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Evidence for recommended decision on advice provision

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Dear Herefordshire Council,

The council are proposing to introduce a new service for information and advice to meet the statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 and to meet the needs of the Children and Families Act 2014.

This proposal has been conflated with the decision to end the long standing grant to Herefordshire CABx and the two proposals are considered jointly in the document

Commissioning of Information, Advice and Signposting Hub Service
http://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/...

The Equality Impact and Needs Assessment for the ending of the grant to the CAB is found at
http://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/...

Please provide the information regarding statements made in these documents as listed below.

1) Commissioning of Information, Advice and Signposting Hub Service

a) The document states that the new service "will have only limited overlap with HCAB’s existing services. ". Please provide the justification used to end the existing grant and conflate the two services as they are recognised as having little overlap

b) The document states that retaining the CAB grant "has not been pursued because its benefits would be outweighed by the cost pressure created for the council." Please provide the costed evidence of the value of the benefits of the CAB service used in this decision.

c) The document states that the new service will operate "by signposting to the many hundreds of services, facilities and opportunities available in the community". Please confirm that you have a database of these services with an accurate assessment of their capabilities and services actually delivered, together with the client groups served.

d) The document lists major providers of advice as Age UK (Hereford and Localities), Herefordshire MIND, Herefordshire Housing, Herefordshire Carers’ Support, Healthwatch Herefordshire and Christians Against Poverty. Please list the information you hold on their
• Range of advice
• The level of advice
• Access to the advice
• Quality of advice
• Client coverage

e) The document states that the council provides substantial accommodation and facilities in kind to HCAB to a value of £75,000. Please explain the basis for this valuation.

f) The document states that the new system will make use of "extensive interactive tools, linked to the provision of self assessment through the FACE system". The statutory guidance to the Care Act 2014 stresses, in paragraph 6.3, the limits on these systems: “An online or phone assessment, which can be a proportionate way of carrying out assessments (for example where the person’s needs are less complex or where the person is already known to the local authority and it is carrying out an assessment following a change in their needs or circumstances).” Please confirm that the FACE system will not be used in more complex cases than these.

g) The intention of the new service is to "provide its services in person, by telephone, email and face to face through visible, accessible premises in Hereford Centre". The Care Act states in 4(4) “Information and advice provided under this section must be accessible to, and proportionate to the needs of, those for whom it is being provided". Please explain how one physical site meets the requirements of the act, in particular for those whose disabilities prevent use of telephone or internet.

h) The document states that "The recommended decisions are expected to have a positive impact on the functioning of communities and community based support in Herefordshire". Please explain what assessment supports this? What evaluation and evidence has been used?

i) The document states that the new service "will also achieve the following benefits; Reduction in inappropriate demand for social work assessment and intensive support". Please provide the evidence of inappropriate demand and the numbers of such cases for each of the last three years.

j) The document states that "The proposed new IAS hub is intended to significantly improve access to information, advice and signposting for a wide range of groups with protected characteristics under s149 of the Equality Act 2010. In particular, it is anticipated that extensive use of the service will be made by older people, disabled people, people with mental health needs and young people, as well as carers". The National Audit Office, the Office of National statistics and AgeUK have all produced recent reports showing that disabled, older and poorer people all have much less access to the internet and online services than other groups. What evidence does the council have to support the anticipated extensive use by these groups?

k) The document states that "Some groups may no longer have access to certain specific advice services currently provided by HCAB. However in many cases, similar services are provided locally by other organisations including the council.". Please list the services which will be lost and which are provided by alternative provision.

2) Equality Impact and Needs Assessment Form - CAB

a) The equality assessment states that "There is a risk that if the CAB chooses not to tender, or is unsuccessful in the tender, clients may need signposting to an alternative provider." What alternative provider is able to offer the same services and access to Herefordshire residents? As the existing grant-aided service and the new service "will have only limited overlap", as stated in the proposal document, where will residents get access to the services lost?

b) The equality assessment states that "the effect on the provision of advice to Herefordshire residents with a disability is 'Neutral'. It also says that the impact may be that "Disabled people less able to get generic advice". Please explain this contradiction.

c) The equality assessment states that "Specialist advice and/or support is available from DWP Visiting Service, HC Welfare and Financial Assessment Team, CAP, Age UK, Health watch, Registered Social Landlords and Herefordshire Carer Support". Please list the advice, at a specialist level, available from these organisations and where it can be accessed.

d) The equality assessment states that "Older clients may be adversely affected if there is a change in provider of advice within the county. This may increase anxiety and stress as national research indicates continuity is important to service users. Isolated older people without support networks (e.g. family, friends) may be particularly vulnerable". What estimate of consequential costs to the council, and service users, because of the adverse effects has been made?

Yours faithfully,

Gareth Morgan

Access To Information, Herefordshire Council

1 Attachment

Dear Sir

 

Please find attached acknowledgement of your FOI request

 

Regards

 

Claire

 

 

Claire Jacobs

Information Access Officer

Information Access Team

Economy, Communities & Corporate

Herefordshire Council

Plough Lane | PO Box 4 | Hereford HR4 OXH

 

 

“Any opinion expressed in this e-mail or any attached files are those of
the individual and not necessarily those of Herefordshire Council,
Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (HCCG), Wye Valley NHS Trust or
2gether NHS Foundation Trust. You should be aware that Herefordshire
Council, Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (HCCG), Wye Valley NHS
Trust & 2gether NHS Foundation Trust monitors its email service. This
e-mail and any attached files are confidential and intended solely for the
use of the addressee. This communication may contain material protected by
law from being passed on. If you are not the intended recipient and have
received this e-mail in error, you are advised that any use,
dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this e-mail is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please contact the
sender immediately and destroy all copies of it.”

Access To Information, Herefordshire Council

9 Attachments

Dear Sir

 

Please find attached response to your FOI request

 

Regards

 

Claire

 

 

Claire Jacobs

Information Access Officer

Information Access Team

Economy, Communities & Corporate

Herefordshire Council

Plough Lane | PO Box 4 | Hereford HR4 OXH

 

“Any opinion expressed in this e-mail or any attached files are those of
the individual and not necessarily those of Herefordshire Council,
Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (HCCG), Wye Valley NHS Trust or
2gether NHS Foundation Trust. You should be aware that Herefordshire
Council, Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (HCCG), Wye Valley NHS
Trust & 2gether NHS Foundation Trust monitors its email service. This
e-mail and any attached files are confidential and intended solely for the
use of the addressee. This communication may contain material protected by
law from being passed on. If you are not the intended recipient and have
received this e-mail in error, you are advised that any use,
dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this e-mail is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please contact the
sender immediately and destroy all copies of it.”

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Gareth Morgan please sign in and let everyone know.