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Agenda item
Anti-Poverty
Minutes:
The Board received a number of presentations on this item from Richard Watson from the Hastings and Rother CCG; Sonia Plato and Naomi Ridley from the Adult Community Learning Forum; Julie Eason a consultant who recently conducted a survey on behalf of HARC and Andrew Palmer Head of Housing at HBC who leads on the Anti-Poverty Action Plan.
Reducing Health Inequalities Programme – Richard Watson
This presentation outlined the CCG’s commitment to addressing health inequalities in Hastings and Rother and ensuring better outcomes for patients. The programme consists of a number of projects, some of which are already up and running. Examples of what they plan to do include:
- Enhancing patient pathways
- Piloting a social prescribing approach
- Working with partners e.g. Southdown Housing who have a worker based in the GP surgery at Station Plaza
- Tailoring solutions to the needs of different neighbourhoods
Learner Needs – Sonia Plato and Naomi Ridley
This presentation outlined the impact of hunger, anxiety and ill health on people’s ability to learn and progress into employment.
Horizons estimated they had seen around 1000 people in need. A range of positive actions were suggested such as:
- Delivering foodbank supplies from additional locations
- Providing sanitary items and toilet roll to people
- Helping with school uniforms and supplies
Impact of Welfare Reform – Julie Eason
Julie Eason had recently conducted a user survey on behalf of HARC who provide specialist benefits advice in the town. The survey identified a number of issues which included:
- People with serious long term conditions being called in to see if they were fit for work
- Lack of information about Schools Assistance Funds which led to a low take up of the fund.
- Not enough use of the Credit Union
Draft Anti-Poverty Action Plan – Andrew Palmer
This verbal presentation explained that the purpose of the Anti-Poverty Steering Group was not to create a whole new set of actions and targets but to facilitate a more joined up approach. The steering group meet quarterly and is dependent on many of the partners in the room actively participating.
Discussion
The LSP partners recognised that it is essential for them to engage with the Anti- Poverty Steering Group (APSG) as the action plan will be instrumental in addressing these concerns.
A number of issues were raised including:
Small local business or employers don’t have access to Occupational Health services, which can be a valuable resource to help residents find and remain in work despite complex issues.
Building trusted relationships is key, often statutory organisations are not approached by t vulnerable people. The recommendations for caseworkers are welcome as it will provide availability of workers with pre-established relationships.
All service providers should look at their own services to assess how easy it is for users to access and understand. A simple proforma in the APS in the form of a questionnaire or checklist could help with this.
Employment initiatives are not rationalised and often don’t target the most vulnerable. We need to consider how successful these schemes have been in the most deprived communities and getting residents into employment. Statistics on how many people have moved into work would help assess the most effective projects and how we can target future efforts.
The SELEP style funding structure is changing and affecting small, local organisations detrimentally. Sometimes they are in best position to provide services as a result of trust built up over time.
The APS and Mind the Gap initiative are closely related projects and key drivers.
Andrew Palmer will relay feedback from Sonia Plato’s presentation and the Board’s comments at the next APSG group which already has a wide representation of local organisations and communities; any other groups interested in attending are also welcome.
Actions:
1. Anti-Poverty will be made a standing item on future LSP agendas
2. Action points from Sonia Plato’s presentation to be incorporated into the APSGs action plan
3. A representative of the Adult Community Learning Forum to be invited onto the APSG
Supporting documents:
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