john macphail local service group manager scotland jacqueline brown partnership development manager
TRANSCRIPT
John MacPhail
Local Service Group Manager
Scotland
Jacqueline Brown
Partnership Development Manager
LINK-AGE
Developing networks of services for older people
2001 Manifesto commitment
“Pensioners………need simple accessible services that
treat them with dignity and promote independence. We
will build on Care Direct to provide integration of health,
housing, benefits and social care for older people. This
will be an integrated ‘Link-Age Service’ to help older
People.”
Joint Futures
Key goal:
‘How we deliver better and faster outcomes for people who use services and their carers,
and how our drive for continuous improvement can help sustain that’
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
• Builds on existing partnerships to provide an integrated network of services
• Provides easy access to information about the full range of services available locally
• Provides better systems for sharing information between organisations
• Promotes neighbourliness and community support• Ensures issues that matter to older people are given
proportionate weight in community planning process
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
The main Link-Age building blocks:
• Joint Teams
• Alternative Offices
• The Partnership Fund
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
Joint Teams
• Staffed by Local Authority and The Pension Service
• Delivering a ‘whole person’ service• Gathering and sharing information• Working on behalf of each other
Link-Age: developing a network of services for older people
Benefits to the older person –
• Easier access to information about the full range of services available locally
• Less duplication of information giving/form filling
• Single point of contact• Faster, more efficient delivery of services
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
Alternative Offices
• Offices authorised to receive and verify applications for Social Security claims from people aged 60 and over
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
Benefits to the older person –
• Increases choice and gives local access• Information can be gathered and verified at
the same time• Reduces claim processing times• Date of first contact is taken into account
when claim is decided
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
The Partnership Fund
• Not-for-profit organisations bids• Innovative pilots• Effective ways to encourage harder to reach
groups to claim benefits
Link-Age: delivering networks of services for older people
Progress to date in Scotland• Draft Accord between COSLA, the Scottish Executive
and The Pension Service• Joint working agreed in principle with LAs• Range of joint working initiatives ongoing in all areas• 4 Joint Teams fully operational and one full Link-Age
model well developed• 5 Alternative Offices in place• 14 Partnership Fund contracts awarded• Links with voluntary sector organisations
strengthened
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
Progress to date (continued)• Reducing information gathering:
- 5 benefits, 50% fewer questions
- Single Shared Assessment and AA/DLA claims
- IT solutions• Generic Memorandum of Understanding to
overcome data sharing/data protection issues
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
Case Study 1- West Lothian
• Financial Assessments from outset• 86% customers visited so far receive extra benefits,
an average £77.04 per week• 58% referrals cleared without need for a
visit/customer contact• Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit now included• Single Shared Assessment linkages?
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
Case Study 2 – South Lanarkshire
• Benefits & Revenue Team• So far £1.5m per year in extra benefits
already awarded• Care assessor linkages
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
Case Study 3 – Aberdeen City
• Cash in Your Pocket• Range of partners – voluntary, private and
public organisations• Hub and spoke referral system• Community education and involvement
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
What next? We are aiming for:
• Joint Team operational in every LA area by June 2006
• Alternative Office in every LA area by March 2006
• Improved and enhanced partnership working towards a full Link-Age service
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
Contacts:
John MacPhail, Local Service Group Manager, Scotland – 0131 221 4380
Susan McKay, Local Service Manager, Scotland West – 01236 786570
Katriona German, Local Service Manager Scotland East and North – 01592 647517
Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people
What are your views on the vision for joined-up services, and the progress made so far?
What do you see as the main challenges to partner organisations working in a more joined-up way? How do we address these?
What are the benefits to partners of working in a more joined-up way?
Thank you for listening
Any questions?