renewable
manufacturing and the struggle to help people recover from substance misuse.
David Dorward noted that today, participants have the chance to focus on an
issue that will have an enormous impact on the city – Welfare Reform.
Dundee is already starting to see how changes to benefits are changing the lives
of individuals and families in Dundee. The economic cost to the city is estimated
at £58m per year. That’s £58m out of the pockets of vulnerable people who
would usually spend it in local shops and businesses. The social cost will be
incalculable and today’s speakers will begin to reflect what that actually looks
like.
Dealing with the consequences of Welfare Reform will affect every person and
organisation participating at the event. Whether it is tackling the crisis of a
family without food or electricity, helping to find housing solutions, supporting
people into employment, providing volunteering opportunities or giving IT access
to make applications and manage their benefits, everyone will have a part to
play.
The event programme is split into two. The first part will look at what we know
about the changes and what is likely to happen and the second will discuss how
we can contribute to an effective response. Joining us to speak today are Jim
McCormick from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in Scotland, Peter Kinghorn
from our own Dundee North Law Centre, Greg Colgan from the Council and our
Welfare Reform Partnership and Janet Richardson from the Department of Work
and Pensions.
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As always, these events are designed to be interactive, problem solving events
so there will be two roundtable discussions where participants can share
thoughts, challenges and actions.
THE IMPACT OF REFORM AND THE NEED FOR AN EFFECTIVE
RESPONSE
Dr Jim McCormick
Scotland Adviser to Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is the most respected authority on research
and policy into social deprivation and inequality. Dr Jim McCormack gave a
presentation to set the scene on how we are starting to understand the impact
of Welfare Reform in Scotland and the rest of the UK, the challenge we face, and
the kind of action which will be needed.
Understanding poverty dynamics is essential. Poverty can be short-term,
recurrent or persistent: a world of difference between a short spell of poverty
and a whole childhood. For example, among teenagers who were poor in the
1970s, 8 out of 10 grew up to escape poverty by their 30s. We cannot
understand Welfare Reform unless we also look at the issues surrounding work
and the cost of living.
Dundee is more exposed to Welfare Reform than rest of Scotland when looking
at the amount of money lost to the city (£58m) and 3rd most exposed when
looking at the impact on its adults of working age.
Dundee: working-age benefit income, estimated changes from 2015
Universal Credit
The benefits of integrating six key benefits are put at risk through complexity of
the system, payment in arrears, payment monthly, shunting of risk to social
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housing providers. Is this likely to be rolled out across Scotland anytime soon?
Should we therefore focus on other issues (e.g. tougher sanctions, more frontline discretion)?
Current Jobs Market
50% of the impact of Welfare Reform will affect those in work. So is work a
route out of poverty? Only about half the time due to low pay, limited hours,
low earnings disregard, and a high marginal tax rate on people moving off
benefits. People are getting stuck in a fast revolving door from unemployment
to low-paid work and back again.
Future Job Market
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The trend of an ‘hour-glass’ shaped jobs market is likely to intensify by
end of the decade with more high end and lower end work
We may see a loss of processing/plant, skilled trades and admin posts,
and a growth of care, leisure, and other services
We will need to raise investment in skills by targeting whole households in
low-paid work/with lower skills (e.g. Working for Families)
What can Anti-Poverty Organisations Do?
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Support income security: advice, guidance and advocacy (e.g. Fife
Gingerbread’s Postbusters campaign)
Tougher sanctions regime: work to ensure this is a last resort
Hold down cost of living: energy, childcare, bill payment, home contents
insurance
Negotiate with employers: training, flexibility, frequency of wage
payments
Improve access to suitable bank accounts and affordable credit
THE REAL COST TO PEOPLE IN DUNDEE : CASE STUDIES
Peter Kinghorn
Dundee North Law Centre
Many more changes are on the way but the city is already beginning to feel the
impact on families and vulnerable people. The Dundee Partnership is proud to
offer financial support to the Dundee North Law Centre which does such a great
job on behalf of its clients. Peter Kinghorn, the Principal Solicitor at the Centre
presented two case studies which explored the day to day reality of the reforms
as experienced by his clients.
Working in groups, delegates discussed each case study and proposed ways
forward to help the clients. Peter then discussed what actually happened in each
of the cases.
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JOINT-WORKING AND EARLY INTERVENTION – THE DUNDEE
RESPONSE TO WELFARE REFORM
Greg Colgan
Finance and Corporate Services Manager, Dundee City Council
Greg Colgan gave a presentation on how officers from across the Partnership
have been working closely together to minimise the potential negative impact of
Welfare Reform.
Headlines figures for Dundee:
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Predicated impact of Welfare Reform on the Dundee economy by 2014/15
will be an estimated loss per annum of £58million (3rd highest in Scotland)
3,200 tenants are currently under occupying properties with related losses
of £2.1m (£1.3m for DCC)
Benefit Cap impacts ranging from £1 to £400 per week
8,000 affected by Disability Living Allowance and who may not be eligible
for support
Seven Work Streams have been introduced:
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Universal Credit
Council Tax Reduction
Scottish Welfare Fund
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Housing Services
Supporting Initiatives
Employability and Learning
Further details on each of these work streams can be viewed here:
http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/welfarereform
DEPARTMENT OF WORK AND PENSIONS – SUPPORTING PEOPLE
AND PARTNERS
Janet Robertson, Senior Operations Manager and Jane McEwan,
Employer and Partnership Manager
Department of Work and Pensions
Janet reiterated that the Welfare Reform will be the most fundamental reforms
to the social security system for 60 years. It aims for a simpler, fairer benefits
system and to ensure that work pays.
It includes:
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Universal Credit
Personal Independence Payment
Employment Support Allowance (ESA) - time-limited
Benefit Cap
Fraud and error penalties
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) amendments
Social Fund changes
Housing Benefit changes
Revised Appeals Process
Universal Credit
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Simplifies a complex system
Designed to ensure that work will always pay
Tackles welfare dependency, poverty and worklessness
More help for low income working families
Financial security for the most vulnerable in society
Improves incentives to increase hours of work
Will transform lives and society through work
Personalised conditions according to capability and circumstance
Introduced in phases from April 2013 through to 2017
Benefit Cap
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Limits benefit payments to a household to no more than average UK
household earnings – equivalent to a gross salary of £35,000. Cap
excludes one-off payments and non-cash benefits
Exemptions for households include recipients of Disability Living
Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit.
War widows / widowers and those in ESA Support Group also exempt
Prior to the August 2013 roll out in Dundee, DWP and Dundee City Council
agreed to undertake joint interviews with customers who were to be
impacted by the cap
Dundee continues to engage with customers affected and is seen
nationally as an exemplar of good practice, with other areas keen to adopt
this process
In Work Support Pilot
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At the end of September Dundee launched a trial working with individuals
who have recently started work having previously claimed JSA, and JSA
claimants who are working part-time
Claimants participating in the trial will have an initial face to face
diagnostic interview with an adviser which will be used to determine the
support needed and therefore offered. The support on offer would include
CV advice, job search advice and signposting to relevant training provision
in the local area
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The ongoing support will be offered using a variety of channels, such as
telephone, text message and emails, but based around a regular face to
face meeting. The support will be offered for six months
We will work closely with partners to support the customers and improve
their lives
Working with Partners
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In line with all Government Departments DWP promote the Digital
agenda, with many services available online for the benefit of customers
DWP must ensure that digital skills are a key part of the support offered
to jobseekers to help them back to work
We work in Partnership with other Government departments and
organisations to increase digital skills among disadvantaged groups.
Dundee is working with a variety of partners and organisations to deliver
these objectives
 Grant Funding awarded to DCC to support Digital Tutors throughout
the city and give access and support to customers
 Working with the Central Library to offer digital access and support
 Promoting Work Clubs across the city
 Working with Dundee University to develop an app for customers
Working with Partners – Next Steps
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Continue to work jointly with partners and engage with customers
affected by Benefit Cap
Establish referral system from partners and other organisations for access
to In Work Support
In preparation for Universal Credit, identify and engage with organisations
that can support customers with financial advice and appropriate bank
accounts
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Broad Topic
Staff Training
Service Provision
Point / Query Raised
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
It is essential that frontline staff have
knowledge of Welfare Reforms so that they
can provide support as required, including
being able to sign-post to relevant agencies.
There may be a case for mandatory training
(e.g. e-learning) for all frontline staff.
SOA Outcome 7a: We will
have reduced deprivation in
Community Regeneration
Areas.
Develop poverty awareness training for frontline staff.
This training could be delivered in such a way as to bring
together staff from a range of agencies / Departments.
Front line staff (DCC, DWP and others) need
to develop their support skills e.g. more
effective listening, greater awareness of the
impact of welfare changes, better ‘spotting’ of
people who would benefit from support, and
increased empathy.
SOA Outcome 7b: Dundee
will be a fair and socially
inclusive city.
DCC Welfare Rights have developed an initial e-learning
module on Welfare Reform and all DCC staff have been
asked to complete this.
Additional modules on specific benefit changes could be
useful.
Partnership members should better
understand the practical consequences of
Welfare Reform. Case studies and other reallife feedback could help with this.
SOA Outcome 7b: Dundee
will be a fair and socially
inclusive city.
Welfare Reform group ongoing review of strategies and
implementation of work streams to mitigate impact of
Welfare Reform.
The nature of peoples’ problems is becoming
more complex and deep rooted with a
consequential need for longer term, holistic
engagement with them.
SOA Outcome 7a: We will
have reduced deprivation in
Community Regeneration
Areas.
Outcome 7a includes establishment of fast track referrals
from welfare advice services to employability partners.
While there is some joining up at a strategic
level, there may also be value in bringing
together operational, front-line staff to
explore service improvements.
SOA Outcome 7b: Dundee
will be a fair and socially
inclusive city.
For example, building on holistic approaches
similar to the Brooksbank Centre or Equally
Well would be useful as would investing in
(and scaling up) evidenced good practice
including Working for Families, energy
efficiency, etc.
More provision to help people with IT Literacy
would be also be helpful e.g. through Support
& Connect / Big Lottery funding, including IT
Tutors in Job Clubs, etc.
SOA Outcome 9a: Our
neighbourhoods receive
better services.
SOA Outcome 9c: Our people
have access to high quality
community facilities.
The Fairness Strategy
recognises that Welfare
Reform will have an impact
on the income of those
already amongst the poorest
in society.
Continue roll out of Equally Well across the city.
Look at whether there are practices in Brooksbank that
could be used elsewhere.
Fast track referrals for Employability Pipeline clients and
Financial Inclusion support for ex-offenders and people
involved in health services are all examples of multiagency, joined up working already in place.
Additional resources will be sought to deal with increased
demand and more complex cases that arise – but it will
be hard to identify where these resources could come
from.
The Welfare Reform Group identified the need for more /
better ICT resources to facilitate access to online claims
and have sped up the programme of replacement of ICT
equipment in libraries by two years. In addition a
Volunteer Coordinator has been put in place to train
volunteers who will support people in making and
managing their online claims.
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Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
Link to Existing Plans
Better publicity is needed regarding what
services are available and how / where they
can be accessed. Needs to be up to date,
make use of a range of media, and come with
a long-term commitment to dissemination.
Service Provision
(continued)
Potential Action
This could be addressed through awareness raising
training with frontline staff (see above) and making
improvements to Partnership communications.
People will require help in order to ensure
compliance with the new welfare systems and
timescales.
SOA Outcome 7b: Dundee
will be a fair and socially
inclusive city.
Provide additional information and support to individuals
and households affected by Welfare Reforms, including
Universal Credit.
Some groups are particularly vulnerable and
they and their families are more likely to
require support to deal with Welfare Reform
e.g. people with substance misuse issues,
with disabilities, with mental health issues,
etc. It would be helpful to adopt a ‘whole
family’ approach to welfare services.
SOA Outcome 9a: Our
neighbourhoods receive
better services.
Advice Workers Forum has recently restarted regular
meetings and will be looking at continual improvements
to financial advice services across the city.
Dundee Equalities Forum to consider any necessary
follow up in support of Equalities Groups e.g. discussion
and implementation of a more active approach to tackling
inequality.
A passive ‘equal opportunities’ ethos is not
necessarily enough, and more active
promotion is often needed with respect to
people with disabilities, members of ethnic
minorities, etc.
Peer support / mentoring could be worth
expanding. People who have already
successfully used services to deal with their
issues may be more approachable by those
currently unengaged than traditional workers.
A new Impact Assessment Tool has been developed that
will help this to become a more active area of work.
SOA Outcome 9: Our
communities will have high
quality and accessible local
services and facilities.
An existing action in SOA is to raise awareness of
volunteer opportunities and increase the level of
volunteering in local communities.
An agency (or agencies) to take the lead on this to
support a range of peer mentors (i.e. different
backgrounds) may need to be identified.
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Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
Services should recognise that it can be
difficult and expensive for clients to move
around the city between different
agency/department locations.
SOA Outcome 9d: Our
people have access to a
range of travel networks.
Agencies could look at providing locally based services to
minimise the need for people to travel to get the help
they need. Some Financial Inclusion agencies already
operate a series of local drop-in sessions.
SOA Outcome 7b: We have
reduced financial exclusion,
income inequalities and fuel
poverty.
Providing better support to enable people to access nonlocal services e.g. access to travel passes /
reimbursement of travel costs.
The Discover Opportunities Centre provided 119 bus
passes from their Barrier Free Fund between 1/4/13 and
1/12/13 to Employability Pipeline clients who entered
work.
Service Provision
(continued)
More prevention / early intervention work
could be done e.g. by Save by the Bell and
discovery Credit Union.
SOA Outcome 7b: Dundee
will be a fair and socially
inclusive city.
There is a challenge in meeting the growing
demand for advice and support in a climate of
financial restraint. There is a need to
maximise the impact of limited resources.
Financial Education to become more widespread within
the curriculum for excellence (i.e. more than just part of
Mathematics lessons).
Improved marketing of Credit Union services, especially
to those with limited resources who are currently turning
to high interest lenders for credit.
Support & Connect funding is bringing additional
resources into the city for a number of projects to meet
the increasing demand.
Welfare Reform Group are reviewing strategies and
implementing work streams to mitigate impact of Welfare
Reform.
Greater support in communities would be
helpful e.g. involvement of community groups
and other organisations, churches, and
development of social networks.
SOA Outcome 8d: Our
neighbourhoods experience
greater community spirit and
wellbeing.
Community Regeneration Team undertaking ‘to increase
the number of individuals and groups involved in
planning, delivery and evaluation of festivals and other
community events’.
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Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
NHS needs to be more involved in provision
alongside DCC and other Partners.
SOA Outcome 1b: Dundee
has effective pathways to
employment which enable
our people to progress into
sustainable jobs.
Inclusion of relevant NHS staff in any delivery of poverty
awareness training for frontline staff.
SOA Outcome 7a: We have
reduced deprivation in
Community Regeneration
Areas.
Service Provision
(continued)
SOA Outcome 9c: Our people
have access to high quality
community facilities.
Co-location of Council, NHS services and community
groups in the Whitfield Life Services building plus
consideration of further sites across the city including
Lochee.
Involvement of the Early Intervention Team to provide
preventative support for families on the edge of crisis.
Ongoing roll-out of Equally Well, including social
prescribing, across the city.
Ongoing work of the Working Towards Health team within
the Employability Pipeline.
Development of a Health Equity Strategy for Tayside to
tackle health inequalities.
More, affordable childcare would be helpful,
especially to lone parents. This could include
breakfast clubs, OOSCs and Social Enterprises
focussing on flexible childcare.
Childcare is identified in the
Fairness Strategy as a
priority that would help to
reduce poverty / inequality.
Communication across the Partnership should
be more joined up. This should include
information about and going to smaller
organisations.
Communication
There may be benefit in some sort of ‘communications
hub’ that works to ensure that information is shared
more effectively between Partners and the wider network
of agencies and groups.
A group whose purpose is to facilitate
communication of information to a wide range
of organisations would be helpful.
Communication
The Factory is looking at the Douglas House site as a
future location to develop a childcare social enterprise.
Current communication patterns could be looked at and
improvements suggested. There may be a role for the
new DCC Communications Division in this.
Opportunities for agencies to meet face to
face on a regular basis would be welcomed.
Information on the work being carried out by
the Welfare Reform Group and its sub-groups
should be made more widely available.
Development of a childcare social enterprise in Lochee
Ward is in the planning stages.
SOA Outcome 7b: We have
reduced financial exclusion,
income inequalities and fuel
poverty.
Publication of minutes of Welfare Reform Group meetings
and any resulting action plans in a readily accessible site,
dissemination of how to access these to a wide range of
agencies / groups would increase transparency.
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Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
Feedback on the activities / success of the
Scottish Welfare Fund in Dundee would be
welcomed
SOA Outcome 7b: We have
reduced financial exclusion,
income inequalities and fuel
poverty (though SWF not
specifically mentioned).
Review information available and disseminate to
interested parties / publish in an accessible place.
Data sharing across Partners is crucial. While
data protection is important, it should not be
the huge barrier that it is at present.
Data Protection Policies and
Information Sharing
Protocols of DCC and
Partners.
Exploration of how agencies can better share information
with respect to Welfare Reform. This is particularly
important between DWP and DCC where there are
already some local voluntary data sharing arrangements.
Better publicity of existing useful data sets could help.
A recently revised Coordinated Advice Tracking System
(CATS) facilitates data sharing between Financial
Inclusion agencies.
Poverty myths abound. The Partnership
should work with the media to help dispel
these and reduce stigma.
Publicise information debunking various myths e.g. the
Turn2Us paper published in November 2012. It would be
useful to actively send this out to a wide range of
agencies and their frontline staff.
Community Planning staff are working with Faith in
Communities Dundee to develop a community led group
looking at the realities of poverty and deprivation in
Dundee.
There is a danger of people simply not
claiming benefits they are entitled to because
of the complexities of change, not being able
to cope, inability to use IT, etc. How can this
be mitigated?
DWP Issues
SOA Appendix 1: Strategic
Deliverables lists increasing
access to benefit / debt
advice. Also mentioned
under Early and Effective
Intervention that we need to
provide support to those who
rely on welfare benefits.
The Fairness Strategy
recognises access to benefit
advice as a key factor in
relation to poverty.
Improved liaison between DWP and Advice agencies in
Dundee e.g. via the recently reformed Advice Workers
Forum, running alongside regular DWP Liaison meetings.
Better publicity from DWP on how to claim benefits, and
where further help can be sought by those who need it.
Better recognition by DWP staff of those who might / are
struggling to cope with changes in the welfare system.
This might require additional training of frontline staff.
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Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
At the point of creation of the job seekers
agreement (or claimant commitment as these
are rolled out) it would be useful for staff and
clients to have access to a list of agencies
that clients can be referred to for assistance.
DWP have recently produced an up to date list of
contacts for advice agencies (as part of their escalation
procedures). It would be useful for a comprehensive list
of advice agencies and contact information (e.g. from
CATS or the Benefit, Money & Debt Booklet) to be
produced that could be passed to DWP staff in a
reciprocal arrangement to the benefit of customers.
Information on how sanctions are being
applied locally is needed in order to inform
decision making and support given to clients.
Improved liaison between JCP and advice
agencies would help with this.
Improved liaison between DWP and Advice agencies in
Dundee e.g. via the recently reformed Advice Workers
Forum, running alongside regular DWP Liaison meetings.
DCC and local JCP to look at existing practice and seek to
develop practice that will minimise impact on clients.
Sanctions need to be the last resort to
minimise hardship caused by them being
unnecessarily applied.
Concerns have been raised regarding Triage
imposing unrealistic job seeking targets,
leading to a high rate of sanctions. The
support given by Triage has also been called
into question.
People not getting paid benefits while
awaiting a Mandatory Reconsideration will
cause hardship and have a knock-on effect on
other services. Is any flexibility possible to
minimise this?
DWP Issues
More clients are being told to consider
volunteering as part of their journey towards
work, but agencies have limited capacity to
take on volunteers and they must also match
the opportunities available in order to be
useful. Some agencies are finding that
volunteers require more support and that this
detracts from the service to their clients.
Question to be raised for discussion at the next DWP
Liaison meeting.
SOA Outcome 9b: Our
people engage and
participate more in their
communities.
A balance needs to be found between the capabilities of
potential volunteers, the capacity of organisations to take
on and train volunteers and any requirement to
volunteer. JCP and DVA could communicate on this topic
to facilitate progress.
JCP staff may need awareness training on what is
generally required of a volunteer / what volunteer posts
are available to help identify suitable volunteers.
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Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
Outreach carried out by JCP is limited in
scope at present. Is there scope for
expanding this? Use of less formal,
community venues has been indicated as a
preference by those using the existing
outreach service.
SOA - Improving our
Partnerships and
Performance.
Early Council / DWP communication with households
identified that would be affected by the benefit cap and
under-occupancy, led to individual interviews taking
place.
JCP could look at what additional outreach they could
carry out, either from existing teams or in conjunction
with other agencies (e.g. DCC Support & Connect project,
community centres, etc.).
Public perceptions of DWP / JCP are poor.
What can be done to improve this?
DWP / JCP could work more closely with;
- the media to highlight positive activities they are
involved in locally
- local groups to better promote activities / assistance
available
Increased
Demands
Services helping people to access benefits are
experiencing higher demand due to Welfare
Reform and having to ‘do more with less’.
Streamline referral processes between advice agencies
through use of CATS. This will help minimise waiting
times for clients.
Seek additional funding sources in a coordinated way for
advice agencies to enable recruitment of additional staff
to cope better with demand (c.f. collaboration on Support
& Connect bids).
Social Work is impacted as Welfare Reforms
lead to people needing more support,
stretching the service further. Increased risk
of family breakdown is a key aspect of this,
Increased
Demands
SOA Outcome 7b: Dundee
will be a fair and socially
inclusive city.
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If a family stays together increased
tensions make the job more difficult
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If a family splits, then there are additional
cost implications in terms of housing, care
for children, protective services, etc.
Increased deprivation is likely to lead to
increases in certain types of crime (thefts in
particular). Single young men have been
noted as being vulnerable to benefit changes
and also fit the ‘typical offender’ profile.
Prioritisation of cases by Social Work to minimise the
breakdown of families as a result of Welfare Reform
changes.
Ensuring that Social Workers have access to up to date
referral information to financial advice agencies and that
they make use of it.
Specific information could be issued to single, male
claimants (by DWP) to highlight assistance available to
them.
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Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
Job creation, training schemes and
community benefits through both capital and
revenue contracts across the public, private
and academic sectors need to be maximised.
SOA Outcome 1b: Dundee
has effective pathways to
employment which enable
our people to progress into
sustainable jobs.
A wide range of relevant actions are already specified in
the SOA and Delivery Plan including various methods for
job creation and incorporation of community benefits
clauses. There is also an increased emphasis on
recruitment of Modern Apprentices (aged 16-19) by DCC.
SOA Outcome 1c: Dundee
tackles youth unemployment
by moving more of our
young people into positive
destinations.
Employability /
Jobs
Referral pathways to employability support
needs to be ‘short and swift’ to ensure people
get the support they need, when they need it.
There is a perceived lack of jobs,
especially for those with poorer
literacy and/or IT skills.
SOA Outcome 7a: We have
reduced deprivation in
Community Regeneration
Areas.
There is specific action in the SOA under Outcome 7a
relating to establishment of fast-track referrals from
welfare advice services to employability partners. CATS
may be expanded in future to incorporate Employability
Pipeline partners.
SOA Outcome 1a: Dundee’s economy grows
through a focus on key sectors, growth companies,
business start ups and inward investment.
SOA Outcome 1b: Dundee has effective pathways
to employment which enable our people to progress
into sustainable jobs.
Employability /
Jobs
SOA Outcome 1c: Dundee tackles youth
unemployment by moving more of our young
people into positive destinations.
SOA Outcome 1e: Dundee’s Waterfront underpins
the city’s economic growth and enables the creation
of new local employment opportunities.
A wide range of relevant actions are already
specified in the SOA and Delivery Plan.
Employability Pipeline Partners and Adult
Learning staff may need to develop specific
actions to help people to;
-
identify jobs that they are capable of,
regardless of their literacy / IT skills (and
encourage them to take these jobs on)
-
develop the specific Literacy and IT skills
needed for newly created jobs
SOA Outcome 1h: Dundee is a leading centre for
the offshore renewables industry in the UK.
SOA Outcome 2d: We have increased levels of
Adult Literacy & Numeracy.
16
Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
There is a hope that changes in
the city help give a positive
outlook and lead to further
developments. There may need
to be a multiplicity of smaller
developments alongside the
known larger ones (Waterfront,
V&A, Renewables, etc.) to
increase the momentum of
positive change.
Pay / Living
Wage
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
SOA Outcome 1a: Dundee’s economy grows
through a focus on key sectors, growth companies,
business start ups and inward investment.
A wide range of relevant actions are already
specified in the SOA and Delivery Plan that
should contribute towards this.
SOA Outcome 1e: Dundee’s Waterfront underpins
the city’s economic growth and enables the creation
of new local employment opportunities.
Smaller developments will generally be less
well known than the larger ones, and so there
could be more publicity generated for the
smaller developments in future.
SOA Outcome 1g: Dundee and it’s region is
established as an internationally recognised visitor
destination enhanced by V&A at Dundee.
SOA Outcome 1h: Dundee is a leading centre for
the offshore renewables industry in the UK.
Jobs in Dundee were described as fitting an
‘hourglass’ pattern, which limits social
mobility. What can we do to bridge this
divide? E.g. literacies work, career
development, work with employers to get
them to encourage progression, etc.
SOA highlights Dundee
College as ‘the main provider
of vocational training and
workforce development in
the city’.
Further engagement with employers who have staff ‘in
both halves of the hourglass’ to promote job progression
e.g. DCC, NHS and other large employers.
Dundee Partnership should take a more active
role in campaigning for employers to adopt a
Living Wage. (Partnership members
themselves should be challenged adopt it
where they haven’t already).
Reshaping Care for Older
People programme.
Social Work contracting to take more account of the
conditions and pay of the workers carrying out any subcontracted work.
Care Sector workers are generally low paid.
Social Work sub-contract a lot of this sort of
work and could be more inquisitive with
respect to work patterns and pay levels but
general feeling that a national initiative is
required.
Fairness Strategy.
Identification of what prevents people moving from lower
paid jobs to higher paid jobs.
Introduce Living Wage to Dundee City Council and
campaign to extend across contractors, partners and
private sector employers in Dundee. The DCC Community
Planning Manager is in discussion with Chamber of
Commerce with respect to private sector.
17
Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
More support is needed to help people cope
with the transition from benefits to work. In
addition, employers could consider weekly /
fortnightly pay.
SOA Outcome 1b: Dundee
has effective pathways to
employment which enable
our people to progress into
sustainable jobs.
Employability Pipeline providers are working to make
sure that ‘job readiness’ includes being able to cope with
the changes in payment frequency (e.g. via Financial
Capability training).
SOA Outcome 1c: Dundee
tackles youth unemployment
by moving more of our
young people into positive
destinations.
Long Term
Impact
Concerns raised regarding the long term
impact of Welfare Reform on services such as
the NHS due to resulting changes in health
and mental health.
NHS are developing plans for mitigating the impact of
Welfare Reform. It could be useful for NHS Tayside to
share their plans more widely e.g. with the Welfare
Reform Group.
Future plans need to have more thought put
into them to anticipate all of the impacts. To
date the focus has largely been on frontline
services and immediate impacts.
SOA Outcome 7b: Dundee
will be a fair and socially
inclusive city.
There is additional work here for the Welfare Reform
Group, and others, to anticipate further impacts.
More effective utilisation of volunteer capacity
in the city.
Outcome 8d: Our
neighbourhoods will
experience greater
community spirit and
wellbeing.
DCC is encouraging an increase in volunteering to
support programmes in Community Centres.
Volunteering
Community Regeneration Team are to raise awareness of
volunteer opportunities and the level of volunteering in
local communities.
Outcome 9b: Our people
engage and participate more
in their communities.
Media Relations
Dundee Partnership could be more active in
challenging the local press to devote more
space to information about advice services
and avoid stigmatisation of those who make
use of them.
Fairness Strategy.
Partnership members to develop a more positive
relationship with the local press in order to promote
positive stories, especially in relation to advice services.
Fairness Strategy states that ‘the Partnership is aware of
the need to address poverty, to work with the media and
opinion formers to strengthen public understanding,
challenge myths and stereotypes and to ensure that
people with experience of poverty are included’.
18
Broad Topic
Point / Query Raised
Information /
Research
Data collection models could be developed
that address whole household’s needs and
help these to be addressed as holistically as
possible.
Link to Existing Plans
Potential Action
Welfare Advice Agencies already look at households as a
whole where appropriate, as this often factors into
benefit entitlement, debt repayments, etc.
19
APPENDIX 2: PROGRAMME
DUNDEE PARTNERSHIP FORUM – MANAGING WELFARE REFORM
WEDNESDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2013, MENZIESHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE
Programme
1
Welfare Reform : A Challenge for the Whole
Partnership
David Dorward
Chief Executive
Dundee City Council
2
The Impact of Reform and the Need for an
Effective Response
Dr Jim McCormick
Scotland Adviser to
Joseph Rowntree
Foundation
3
The Real Cost to People in Dundee : Case
Studies
Peter Kinghorn, Dundee
North Law Centre
4
Roundtable Discussion 1


What are the key challenges facing
people in Dundee?
What are the implications for services?
5
Coffee Break
6
Joint-working and Early Intervention – the
Dundee Response to Welfare Reform
Greg Colgan
Finance and Corporate
Services Manager,
Dundee City Council
7
DWP – Supporting People and Partners
Janet Robertson
Senior Operations
Manager
Department of Work and
Pensions
8
Roundtable Discussion 2


What further action should the
Partnership be taking?
How can your organisation make a
contribution?
9
Plenary and Questions
10
Closing Remarks and Summary
David Dorward
20
APPENDIX 3: DELEGATE LIST
DUNDEE PARTNERSHIP FORUM – 30TH October 2013 - Delegate List
Peter
Laura
Caroline
Dave
Marilyn
Julie
Gael
Stella
Steve
Greg
Erik
Lynn
Paul
Judy
David
Sandy
Mark
Karen
Eric
Varsha
Nick
Bryan
Alison
John
Craig
Vanessa
Yvonne
Peter
Mary
Kathryn
Duncan
Craig
Jim
Janet
Shaun
Ginny
June
Valerie
Derek
Jill
Lin
James
Donald
Teodor
Gladys
Ally
Sue
Carole
Janet
Verity
Allan
Bannerman
Berry
Berry
Binnie
Bruce
Cameron
Carrington
Carter
Colgan
Cramb
Cunningham
Davies
Dobbie
Dorward
Flight
Freedman
Gunn
Guthrie
Gyawali
Hamilton
Harris
Honeyman
Hosie
Kelly
Kelly
Kelman
Kinghorn
Kinninmonth
Mackenzie
Mark
Mason
McCormick
McEwan
McKillop
McLanders
McLelland
McRae
Miller
Millward
Neilson
Nicholson
Olejnik
Omelasz
Ramsay
Rankin
Rayner
Robertson
Robertson
Scott
Chief Executive's, DCC
Social Work, DCC
Craigowl Communities
Social Work, DCC
Dundee & Angus College
Angus Housing Association
Dundee North Law Centre
Charleston Action Group
Go Dundee
Housing, DCC
Dundee Partnership
Craigowl Communities
Chief Executive's, DCC
Leisure and Culture Dundee
Chief Executive, DCC
Corporate Services, DCC
Action for Children
MCMC, DCC
TACTRAN
Faith in Community
University of Abertay
Chief Executive's, DCC
Corporate Services, DCC
Communities and Policy, DCC
Joe Fitzpatrick's Office
Communities and Policy, DCC
Social Work, DCC
Dundee North Law Centre
Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau
Volunteer Centre Dundee
Police Scotland
Social Work, DCC
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Department for Work & Pensions
Police Scotland
Brooksbank Centre
Housing, DCC
Housing, DCC
Chief Executive's, DCC
Dundee Carers Centre
Occupational Therapy
University of Abertay
Corporate Services, DCC
Tayside Council on Alcohol
Community Representative
Community Regeneration Worker
St Andrew's Family Support Project
Chief Executive's, DCC
Department for Work & Pensions
Communities and Policy, DCC
21
Elaine
Rena
Martin
Audrie
Wendy
Tom
Ian
Conrad
Alana
Pauline
Murray
Mike
Morna
Cllr. Helen
Shields
Smith
Tait
Taylor
Third
Thomson
Treanor
Trickett
Trusty
Wallace
Webster
Welsh
Wilson
Wright
Social Work, DCC
East End Community Regeneration Forum
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
One Parent Families Scotland
NHS Tayside
Joe Fitzpatrick's Office
Housing, DCC
Police Scotland
Deaf Links, Tayside Deaf Hub
Skills Development Scotland
Next Steps Project
Communities and Policy, DCC
Dundee Voluntary Action
Dundee City Council
22