RDC(3) P&D6

Rural Development Sub-Committee

Inquiry into Poverty and Deprivation in Rural Wales

Response from Caerphilly County Borough Council

Introduction

Caerphilly Council is pleased to respond to this inquiry into rural poverty. Although not primarily rural the borough has rural characteristics and rural areas with social deprivation a cause of concern within the borough. Many of the communities within the borough are subject to barriers and issues typical of rural areas. Caerphilly is characterised by some forty to fifty small towns and villages. There is a high level of interdependence between rural and urban communities (although some areas are highly isolated) but a common factor of is poverty. Anti poverty works needs to address the range of barriers to inclusion being faced by citizens in the Caerphilly borough.

General

1. What are the poverty/deprivation problems faced by rural areas? What are the specific needs of rural areas in relation to this issue?

In terms of gaining access to employment in rural areas agriculture and forestry remain important economic, social and environmental activities within the borough, despite their declining employment and income levels. In particular, the health of farming is fundamental to the leisure and tourism opportunities being developed in the borough as the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001 proved. The introduction of Single Farm Payments and cross compliance, coupled with persistently low incomes, has meant that agriculture continues to face uncertainty and hardship.

Bedwas/Trethomas/Machen, Crumlin, Maesycwmmer, Nelson, St James are among some of the most distinctly rural communities in the Caerphilly county borough. The settlements within these wards are physically isolated and have poor access to employment, transport and basic services and facilities.

Public transport provision within the borough ranges from good coverage to poor with the more rural areas less likely to have a good service. Public transport is restricted in the three valleys of the county borough due to the unique topography of the area. The steep sided valleys ensure that there are limited inter-valley links and that public transport operates in a mainly linear direction.  Access to services and facilities from one valley to another is therefore difficult and the communities on higher ground are even more isolated.   In research undertaken on economic inactivity in New Tredeger and Pontllotyn in 2006 lack of transport was cited as a major barrier to seeking employment.

The Post Office closure programme will also adversely effect rural communities in the borough. In situations where public transport is infrequent and extended journey times are difficult for older people and for vulnerable people the Post Office is the hub of a community. Ten post offices in the borough that have been put forward for closure. Two have been confirmed. The remaining 8 are currently out to consultation. Some of these post offices have been in business for over fifty years or more.

While there is a high level of interdependence between many rural and urban communities, in the more isolated parts of the borough, this is not the case because of the poor transport links. Citizens in these areas find it difficult to benefit from the opportunities (employment, leisure, food, entertainment etc) that other areas of the borough can provide. In some areas of the borough (for example Aberbargoed) the physical isolation of the settlements has led to high rates of out-migration, particularly among the young and economically active seeking work elsewhere.

2. Are anti-poverty/deprivation activities best dealt with by the Welsh Assembly Government or by the Local Authorities? Why?

A mixture of both is needed with more investment to tackle barriers to inclusion. All the more rural areas within the borough have been hit by the decline in employment in the rural sectors and services, which was exacerbated by the restrictions imposed during foot and mouth.  As a result these areas continue to experience out-migration to urban areas.  However, due to their geographic location and rural character they are well placed to capitalise on sustainable tourism and countryside recreation through the development of craft activities and provision of services to walkers, cyclists etc; activities that the Council’s is aiming to continue to develop. Poverty can be successfully addressed in turning around areas but this work takes times and often spans two generations.

3.i) What anti-poverty/deprivation initiatives (Welsh Assembly Government or Local Authority) are you aware of?

There are a lot of initiatives that the Welsh Assembly Government has launched to tackle poverty as everything can potentially impact on removing barriers to social inclusion. Here are just a few initiatives starting with the national but being rolled out locally:

• Communities First now moving to Communities Next.

• Strategy for Older People in Wales  - implemented through the 50+ Strategy in Caerphilly

• Child Poverty Strategy - tackled through the work of the Children & Young People’s Framework Partnership

• Initiatives with DWP to help people back into work such as Pathways to Work. Caerphilly was one of the first areas to roll this out with the Council now working with Jobcentre Plus on Job Match

• Climbing Higher - promoting an active, healthy and inclusive Wales

• Designed for Life - addressed through the Health Social Care and Well being  community strategy partnership in Caerphilly

• Learning Pathways  - addressed through the Education for Life community strategy partnership in Caerphilly

• Fuel Poverty - address through the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

• National homelessness strategy - rolled out through Caerphilly homelessness strategy and implemented through the Council’s homeless team with issues aired through the multi agency homelessness forum

The annual Social Justice Report provides a good over view on anti poverty work being undertaken by the Assembly Government.

3.ii) Do these anti-poverty/deprivation policies adequately address the needs of rural areas?

The initiatives provide a baseline from which to lift people up from poverty. However, it takes a long time to address decline within communities. Perhaps as much as 15 to 20 years. This is seen by the second stage of the Communities First programme.

4. What specific measures would you like to see implemented by the Welsh Assembly Government to deal with poverty/deprivation issues in rural Wales?

Unable to answer

5. What examples of good practice are you aware of in Wales/other parts of the UK/ overseas?

Attached in appendix 1 is an audit undertaken within the Council in 2006 on initiatives being undertaken to tackle poverty and social exclusion. The audit shows both the range and effectiveness of anti poverty initiatives undertaken by the Council and often with partner organisations.

Population Groups

The questions below focus on poverty and deprivation in relation to children and young people, the economically active, the economically inactive and older people.

For each of the groups (or whichever is of relevance to you), please consider the following questions:

6. To what extent are these groups living in poverty/deprivation in rural Wales?

Across all areas in Caerphilly citizens experience high levels of poor health, disability and low levels of literacy and qualifications in the borough. Caerphilly CBC is the fourth largest authority in Wales and also one of the most deprived with thirteen wards and six sub wards throughout the borough being designated Community First areas with two new lower super output areas (Upper Pantside and Trecenydd) being introduced.

A health, social care and well being needs assessment has just been done to inform the new health, social care and well being strategy. The assessment found that the total population of Caerphilly is fairly static, but the trend shows that the number and proportion of the population aged under 25 (and particularly those aged under 5) has fallen slightly, whilst is has risen in the over 5s. The number of children in the borough has fallen whilst the number of older people (particularly the very old) has risen. The health of the population is poor. Generally across the board

The Council is currently developing a single plan for children and young people, which will provide a good statistical base to draw out rural implications.

The work of the 50+ Positive Action Partnership has been to lift all older people out of poverty across the borough. A maximising income has been formed which has resulted in older people across the poverty accessing benefits to which they were entitled but not previously claiming. Details are contained in appendix 1.

7. What poverty/deprivation issues are experienced by these population groups that are specific to rural areas? Please highlight any relevant evidence or research that you are aware of.

Further work would be needed to draw out implications although the information is there to be interrogated.

8. How do the problems of the 4 population groups differ across rural Wales (for example between areas in West Wales and East Wales)?

Unable to answer.

9. In what ways are any sub-groups within the four population groups particularly affected by rural poverty/deprivation, for example, disabled economically inactive people or female older people?

Barriers to inclusion are generally seen to be more difficult for disabled people and older women to overcome related to low levels of income, which makes participation harder in wider society. There is an economic inactivity multi agency beacon group in Caerphilly, which has been tackling economic inactivity for a number of years so barriers to employment are being addressed in the borough. In the future it is anticipated that older women will not feature among the most financially excluded as they will be more likely to have been in the work place and have a pension in their own right.

10. What are the most effective ways of tackling poverty/deprivation for individuals from these groups living in rural parts of Wales?

Provision of transport. Work to lift income levels. Employment opportunities. Health care provision.

11. How can these problems be addressed by the Welsh Assembly Government?

Measures to address poverty and social exclusion should be evaluated with findings disseminated. Policy and practice seminars could be held to share learning in tackling poverty and social exclusion.

Appendix 1

Caerphilly County Borough Council Approaches In Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion

1. Introduction

In December 2006 the Policy Unit undertook an audit to identify actions the Council is undertaking by itself and with partner organisations to tackle poverty and social exclusion within the borough. The information was needed to inform the Benefits Fraud Inspectorate of the anti poverty work the Council is doing, as requested by the Inspectorate, and to gain an overall picture of policies, strategies and practical initiatives that are taking place to address poverty and social exclusion. The approach being used by the audit was wide and information was sought across the directorates of the Council to gain information on initiatives covering poverty, housing, education, employment, health and well-being and access to services. Respondents were asked to complete proformas detailing work being undertaking in these areas. Seventeen proformas were returned. The following is a report of the information gained from the proforma.  Appendix 1 lists the respondents to the audit.

2. Main Findings

Tackling Poverty

A range of projects and initiatives are being pursued across the Council to tackle poverty. Projects include:

• Inside Out a programme of arts workshops to help people with mental health issues integrate back into society and regain their confidence.

• Youth theatre workshops working on building confidence and self esteem.

• The Breaking Barriers Digital Storytelling Project involving  training opportunities to gain IT skills that could lead to employment and, to give people a voice to advocate issues. Emphasis has been placed on encouraging digital inclusion in Communities First areas.

• Inclusion projects aimed at addressing access problems for disabled people through the medium of the arts.

• Cymorth funding has been secured to implement a project specifically aimed at providing educational psychology input to children and young people who are at risk of exclusion from school and also secured to provide educational psychology input to Community Adolescence Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for one day per week.

• Gateways to Learning project providing access to the library resources of five greater Gwent authorities, the University of Wales, Coleg Gwent and Ystrad Mynach College. The project also delivers information literacy courses to learners in libraries.

• ICT - free internet access for public at all libraries

• Bookstart packs delivered to parents of all children born within Caerphilly county Borough Council. This is enhanced by organised story telling and other related activities for parents and babies.

• Jobcentre Plus access points in libraries to help people with job searching.

• Housing part funds the Valley Inclusion Project which is a pilot project run by Shelter Cymru. The project provides intensive support, assistance and advice to help people manage their tenancy.

• In conjunction with the Communities First Partnership at Graig y Rhacca, the housing office has established a resource centre. The centre provides opportunities for education, with the centre staff offering advocacy and information on a wide range of issues and services.

• The Holly Road Community Development Scheme facilitates advice to tenants on benefits and provides other services such as life skills.

• The 50+ Positive Action Partnership has contributed funding to an advocacy project which means all 30 care homes in Caerphilly borough now receive proactive routine visits from advocates.

• The Council has purchased a minibus to facilitate travel at times and from locations not currently available to those without access to private transport and which accommodates disabled users. The availability of this service originally focused on the northern end of the borough where there is  low car ownership and high social needs.

Initiatives include:

• Community Alarms Service and Telecare available to all in need enabling independent living.

• Caerphilly Fast Forward interventions helping people facing multiple barriers to employment.

• Income maximisation - much work is being undertaken within the authority on increasing the uptake of benefits and in partnership with the Pensions Service and voluntary organisations. The 50+ Positive Action Partnership has a sub group on maximising income, which is seeking to 'eradicate poverty.’ A key project to come from the maximising income group has been the piloting of the Link-Age joint working team between the Pensions Service and the Council’s welfare benefits team, which has resulted in customers being on average £20.57 per week better off.  In addition to this the roll out of the 'alternative office’ to Care & Repair and the Customer First Centre has ensured the service provided is now more responsive to the needs of older people with the number of referrals to others services also increasing significantly.

• From a high level of permanent exclusion of pupils the education directorate has worked hard to reduce the exclusion rate. A significant improvement has been made to the alternative provision available for pupils to help prevent exclusion.

• Social Services are actively promoting direct payments for those in receipt of community care services as a way of maximising their independence.  

• An advocacy worker working with deaf people is employed by Social Services to raise awareness and improve benefit take up.

• The 75+ Screening Service community directories and the 50+ website are disseminating information on how to get help.

• The recent review of the Council’s homelessness services is seen as having the potential to assist low income families by improving services and providing additional accommodation, including eliminating bed and breakfast provision.  

• A £40k homeless prevention fund provides assistance to low income homeless persons/families with housing costs. The fund can assist with various costs such as removals, fees to renew a tenancy and rent in advance.  

• A rent deposit (bond) scheme run by Trothwy Cyf assists people on low incomes to secure private accommodation.

• Discretionary housing payments are used to top up housing benefit for statutory homelessness households living in the private rented sector.

• A housing options initiative provides more accurate, thorough and targeted advice to people in housing need and signposts them to the most appropriate form of housing provision for their needs.

• Community lettings assist in stabilising communities and enabling social inclusion.

• The Regeneration Strategy - The SMART Alternative seeks to tackle poverty and is currently addressing economic inactivity and worklessness. The regeneration partnership work on the Jobmatch is attempting to encourage existing incapacity benefit claimants back into work.

• Training delivered in the community through the Communities First Training Partnership geared to meeting locally identified needs.

• The Renewal Area programmes are seen as successful in assisting with the regeneration of declining communities and re-instilling confidence within such communities.

• The Council’s Local Transport Plan seeks to address problems of social exclusion through improving the public transport network by widening access to bus services and increasing frequency of the rail service with further planned capacity improvements.

Working in Partnership

Most of the projects and initiatives to tackle poverty involve the Council working in partnership either with other internal departments within the authority or external organisations or a combination of the both. The most frequently occurring external partnerships are with:

Age Concern Gwent
Caerphilly Local Health Board
Care & Repair
Careers Wales
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Communities First staff from various voluntary organisations
Communities First partnerships
Coleg Gwent
Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
50+  Positive Active Partnership (multi agency)
Groundwork Caerphilly
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO)
Gwent NHS Trust
Gwent Police
National Public Health Service (NPHS)
Jobcentre Plus
Wales Co-operative Society
Welsh Assembly Government
Ystrad Mynach College

The most commonly mentioned internal partners for working with are:

Caerphilly Fast Forward
Caerphilly Health Alliance
Communities First
Community Education/youth service
Community plan strategy partnerships (Living Environment, Regeneration, Education for Life and Health, Social Care and Well being)
Community Regeneration
Community Safety
Corporate Finance - Housing Benefit
Directorate of the Environment
Education
Healthy Living Centres
Legal Services
Libraries
Policy Unit
Social Services
Supporting People

External Funding

The following funding sources have been drawn on in undertaking work on poverty:

Arts Council of Wales
Beacon Fund
Big Lottery
Communities @ One Fund (WAG)
Communities First
Communities Facilities and Activities Funding
Cymorth
EU Objective One
EU Objective Three
Local Regeneration Funding
Physical Regeneration Funding
Support for People with Disabilities Fund (WAG)
Transport Welsh Assembly Government (Transport Grant/Local Transport Services Grant/Concessionary Fares/Smartcards)
Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
Welsh Assembly Government

Lessons Learnt

The following are some of the key lessons learnt from undertaking work on poverty:

• There are no "quick-fix” solutions. It takes time. Anything that has a small chance of being sustainable has to be well planned and supported over an appropriate period of time.

• Community capacity building and long-term support is essential. It was acknowledged that it takes time to build community trust and deliver on promises.

• Work undertaken with groups that are disadvantaged needs to be flexible enough to take into account individual circumstances that may make participation difficult.

• Fast Forward who work with people facing multiple barriers to employment believe 'there is a huge wasted pool of talent in the borough that given the opportunity can achieve.’

• Overall it was felt that partnership working is the best way of addressing poverty and social exclusion. It can mean that duplication of work is avoided and work is better targeted and more cost-effective. However, partnership work needs to be focused with good communication and shared outcomes with agreement on the strategic direction and contribution to the process of change.

• Funding is needed to pilot projects in order to gain evidence of impact and demonstrate what can be achieved. For both younger and older people Assembly funding has been used for local, practical interventions to combat poverty and social exclusion.

• The Welsh Assembly Government is a main funding source and it was noted if the Assembly Government’s priorities change this impacts on the available funding streams for anti poverty work.  

• Housing felt securing continuation funding for appropriate projects should have a higher priority. It was stressed that more emphasis should be placed on the early development of an exit strategy, which could include identifying and securing other funding.

• The Children and Young People’s Framework Partnership felt more robust work was needed to be undertaken on poverty while Social Services felt there was a need to understand the diversity of need within the borough and, improved ways to engage 'hard to reach’ groups.

Other policies or strategies impacting on anti poverty work

It was generally felt that working in partnership leads to a pooling of knowledge that helps in undertaking strategic anti poverty work and direct interventions. There was a sense among the Children & Young People’s Framework Partnership and Social Services and through the work being undertaken with older people that the Welsh Assembly’s and other strategies were on the whole complementary to work on poverty and social exclusion.

The Library Service felt that a positive impact has been achieved by tailoring charges to accommodate social inclusion policies and equality of access to services which are not reliant on ability to pay.

Communities First noted that the need to charge VAT on community projects can cause considerable problems and add to the overall project costs.

3. The Audit

3.1 Education For Life

A) Caerphilly Music and Arts Service

Tackling Poverty

The team run a project called "Inside Out” that uses a programme of free arts workshops to help people with mental health issues integrate back into society and regain their confidence. Some of the skills learned in the workshops will be transferable in helping people get back into work and assist social inclusion. The project also advocates the importance of good mental health and well-being.

The team also run a range of youth theatre workshops, both centrally (at Blackwood Miners Institute) and in areas that have been identified as economically deprived. The aim is to build the participants’ confidence and improve their self esteem providing an opening to other opportunities. Improvisation skills for example help with coping with intimidating situations such as job interviews.

The team run the 'Breaking Barriers Digital Storytelling Project’. This involves training opportunities to gain IT skills that could lead to employment and also helps give people a voice to advocate issues and matters important to them (in a way that is likely to gain the attention of the 'audience’). One of the projects is specifically concerned with encouraging digital inclusion in Communities First areas. Another project being planned looks at highlighting equalities issues and will possibly form part of staff training courses.

There are several 'inclusion’ projects underway that are aimed at addressing access problems for disabled people. This includes 'the inclusive arts group’ that meets once a month, the development of youth theatre practices that encourage the participation of disabled young people and the co-ordination of an 'access group’ of Caerphilly County Borough Council officers that look at ways of making events and activities offered by the authority more inclusive.

Work is being undertaken in collaboration with the Council’s development officer for older people to run projects that address the needs of the 50+ age group. This includes a digital storytelling project that raises awareness of issues relating to older people.

The team serve on Caerphilly’s Multi-agency Forum for Equalities - Against Harassment that looks at addressing issues related to race equality.

The team has members with specific responsibility for acting as lead officer for projects pertaining to:

Health, Inclusion and Equalities
Youth and Schools
Communities and Regeneration.

This makes it easier for clients / partners and participants to know who they have to contact. It also ensures that the work retains its focus on priority issues.

Working in Partnership

The Arts Development team works closely with a whole range of other services and external organisations across most of the Council’s directorates. It is a major feature of the way in which the team operates. Key internal partners include:

Libraries, Museums, Countryside Services, Community Education, Schools, Youth Services, Health Promotion, Communities First, Social Services, Planning, Development Officer for Older People, Tourism, Council members of the Young People’s Partnership, Binge Drinking multi agency beacon group.

Key external partners include:

Wales Co-operative, Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations, Caerphilly Local Health Board, NIACE Dysgu Cymru, Menter Iaith Caerffili and non Council members of the Young People’s Partnership.

External Funding

The following external funding been secured to undertake this work:

Arts Council of Wales
Communities @ One Fund (WAG)
Support for People with Disabilities Fund (WAG)
Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
Big Lottery application in progress

Lessons Learnt

From undertaking this work it has been learnt there are no "quick-fix” solutions. It takes time. Anything that has a small chance of being sustainable has to be well planned and supported over an appropriate period of time.

Often the key people in a community who can help are overstretched. For example, it is usually the case of a few people doing a lot of things rather than many people sharing the workload. In these times of 'community consultation’ and 'community representation’ it can feel like they have responsibility for dealing with everything from community safety to regeneration. Community capacity building and long-term support is essential or otherwise the most willing and co-operative partners in the community will feel overwhelmed and exhausted.

Work undertaken with groups that are disadvantaged needs to be flexible enough to take into account individual circumstances that may make participation difficult. This can be issues of transport, childcare, health, inability to afford to take part, or a whole range of other factors.

There is a temptation to make assumptions about people’s ability to contribute financially towards events, activities and project, and it is important to be careful not to create unrealistic and unsustainable scenarios. Usually people will make financial contributions (or time commitments) towards work that they feel is relevant and valuable. By offering things for free you can give out a message that something is not worth paying for.

It is felt that partnership working is the most sensible way forward. It can mean that duplication of work is avoided and work is better targeted and more cost-effective. Strategic 'joined up’ approaches can add value to most projects. This can be with partners within Caerphilly or at a cross-border or regional level.

Other policies or strategies impacting on anti poverty work

It is felt that work is made easier where there are development workers operating at community level who are knowledgeable about their client base. Good partners are seen as the foundation of the success of most of the arts development team’s work.   

B) Library Service

Tackling Poverty

The library Service runs the following services that help in addressing poverty:

• Gateways to Learning project which provides access to library resources to the five Greater Gwent Authorities, the University of Wales, Coleg Gwent and Ystrad Mynach College. The project also delivers the Information Literacy courses to learners in libraries.

• ICT - free internet access for the public at all libraries.

• Bookstart packs delivered to parents of all children born within Caerphilly county Borough Council. This is enhanced by organised story telling and other related activities for parents and babies.

• Jobcentre Plus access points in libraries to help people with job searching.

Working in Partnership

The Library Service works in partnership with:

Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Newport, University of Wales Newport, Coleg Gwent and Ystrad Mynach College - partners on Gateways to Learning.

Lottery Funding on ICT

Welsh Assembly Government, Young Peoples Partnership

Job Centre Plus, Economic Inactivity Beacon Group - partners on Bookstart.

External Funding

The following external funding has been brought in to undertake the project work:

European Funding for Gateways to Learning.  Two sister projects for Objective 1 & 3 under RISE umbrella totalling £2.2M.

Welsh Assembly Government funding for Bookstart and Young Peoples Partnership and Jobcentre Plus.

Lottery Funding was obtained on a UK wide basis for ICT provision in libraries.

Lessons Learnt

In undertaking their project work the Library Service has invested a great deal of staff time and capacity in developing a bidding culture and stronger partnership working. European funding has been seen as particularly difficult in terms of the following:

• getting bid approved

• engaging all partners to the same level of understanding and commitment

• providing support for the implementation stage

• match funding using staff time

• administration and record keeping as sponsor of Objective 1 partnership

Other policies or strategies impacting on anti poverty work

It is felt that a positive impact has been achieved by tailoring charges to accommodate social inclusion policies and equality of access to services which are not reliant on ability to pay.

C) Children & Young People’s Framework Partnership

Tackling Poverty

The Children & Young People’s Framework Partnership funds a range of projects through Cymorth funding designed to ensure that children and young people are not disadvantaged by growing up in poverty.  The Framework is currently considering how it is tackling the Welsh Assembly Government’s policies on child poverty.

Working in Partnership

The Framework comprises of 3 multi-agency partnerships (Children’s Partnership, Young People’s Partnership and Children and Young People’s Framework Partnership). The Framework Partnership and it’s respective sub partnerships consists of senior decision makers from a wide range of agencies within Caerphilly borough, with the Local Health Board, Gwent NHS Trust, Caerphilly CBC, and Gwent Association of Voluntary Agencies.  

External Funding

The Framework’s projects are funded by Cymorth.

Lessons Learnt

It is felt that there is a need for the Framework to take a more robust and strategic approach to poverty.

Other policies or strategies impacting on anti poverty work

The Welsh Assembly Government’s strategy for tackling child poverty makes links with a range of other policies and strategies such as the play strategy and National Service Framework for children, young people and maternity services (for example key actions 6.8 & 6.9 that relate to homeless vulnerable young people and homeless families).

It is acknowledged that poor housing, poor basic skills, poor parenting, lack of childcare, poor transport infrastructure, poor health, all impact on poverty.

D) Exclusions and Schools Effectiveness Unit

Tackling Poverty

From a high level of permanent exclusion of pupils the directorate of education has worked hard to reduce the exclusion rate. A restructuring of the Behaviour Support Service has refreshed the negative approach to exclusion in schools and has been supported by Inclusion Services in general. A significant improvement has been made to the alternative provision available for pupils to help prevent exclusion. A policy has been introduced to guide schools through the process and which is seen as a positive approach to meet the needs of children.

Lessons Learnt

By concentrating on more direct contact between schools and the Behaviour Support Service it is felt there has been a more pro-active response to poor pupil behaviour, which is having a significant effect on exclusion rates.

E) Educational Psychology - Inclusion Services

Tackling Poverty

The aim of the Psychology Service is to make a difference for all children and young people from 0-19. All educational psychologists  work with vulnerable people and those at risk of exclusion on a daily basis as an integral part of their work. This involves systemic work with a range of partners focussing on early intervention.

Working in Partnership

The Psychology Service works closely with other services within Inclusion Services, as well as with colleagues in all areas of the Education department and especially with the School Effectiveness Unit. The Psychology Service also work with Social Services, Health and in particular the Community Adolescence Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the voluntary sector.

External Funding

Cymorth funding has been secured to implement a project specifically aimed at providing educational psychology input to children and young people who are at risk of exclusion from school. Cymorth funding has also been secured to provide educational psychology input to CAMHS for one day per week.

Monies have also been made available by the Welsh Assembly Government to support the development of the speech and language strategy through various initiatives focussing on early identification and intervention.

Lessons Learnt

Early intervention is seen as vital.

4. Health, Social Care and Well Being

A joint response was submitted by Social Services comprising adult and children services, learning disability and mental and physical disability.

Tackling Poverty

The processes used to engage service users aims to incorporate income maximisation as well as facilitate life choices that consider employability. This can be evidenced in the following ways:

Provision of services facilitated by teams that promote independence and community participation. Not only does this include care managers and social workers but posts such as an advocacy worker for deaf people working to raise awareness and improve benefit take up as well as support to complete forms etc. It also includes the work of the Supporting People Team and those that they contract with that provide direct hands on support to people when and where they need it.

The department works hard to promote Disability Living Allowance, Disabled Living Fund, Continuing Care and direct payments. It aims to have good working relationships with agencies and partners both external and internal to the Council.

Staff are involved with networks and partnerships and often contribute to the anti poverty work in progress.  For example in 50+ Action Partnership and the sub group on maximising Income and in awareness through specific campaigns such as Carers Day and Carers Rights Day.

Assessment and care management staff will encourage individuals/families to have a financial assessment in order to ensure awareness and take up of benefits and other sources of potential income.

Review and implementation of a Fair Access to Care Policy.

Working closely with agencies such as Gwent Association for the Blind to provide welfare benefits for people with visual impairment and Age Concern Gwent for the over 50+.

Service level agreements and funding agreements with local voluntary and community organisations that provide specialist support to improve benefit take up.

The provision of information and sign posting to appropriate agencies. The promotion and dissemination of information such as fuel poverty. This can be seen in the development and distribution of community directories such as the one given out via the 75+ Screening Service and has been instrumental in the development of the Intermediate Care Directory produced by Local Health Board.

The underpinning philosophy is that everyone can be supported towards maximising their independence, contribute to society and develop their life skills in order to enable them to make positive life choices. One way this is achieved is to provide enabling services that promotion and improve access to community education and college courses.

The Social Services strategic drivers promote the development of the local communities that are sustainable, creating a mixed economy not dependent on statutory services.

Working in Partnership

Social Services works with the following organisations:

Internal

The department are involved in all four community plan partnerships and leads the health social care and well being partnership.
Directorate of the Environment
Housing Benefit
Caerphilly Fast Forward
Policy Unit

External

Pack It - Social Firm from Cardiff Bay
Caerphilly People First
Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
Crossroads
Age Concern Gwent
New Deal for disabled people
New Deal 50+
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Centre for Help and Advice for the Disabled (CHAD)
Care & Repair
Gwent NHS trust
Caerphilly Local Health Board
Healthy Living Centres

External funding

Funding has been secured through the beacon project fund for Green Valley Disability Centre of Excellence and for the Healthy Living Project.

Lessons Learnt

Key lessons are:

• the partnership approach is essential but this needs to be focused with good communication and shared outcomes. Everyone must agree on the strategic direction and contribute to the process of change.

• Funding is needed to pilot projects in order to gain evidence of impact and demonstrate what can be achieved.

• Better understanding of the diversity of need within the borough and improved ways to engage 'hard to reach’ groups.

• Outreach has been successful.

• It takes time to building community trust and delivering on promises. Not creating false hope and raising expectation to levels that cannot be achieved.

Other policies or strategies impacting on anti poverty work

The abolition of therapeutic earnings has created a rule that makes it difficult for those who are not able to work 16 hours or more per week to have more than 4 hours paid employment, despite the fact they want more.

The following are seen as having a positive challenging effect:

National Service Framework for older people
Need to assist carers to stay in work or return to work
Strategy for Older People
Affordable Warm Strategy
Disability Discrimination Act & Disability Equality Duty
Service Improvement Plans within the Council.
The Health Social Care and Well being strategy.

5. Living Environment

The following eight submissions were submitted by housing highlighting the various ways housing are addressing poverty and social exclusion.

A) Supported Housing - Public Sector Housing

Tackling Poverty

Community Alarm Service and Telecare

The Community Alarms Service and Telecare is available to everyone who meets the criteria. The costs of the service are subsidised for both public and private sector clients and a financial assessment is carried out in each case. Housing Benefit and Supporting People funding offsets the costs in appropriate cases.

All clients taking up the service are signposted to the Department of Work and Pensions maximising income group to request a home visit and financial assessment for pension credit. Financial support is also provided to eligible clients through Wanless Funding from Caerphilly Local Health Board to ensure that the service is available to everyone who needs it regardless of their ability to pay.

While Welsh Assembly Government funding for telecare is imminent, this is seen as more to do with maintaining people’s independence in their own homes rather than addressing poverty issues.

Sheltered Housing

Applicants and tenants are financially assessed for housing benefit to offset rent and other charges. Those entitled to housing benefit will also be passported for Supporting People Grant.

Wardens regularly signpost tenants to the maximising income group and personal one to one interviews are then conducted in the tenant’s own home.

Wardens are also trained to signpost tenants to all other services that would benefit them, particularly those on low incomes for example food co-ops, bobby scheme.

Working in Partnership.

The following partners are worked with:

Corporate Finance
Social Services
Legal Services
Policy Unit
50+ Partnership members
The voluntary sector.

Lessons Learnt

Working in partnership is seen as extremely important in addressing poverty and social exclusion.

Other policies or strategies impacting on anti poverty work either positively or negatively

The Welsh Assembly Government Telecare Strategy will have a significant impact on keeping people in their own homes and in affordable accommodation and delaying any moves to residential or nursing care. This is a major factor in reducing care costs and in delivering affordable care and support to people in their own homes.

B) Homelessness

Tackling Poverty

The following are seen as key initiatives in tackling homelessness:

• The recent review of the Council’s homelessness services is seen as having the potential to assist low income families by improving services and providing additional accommodation, including eliminating bed and breakfast provision.

• Homeless families placed in temporary accommodation have access to tenancy support services. Assistance is provided on a range of services and includes assistance in accessing housing benefit, other payments and grants.

• A £40k homeless prevention fund provides assistance to low income homeless persons/families with housing costs. The fund can assist with various costs such as removals, fees to renew a tenancy and rent in advance.  

• A rent deposit (bond) scheme run by Trothwy Cyf assists people on low incomes to secure private accommodation.

• Discretionary housing payments are used to top up housing benefit for statutory homelessness households living in the private rented sector.

• A housing options initiative provides more accurate, thorough and targeted advice to people in housing need and signposts them to the most appropriate form of housing provision for their needs.

• Community lettings assist in stabilising communities and enabling social inclusion.

Working in Partnership

Many partners are worked with in tackling homelessness including registered social landlords (RSLs), voluntary sector providers of support and supported accommodation for vulnerable people including young people, people with mental health issues, offenders. Statutory partners include Education, Health, Social Services, Probation and the Police.

C) Landlord Services

Tackling Poverty

Work is being undertaken with communities to create a better life and environment on some of the poorer estates. For example, environmental changes are undertaken involving the community in an attempt to improve the environment and build community capacity. Agencies such as Groundwork are key players in making this happen working in a bottom up approach and not 'top down.’

External Funding

European funding has been secured to complement housing revenue account (HRA) funding.

Lessons Learnt

It has been found that you must involve the community at an early stage and treat as equals and share the power of the group. Otherwise it is felt the community will not get involved. In undertaking improvements within a community it is seen as essential to achieve a full quick goals which have been identified to keep the community interest. It is also seen as important to keep people involved at every stage of the process, including with physical work.

D) Tenancy Enforcement Team

Tackling Poverty

The team makes referrals to the Valley Inclusion Project, which is a pilot project run by Shelter Cymru and funded by the Welsh Assembly, Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC and Caerphilly CBC.  Referrals are made by the team for people who are not managing their tenancy in an appropriate manner.  For example, causing nuisance, anti-social behaviour etc and who require intensive support, assistance or advice to help them manage their tenancy and reduce the incidents of nuisance and anti social behaviour. The ethos behind the project is that by providing support, the threat of, or actual homelessness in the long term is prevented.

External Funding

The project is part funded by the Welsh Assembly, Caerphilly CBC, and Rhondda Cynon Taff.

Lessons Learnt

The project has only been operational for ten months. However, it has been found that some people do not want to co-operate and refuse to work with the project, despite the fact that it may help them to keep their own home.

E) Neighbourhood Housing - Graig Y Rhacca housing office

Tackling Poverty

The Graig Y Rhacca housing office operates a Community Lettings Initiative to promote sustainability. Housing applicants attend a welcome meeting where local residents provide information about the area, including local facilities and opportunities.

In conjunction with the Communities First Partnership a resource centre has been established on site. The centre provides opportunities for education, with the centre staff offering advocacy and information on a wide range of issues and services.

Work is ongoing with the Communities First Partnership

Working in Partnership

The housing office works in partnership with:

The Communities First partnership
Gwent Police
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisation
Community Safety CCBC
Community Regeneration CCBC
Community Education/youth service CCBC
Groundwork Caerphilly
Elected Members
Health.

External Funding

Local Regeneration Funding was secured in 2002/03.

F) Neighbourhood Housing - Trinant housing office

Tackling Poverty

The housing office undertakes the following work around addressing poverty:

Community Lettings
Fair Start - redecoration to new tenants/decoration allowances
Home Start initiative (Ty Mynydd Islwyn)
Recognition of tenant’s financial capacity in the implementation of rechargeable debts and rent arrears repayments (instalment)
Identification and referrals to support agencies/charitable groups as appropriate and with consent for example Age Concern Gwent, Citizens Advice, Supporting People referrals.

Lessons Learnt

Housing staff have learnt that in recognition of its social landlord functions regard must be paid to financial capacity in the implementation of policies and to interact with support organisations where appropriate.

G) Holly Road Development Scheme

Tackling Poverty

The Holly Road Community Development Scheme facilitates advice to tenants on benefits and provides other services such as life skills.

External Funding

Holly Road was originally funded by European funding, the bond scheme, the housing options project and the mediation service and partly funded by Welsh Assembly Government grant. Other projects, which have now been mainstreamed, were originally funded by European or Assembly funding.

Lessons Learnt

It was felt that securing continuation funding for appropriate projects should be a higher priority, so more emphasis should be placed on the early development of an exit strategy, which could include identifying and securing other funding.

H) Private Sector Housing Service

Tackling Poverty

Area renewal addresses the bigger picture of deprivation in bringing about community regeneration via the Renewal Area and Priority Neighbourhood concepts.  Grant activity is generally aimed at lower income and vulnerable households.  Activities are delivered in line with statute and Caerphilly County Borough Council Private Sector Housing Renewal Strategy.

Working in Partnership

Key partners are Caerphilly Care and Repair and Social Services.

External Funding

Renewal Area activity is supported by Welsh Assembly Government funding secured via an annual bidding process.  For 2007/8 the figure involved will be £1.65m.

Lessons Learnt

The Renewal Area concept is seen as successful in assisting with the regeneration of declining communities and re-instilling confidence within such communities. For this reason Caerphilly County Borough Council has embarked on five such areas and is currently working on the declaration of the sixth.

6. Regeneration

A) Strategic Regeneration

Tackling Poverty

Many initiatives are undertaken as part of the Regeneration Strategy - The SMART Alternative which seek to tackle poverty, including the following key intiatives:

• addressing economic inactivity and worklessness

• increasing the opportunities for people to benefit from greater local provision through the development of town centres,

• working in collaboration with partners such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux to ensure that advice on financial literacy / debt management is built into programmes that tackle inactivity

• encouraging local procurement and the creation of social enterprise.

Furthermore, the strategy and its principles are linked with the work of the Education for Life partnership which seeks to address the issues of basic skills and also with the Health Alliance etc to build upon the existing Pathways condition management programme.  The partnership and its associated beacons will be placing a greater emphasis in the future of focusing not on individuals alone but on individuals and their family unit in an attempt to address the issue, in particular, of child poverty. This is particularly relevant in shaping the Jobmatch programme and any supporting initiatives which will attempt to encourage the existing stock of incapacity benefit claimants back into work.

Working in Partnership

The Council’s regeneration strategy coordinator works with a large range of partner organisations. The Regeneration Strategic Partnership for example has over 30 members and in addition there are many other organisations that as part of making progress towards achieving the principles of the SMART Alternative are involved in activities. Key external partners include:

The Citizens Advice Bureaux
Groundwork Caerphillly
Welsh Assembly Government DEIN and DELLS
The Scarman Trust
Jobcentre Plus
Wales Co-operative Society
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations
Local further education colleges
Caerphilly Local Health Board.

In addition, almost all departments within the Council are involved in delivering on the regeneration agenda.

External Funding

There are any number of funding sources that are used to meet the objectives of the regeneration strategy and to tackle poverty some of which include The Lottery, EU Objective One, Physical Regeneration Fund, Communities Facilities and Activities funding, Welsh Assembly Government DEIN monies and so on.  In the future, Caerphilly is busy working collaboratively with other local authorities within the region and with other partners to take advantage of convergence and heads of valleys monies.

Lessons Learnt

It has been learnt that issues relating to poverty and disadvantage can only be effectively talked by working in partnership and through all partners having a common understanding of the goals to be achieved.

B) Community Regeneration

Tackling Poverty

Community regeneration works on tackling poverty through upgrading  areas.  It takes a balanced approach to improving the well-being of communities through social, physical and economic improvements. Community regeneration staff work closely with the community to identify needs within an area and with partner organisations help to make changes to improve the lives of people living in the borough.

Community regeneration within the Council has responsibility for the delivery of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Communities First programme, which is aimed at developing local capacity and cutting poverty.  Examples of initiatives include:

• Advice services brought into the community: Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Job Centre Plus, Working Links, welfare and benefits advice.

• Improved infrastructure.

• Leisure facilities.

• Capacity building initiatives

• Training delivered in the community: The Communities First Training Partnership delivers training in the community to meet locally identified needs.

Working in Partnership

Community regeneration works with all departments within the Council as well as a wide range of partner organisations including:

• Gwent Association of Voluntary Orgainisations

• Groundwork Caerphilly

• The Local Health Board

• Gwent Police

• Local Colleges

• Welsh Assembly Government

This is not an exhaustive list as partners from a wide range of organisations are involved depending on the needs of the community and the needs of the project to be delivered.

External Funding

Communities First funding has been secured since 2002 to deliver the programme in Caerphilly. In addition Objective One funding 'Visioning for Communities’ has been secured to facilitate the community auditing process. Objective One funding which is now ended was secured to support the work of the Credit Unions. A wide range of funding has been secured for project delivery. A data base is used to record all funding secured across the partnerships.

Lessons Learnt

The community regeneration process is described as being 'hard work.’ There are issues in securing funding for projects from organisations with differing timescales, different criteria and targets to fund the same project and rarely does one funder provide all the funding for a project.

In respect of the Communities First programme despite the fact it is a long-term programme (at least ten years) the funding is only able to be drawn down for two years at a time. In addition the Communities First programme provides funding for the staff on the ground but not for the projects identified by the community in their local action plans. This raises expectation within the community without addressing the need for clear funding opportunities to be put in place for delivery. Funding is competitive, so even if a need has been established, it does not always result in the delivery of a project.

Other policies or strategies impacting on anti poverty work either positively or negatively

It is felt that the need to charge VAT on community projects causes considerable problems and adds to the overall costs increasing the risk that projects will not be delivered because of higher costs. This is seen as a central government tax that does not recognise deprivation. Likewise it is considered that Welsh Assembly Government  policies often seek value for money which does not recognise the higher costs of development in poorer areas.

C) Caerphilly Fast Forward

Tackling Poverty

Caerphilly Fast Forward works with a variety of organisations under contract providing activities with individuals who face multiple barriers to employment, such as, adults with learning disabilities, people who have been long term unemployed, people on sickness related benefits and young people excluded from school.

Working in Partnership

Caerphilly Fast Forward works in partnership with:

Externally

Job Centre Plus
Department for Work and Pensions
Careers Wales
Tydfil Training

Internally

Social Services
Education (inclusion)

Lessons Learnt

Caerphilly Fast Forward see their work as both 'challenging’ and 'rewarding’ and it is felt that 'there is a huge wasted pool of talent in the borough that given the opportunity can achieve.’

D Transportation Engineering

Tackling Poverty

Transportation Engineering are interested in both strategic, policy and practical initiatives in addressing poverty. For example work on maximising benefits or life skills work with vulnerable people.

Social exclusion is seen as having several causes the principal of which are by reason of physical disability, mental health, learning disability, income or location.  An individual’s access to a car will further limit a person’s ability to take full part in society. Low car ownership is particularly marked in the north of the borough and the Aber Valley.

The Council’s Local Transport Plan is consistent with the government’s goal to pursue an integrated transport strategy. One key aim is to directly address problems of social exclusion.  The Authority has therefore been improving the public transport network by widening access to bus services and increasing frequency of the rail service with further planned capacity improvements.

The Assembly has provided extensive concessionary fares for retired and disabled residents in the borough.  Community transport provision to supplement the existing bus service /frequency/network has been progressed. The Council has also purchased a minibus to facilitate travel at times and from locations not currently available to those without access to private transport and which accommodates disabled users. The availability of this service originally focused on the northern end of the borough where low car ownership and the greatest social needs were identified by a community transport study commissioned/funded in partnership with Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations.

The Council has adopted a corporate plan, which intends to address problems of social exclusion.  The transport plan has a major role to play in delivery.

Below identifies problems/aims/objectives and a general statement of action and specific policies on social exclusion for transport.   

Problems / aims / objectives

Ref

1.1.3  North has marked out migration
1.3.2  Social exclusion by reason of disability
1.3.3  Almost 34,000 people have a disability
1.3.5  Mental health and learning disability
1.3.7  Exclusion by reason of income
1.3.8  Dependence on public transport
1.3.10  Personal income available for travel
1.3.11  Centralisation of services has reduced accessibility
1.3.11  Non car owners in rural area feel excluded
1.5.8  Need for concessionary travel and people with disabilities
1.5.11  Problems of funding voluntary sector
1.8.8  Journey to work is getting longer
2.1.1  NAW requirement to consult on LTP
2.4.1  Importance attached to voluntary sector
3.3.2  Unsuitability of services for people with disabilities
4.2.1  Creation of a lifelong community
4.2.4  Community plan to reduce local problems
4.4.2  Promote accessibility for all
5.1.2  Improve accessibility
5.1.2  Give people freedom of choice in movement and activity

General statement of action

6.3.13 Sewta - Efficient, convenient, affordable and environmentally friendly public transport services.

7.2.6  Voluntary sector as partners to reduce social exclusion
7.4.4  Director of Social Services for disabled groups.
8.2.9  Abetridwr - Action area.
8.2.9  Trinant - Action area.
8.2.9  Upper Rhymney Valley - Action area
8.4.1  Generous walking limits for the provision of free schools transport.
8.5.1  Bargoed station.
8.5.2  Rail service frequency improvements - Rhymney Valley Line.
8.7.8  Make up private streets
9.1.3  The government must stand by a programme of legislation.
9.1.6  Community involvement - Tolerance is need for success.

Policies

TE6  Educate road users to be more aware of people with disabilities.
TE18 Free travel concessions for all over 60 & certain disabled residents.
TE19  Publicity - Public transport made more useful for people with disabilities.
TE20  Accessibility of public transport - commercial or residential developments.
TE21  Design Guidance will be for forwarded to disabled groups.
TS2  Supported services - free travel up to their fifth birthday; No more than two thirds up to sixteen.
TS2  Companies encouraged to offer similar child concessions.
TP2  New bus services on an experimental basis.
TP3  Provision of non commercial bus services.
TP4  Supported services network will be monitored.
TP5  Fares on supported services similar to commercial journeys.
TP6  Encourage return fare discounts.
TP8  Contribution of rail will be maximised.
TP9  Improve transport interchange.
TP15  Develop voluntary sector
TP16  Train voluntary sector operatives
TH1  Increase car sharing.
TH2  Involve the local community in reducing traffic speeds.
TH20  Reduce displays on pavements

Working in Partnership

Transportation Engineering works with the following partners:

External

Welsh Assembly Government
Traffic Commissioner for the Welsh Traffic Area
Sewta (10 Local Authorities in the South East Wales region)
Bus Operators
Community Transport Operators
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations
CTA
PTI Cymru
ATCO
Arriva Trains Wales

Internal

Economic Development (Community Regeneration)
Planning
Social Services
Chief Executives (Policy)
Tourism

External Funding

The following external funding has been secured:

Healthy Living/Beacon Project.
Welsh Assembly Government (Transport Grant/Local Transport Services Grant/Concessionary Fares/Smartcards)
Wales European Funding Office (Objective One)

Lessons Learnt

Transport engineering measures all projects/initiatives against objectives and outcomes/outputs and end user views and considered modifications are implemented where this is of benefit.  

The Local Transport Plan Annual Progress report on the Local Transport Plan provides an evaluation of progress against the policies (Available on the CCBC web site).

Other policies or strategies impacting on anti poverty work

All policies are seen as reliant on the level of funding available for transport infrastructure capital or revenue grants. Given that main funding is determined through the Welsh Assembly Government, if  WAG’s priorities change this impacts on the available funding streams.

7. Policy Unit

A) 50+ Positive Action Partnership

Tackling Poverty

The Council’s development officer for older people co-ordinates the multi agency 50+ Positive Action Partnership. The partnership has addressing pensioner’s poverty as central to its activities and is undertaking the following work:

Maximising Income group

The partnership has a maximising income sub group that meets monthly to share information and resources to facilitate better working practice and information flow to the group members in supporting their users/ customers accessing information and the benefits they are entitled to. The group reports back to the 50+ Positive Action Partnership, and has sought to tackle the 'eradication of poverty' for older people through a network forum of local organisations which all work together in closer partnership, and through consultation with older people on the Caerphilly 50+ Forum.

A key project to come from the maximising income group has been the piloting of the Link-Age joint working team between the Pensions Service and the Council’s welfare benefits team. The resulting impact on services is perceived as excellent with increased home visits being achieved, more benefits being claimed and positive feedback from the public.

The total additional weekly award of benefits as a result of the joint team action has been £14,975 which is an average of £20.57 per week better off for each person seen. During April to July 2006 the target for the number of customer contacts was exceeded by 157 and the target for Pension Credit exceeded by 53.

In addition to this the roll out of the 'Alternative Office’ to Care & Repair and the Customer First Centre has ensured the service provided is now more responsive to the needs of older people with the number of referrals to others services also increasing significantly. Care & Repair have completed approximately 44 Attendance Allowance applications, of which 36 have resulted in clients being awarded the high rate of allowance over the past 2 to 3 years. Care & Repair complete more applications now, as an alternative office, and are more aware of the other benefit and allowances the client may be entitled to because of the training they have under gone through the Pension Services.

Due to the close liaison and good practices followed by the maximising income group it is considered that other organisations will have increased their benefit take-ups as well although the figures are not available on this.

Fuel poverty and energy efficiency strategy

The launch of the local energy efficiency action plan is being supported to help all 50+Positive Action partners and the public to engage with the issues and planned projects.

Advocacy service

The 50+ Positive Action Partnership has contributed funding to an advocacy service meeting the costs of a part-time advocacy caseworker. The funding has enabled the original advocacy service to be expanded from local authority care homes to all care homes in the borough. The service provides much needed support and information to those who require it most.

All 30 care homes in Caerphilly borough now receive proactive routine visits from advocates. This enables service users to self refer to the service if they wish and they are not reliant upon family or staff members to make that initial contact for them. 

The service was able to offer support during recent home closures and also carried out a specific piece of work around evaluation. During the first 6 months of the year over 300 initial assessments and individual consultation meetings took place by the service as a whole. Many of these directly are attributable to the additional funding from 50+ Positive Action Partnership. In addition the service was involved in two Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) cases in supporting the service users. 

Caerphilly 50+ Forum

Caerphilly’s 50+ Forum of older people work with the 50+ Positive Action Partnership on tackling poverty and many other issues. Key to the anti poverty work has been the development of Caerphilly 50+ Forum website at www.caerphilly50plus.co.uk. The web site which has received funding from the Council provides an A to Z on help and advice available for the over 50s.

Working in Partnership

The Council’s development officer for older people has been successful in getting a good range of organisations on board with the 50+ Positive Action Partnership. The partnership has the following members:

• Caerphilly 50+ Forum steering group x 2

• Participation & Involvement officer 50+, GAVO

• Consultant nurse for older people, Caerphilly Local Health Board

• Project manager 75+ Screening project, Gwent NHS Trust  

• Partner liaison manager, Local Pension Service - DWP

• Lasting team manager - GAVO  

• Older People’s Member Champion & Deputy leader, CCBC

• Older People’s Champion Officer and Director of Social Services, CCBC  

• Health promotion specialist -  NPHS

• Caerphilly Health Alliance

• Older people’s voluntary organisation rep

• Voluntary Sector Liaison Committee rep

• Jobcentre Plus

• Care & Repair Caerphilly

• Business Eye Manager, CCBC

• The Development officer for older people, CCBC

• Planning Manager Older People Social Services, CCBC

• Library services, CCBC

• Community Learning, CCBC

• Community Safety, CCBC

• Housing manager, CCBC

• Living environment coordinator, CCBC

• Regeneration co-ordinator, CCBC

• HSCWB coordinator, CCBC

• Community transport coordinator, CCBC

• Community Regeneration manager, CCBC

• Policy Unit, CCBC

External Funding

Currently most of the 50+ Positive Action Partnership work is supported by the Welsh Assembly. However, some projects have some support from sources such as Caerphilly’s Health Alliance and there is an application into Comic Relief to support some of the advocacy work in private sector housing.

Lessons Learnt

It is believed that by working as a partnership a solid foundation has been built that will support the structure and development required in the coming years to improve the planning and delivery of older people’s services across Caerphilly county borough. The partnership it is felt has enabled a proactive and responsive approach to implementing both the national and local needs of older people.

The partnership has achieved this by engaging with older people and key stakeholders in the development and implementation of the local action plan. This has been done through informed debate, increased sharing of information, the building of stronger networks and teams within the Council and across the public, private, voluntary and health sectors and, critically, with the engagement of older people.

One of the keys to the perceived on-going success in implementing the national Older People’s strategy through Caerphilly’s local action plan is that information is shared and members seek to learn from each other and other national and UK agencies. In some cases it has been found that the partnership can 'get more for the same’ by working together and this has led to enhancing each other’s services through joint working practices and sharing information. It is felt that through working as a partnership a far more strategic approach has been achieved than was previously possible ensuring greater accountability and long-term sustainability.

The older people’s strategy is a cross cutting theme in Caerphilly’s  community strategy. It is considered that the strength of the local community planning process ensures a good flow of information and sharing where possible of resources.

8. Corporate Finance

A) Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

Tackling Poverty

The following initiatives are undertaken in tackling poverty:

• Participation in the Welsh Assembly Government’s take up initiative - one-off scheme

• Membership of the council tax benefit working group

• Membership of the maximising income group

• Involved in the Pension Service scanning exercises

• Visiting officers trained in take up issues

• Regular benefits information articles in "Newsline”.

• Benefits information included with council tax bills at year end.

Working in Partnership

The following organisations are worked with on poverty work:

External

The Pension Service
Maximising income group
Age Concern Gwent
Welsh Assembly Government
Jobcentre Plus
Rent officer service.
All other Welsh local authorities

Internal

Rents section
Council tax section.
Social Services

External Funding

The section currently has grant monies for a one off scheme to increase take up of council tax benefit from the Welsh Assembly Government. No other specific funding is available as take up work is a normal part of the work of the service.

Lessons Learnt

It is believed that certain client groups are extremelly hard to reach and the best way of getting to these is through partnership working.  For example, many older people dislike the claims process that they see as intrusive, but that is the way the schemes operate. Large sums of money are being paid out (£1million every week) to claimants and it is seen as essential that the section ensures that claims are properly checked before payment.

Appendix 1 List of Respondents

Corporate Finance - Robert Hopkins (Principal Benefits Officer)
Economic Development - Jane Robert Waite (Regeneration Co-ordinator), Tina McMahan (Senior Regeneration Officer) & Jan Bennett (Community Regeneration Officer), Hilary Taylor (training coordinator) Caerphilly Fast Forward.
Education - Kate Strudwick (Senior Arts Development Officer), Mary Palmer (Principal Officer Libraries), Charlotte Drury (Children and Young People Framework Partnership Co-ordinator), Steve Cresswell (Govenor Support Manager), Sarah Ellis (Educational Psychologist) and Catrin Lewis (Senior Educational Psychologist).
Engineering - transportation - Liz Gibby (Assistant Engineering).
Housing - Val Parsons (Supported Housing Manager),
Kate Elmer (Housing Strategy Manager), Ros Payne (Neighbourhood Housing Manager), Emma Pontin  (Private Sector Housing Clerk) & Kenyon Williams (Private Sector Housing Manager), Anonymous (Landlord Services).
Social Services - Samantha Greenidge (Health Care and Well Being Partnership Co-ordinator)
Policy Unit - Mandy Sprague (Development Officer for Older People).