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Information, Advice and Guidance strategy

Supporting Independence in Bromley (SIB) is the Bromley Council programme to make social care services more personalised and give people choice, including managing their own budget and buying their own care. Find out more about SIB on the council’s SIB webpage.  People need to be supported to exercise choice, and therefore the provision of accurate and timely information, advice and guidance are an essential element of Supporting Independence.

The Council wants to ensure that people can access information, advice and guidance (IAG) when, how and where they need it, and, as part of the SIB programme, an IAG strategy is being developed.  It will look at current provision and pathways for IAG, and how advice services work together, drawing out case studies of best practice. The strategy is being produced by Kirsty Armstrong at Bromley Council.

The strategy needs to be completed by the end of October and Kirsty is developing an action plan. She is also planning to use the Adult Information Day as an opportunity to ask individuals about their experiences and needs of IAG. (See local events article). There was a workshop on 11th August attended by council staff and voluntary organisations, including Stephen Blann from Community Links Bromley to discuss some of the key questions identified for the strategy. These were:  

Objective 1: People can access IAG when they need it.
Objective 2: People can be assured that the IAG they receive is accurate and up to date.
Objective 3: People are able to access IAG from a range of locations.
Objective 4: People are able to access IAG in all appropriate formats, including face to face.

If you have any comments on these issues, contact Kirsty. Notes of the workshop and the presentation given will be available from Kirsty at the council or Stephen Blann at Community Links Bromley.

A health and social needs assessment for people with physical disability and sensory impairment

This year the local health service and the local authority are working together to look into the needs of people of working age who have a physical disability or sensory impairment. Amanda Watkins (Bromley Council) and Dr Anita Houghton (Bromley PCT) will be looking at how many people there are in Bromley with these disabilities, what their needs are, and the extent to which local services meet those needs. This joint piece of work should lead to stronger partnerships between communities, local government and the NHS. It should also build a firm foundation for commissioning services that improve health, social care and well-being for people in this group.

We would be very interested in hearing your views on services you need and/or have received in Bromley, any information you have on the number of people using or needing services, and anything else that you think would help us. If you would like to contribute, please contact Amanda Watkins (LBB) 020 8461 7947 or amanda.watkins@bromley.gov.uk or Dr Anita Houghton at anita.houghton@bromleypct.nhs.uk by the end of September.

Bromley Children & Young People Plan 2011-14

The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, and the revised Statutory Guidance for Children's Trusts and Children and Young People's Plan, have put a new requirement on the Trust Board to develop a new Children and Young People's Plan from 2011. Consultations will begin in the Autumn for a new plan. Some work has already started with workshops for the Children & Families Forum and the Children’s Trust board identifying priorities. Click on the links below to view reports in PDF format

There is also a project timeline for implementing the new plan

Bromley Council publishes its expenditure

Part of the coalition agreement was legislation to make councils publish details of their expenditure over £500. Following the lead of the Department of Communities and Local Government, Bromley council is one of a small group of councils who have already begun to publish their expenditure.

Bromley has published information for June 2010 and July 2010 in both pdf and csv (a basic spreadsheet) versions. The information is presented in three formats:

  1. Totals: - the total amount of the payments (that is all the payments added together to make one total) made to each supplier for the month, sorted by greatest amount first.
  2. Payments: Shows the individual payments making up the totals, listed alphabetically by supplier. Some suppliers have several entries.
  3. Invoices: Provides details of the invoices, which led to the payments, listed alphabetically by supplier. This includes information on what they relate to in very general terms - maintenance or domiciliary care and the portfolio and service area within the portfolio.

Some of the descriptions are clear but others may not be very meaningful to the lay reader. The information relates to payments made in that month - so in some cases, it will be a regular monthly payment, in other cases, it may be a quarterly payment and in others, it may be an annual or a one off payment. The published information does not distinguish between these different payments. The tables do not give these details. Some suppliers seem to generate many invoices for sums for a wide range of amounts, others have a very few for substantial sums. The tables do make clear what accounts for these differences. Some suppliers also have significantly more invoices than payments so payments may be covering several invoices. Many entries are Redacted – a total of nearly £40,000 in June) – details of the recipient removed. There is no explanation of why this has been done. (Other authorities explain this as being payments to foster carers (individuals) and other payments where publication would lead to breaching an individual’s privacy.). Follow the links below:

As well as this, all Bromley Contracts over £50,000 are listed on an external website Capital Ambition. In fact, it appears that many other contracts well below the £50,000 threshold are also here (possibly all contracts). You can search by organisation or use a keyword using the search button. Results are listed by contract number not alphabetically by supplier. You can also see a whole list by clicking search with no keyword but this produces hundreds of results, all listed by contact number. The entry for each contract gives detail of the annual and total value, the supplier, the start and end dates and contact details.

Don’t lose your right to vote, register now 

Every year at this time, the Council delivers a form to all households in the borough so that it can update residents’ details on the electoral register. It is a common misconception that paying council tax means you can vote in elections automatically. It doesn’t; you must be on the register. But there are other reasons to register. For example, did you know that most credit agencies check the electoral register before granting credit?

Registering is quick and easy. If you have no changes you can register online, call freephone 0800 197 7697 or, for the first time this year, text confirmation to 80212, all using the two part code on the form. If you need to make changes (or the information on your form is correct, but you can’t or prefer not to use the internet/telephone), please follow the instructions on the form.

Last year, 97.38% of households eligible to vote registered - the third highest in London. And approximately 30,000 people used the more efficient online and freephone methods to register no changes, saving the Council and taxpayers money.
If you haven’t received a form by the end of September or can’t find the original, you can either download one from the Council’s website or call 020 8313 4364 to request another.
If you do not register online, by freephone or text, and your form hasn’t been collected by 15 October, please return it to Electoral Services, Bromley Council, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH.

Policy Review - August 2010

Stephen Blann, CLB’s Policy & Networks Officer has updated the policy review section of our website, to cover recent developments in policy and government.
Policy is not just an abstract - it affects the services that your members may receive from public bodies, how public money is spent and much funding for voluntary and community groups can be shaped by local and national policy. The first step is to know, the second to understand, and the third to change policy.
This update looks at the following three areas:

  1. the prodigious output of the new government
  2. consultations
  3. plans coming from the Mayor of London

Stephen has also updated and revised items of note from previous reviews. Please email or phone him on 020 8315 1907 if you would like to discuss any of the issues raised.
Read the Policy Review

Could your organisation meet the needs of someone with a learning disability?

LBB’s Adult and Community Services team is leading a project to stimulate the development of a micro provider market within Bromley as part of its Supporting Independence in Bromley programme.

The ‘Meet the Dragons’ project offers providers the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a group of people with learning disabilities, who will in turn use their personal budgets to commission day-time activities tailor-made for them.

Your challenge is to come up with ideas to support ‘the Dragons’  to live their lives in a very personal and individual way, whether this support is to gain employment; run a small business; meet friends; gain new skills or pursue hobbies. The ultimate test for providers is whether the ‘dragons’ choose to invest their personal budget in the idea, which will enable it to progress from an idea to reality.

The first ‘Meet the Dragons’ event will be held on 31st August, at the Council Chamber in the Bromley Civic Centre, between 2 and 4.30pm. You will get an opportunity to meet the “Dragons” to learn more about them and what they want. You will also have the opportunity to hear from micro providers elsewhere and ask questions about how they set up their schemes.

To fulfil the role of micro provider on this project, you will need to be in a position to provide very small, social care and support services. For example, you might be a small branch of a larger organisation, a family carer or an individual - willing to offer support to a small number of service-users and be paid to do so.

If you would like to attend the event, or to find out more, contact Silvio Giannotta, Commissioning Officer, on 020 8313 4752 or email silvio.giannotta@bromley.gov.uk
For those unable to attend there is an alternative ‘Meet the Dragons – Informal Evening Event’ from 6pm on 2nd September. Please note spaces at this informal event are limited, and applications will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Croydon Council tries to appease VCO anger over £1.2m cut

Vibeka Mair reports for Civil Society website

Croydon Council has created a £350,000 transition fund to help charities who will lose funding when it starts cutting £1.2m from its voluntary sector budget in October.
Croydon Council ratified a 66 per cent drop in funding for the voluntary sector over the next four years at a town hall meeting. There were scenes of anger outside as more than 120 volunteers protested against the swingeing cuts.

Out of 47 organisations previously funded through the Council’s corporate funding budget, only six will get £625,000 worth of council grants through the ‘Stronger Community’ fund, which has replaced it.

A £350,000 transition fund is planned for those who will lose funding.  

Councillor Vidhi Mohan, cabinet member for communities, told the meeting: “This is a radical new approach to the council relationship with the voluntary sector.
“We have been consulting with the voluntary sector for the past few years on this.”
However, Councillor Louisa Woodley, shadow cabinet member for the voluntary sector, said: “This transition fund is nothing more than a complete smokescreen to deflect some of the anger people feel.
"It is a sticking plaster to help groups wind up; they are still going ahead with the cuts. These cuts will have a devastating effect on the community at the time when they most need voluntary services.”

Update: 24/08/20

Temporary Reprieve granted on Council Funding

The latest news is that Croydon Council has decided to extend their current funding arrangements for a period of 3 months while they carry out impact assesments on the proposed cuts. This will offer some much needed breathing space to many organisations in the borough. See the website for a more complete understanding of the conversations CVA has been having with the Council on your behalf.

Bromley Women’s Design Group

Women’s Design Service is setting up a Women’s Design Group in Bromley and is looking for local women to get involved.

The group will influence planning applications, policies and regeneration projects in Bromley to ensure that women’s needs and interests are taken into account.
Women’s Design Groups (WDGs) aim to perform for gender what Access Groups delivered for disability, and give local women a voice in major plans, policies and planning applications. WDGs include women from the community who have an interest in shaping their neighbourhoods, and women who are professionally involved in planning and the built environment. A good group reflects the experiences of a diverse range of women of differing ages, disability, ethnicity, sexuality and caring backgrounds.

Different types of training are offered to enable women to participate fully in the group including influencing town planning issues and sustainability.

Contact Georgia Wrighton, Project Worker on gwrighton@wds.org.uk or 020 7490 5210 if you would be interested in getting involved. Also see the Women’s Design Service website www.wds.org.uk for more information."

Bromley Healthcare access guide launched in partnership with Bromley PCT

Good access to NHS services is essential to improving people’s health. This online guide offers information about Bromley-based health services so the public scan make an informed choice. Currently online, there are guides to:

HELP literacy card – putting use of the card into practice

As you may already know, the HELP card is a new Bromley based initiative that will help your organisation provide more accessible services for those who have difficulties reading and writing, and support reception staff by helping to reduce misunderstandings, embarrassing situations and conflict. It is easy to assume that everyone can read and write, but literacy problems are common and poor communication can lead to confusion, withdrawal, confrontation and sometimes violence. This in turn results in recording incorrect information, clients misunderstanding important instructions, missed appointments, loss of basic services, debt, and in certain circumstances, prosecution.

Further to the launch of the HELP literacy card on 7 July, the HELP team has produced guidance for staff who may be shown the card. Advice is given on issues like where to keep the card for easy reference but not so it is publicly displayed. There is also an FAQ available with more information, including how your service users can get hold of a card.

Contact Julia Mustoe on 020 8662 6694 for the guidance, FAQ sheet and printed copies of the card. julia.mustoe@bromleypct.nhs.uk.

Bromley Welcare becomes Welcare in Bromley

From the 1st July Bromley Welcare will be known as Welcare in Bromley as a result of its merger with Southwark Diocesan Welcare.

The Chair, John Alderson said that after taking advice from the Church and partners in the borough, the Board concluded that the merger would benefit service users overall through the sustainability of the charity. Both organisations “share the same Christian commitment and values and provide similar services to families and children in London and East Surrey”. The move is expected to help both charities through stronger governance and professional management in all aspects of their work and the development of news services to meet evolving local needs.

Welcare in Bromley’s contact detail, and premises will remain the same, and the organisation will continue to help services users and referrers providing professional services with the same professional and dedicated staff team.

Age Concern’s Floating Support Service – funded for another year

Ellie Boon, Information, Advice, Support Planning & Brokerage Manager at Age concern is delighted to confirm that the floating Support service has received funding for another year. She said “we’re keen to let people know that we’re here, and would welcome any referrals from you.”

The service is a free service for people who are aged 65 and over who are homeowners, leaseholders, or are renting from a private landlord. The aim of the service is to help people stay independent in their own home by providing housing-related support on a wide range of issues.

The term ‘floating’ refers to the fact that the support you receive is flexible, and lasts anything from four weeks up to six months. Typically, you will receive either a weekly phone call, or a home visit that could last about an hour.

Floating Support provides help in all sorts of areas. This could include:

Referrals for the Service: Age Concern accepts referrals from all sources. If you would like to find out more about the Service, please contact Ellie Boon on 020 8315 1850.

Recognition for infrastructure organisations in South London

Voluntary and community organisations in South London are more efficient and effective than ever thanks to local infrastructure organisations.

That’s the indication following the presentation last week of the NAVCA Quality Award to Community Links Bromley, the sixth and final member of the South London CVS Partnership, which includes Community Links Bromley and organisations in Richmond, Kingston, Croydon, Merton and Sutton. The award was received in recognition of the quality of work supporting local voluntary and community organisations.

The award is open to local infrastructure organisations working behind the scenes to make sure voluntary and community groups get the support they need. Organisations have to demonstrate that they deliver high quality services to the sector and outline the difference they make to local people.

Charmaine Sainsbury, from the South London Council for Voluntary Service Partnership, said:   
“We’re delighted our partners have received the recognition they deserve. Organisations like theirs play a vital role in ensuring that the voluntary and community sector can continue to support the most vulnerable in our communities – particularly during difficult economic times, when many are finding that they have less money but increased demand for their services.”

Around 240 organisations have improved the way they work thanks to Community Links Bromley, which provides training, meeting space, advice and support to voluntary and community organisations.

Angela Millar from Bromley Gypsy Traveller Project said:

“My colleagues’ and I have found the support of Community Links Bromley invaluable. They have provided an endless flow of information, resources and 1 to 1 support; such assistance has enabled our organisation (a small charity) to keep up with changing trends and in streamlining our practices, ensuring that we are able to deliver best practice to our clients”.

Talking about Supporting Independence in Bromley – council briefing

Third in a series of briefings from the Supporting Independence in Bromley’s transforming adult social care team. Please cascade to your networks
Briefing - Talking about Supporting Independence in Bromley

Commissioning – new links to current strategies

Read Stephen Blann’s updates on this important issue on our website.

  1. What is Commissioning?
  2. Why is Commissioning Important?
  3. World Class Commissioning
    1. Changes to  NHS commissioning
    2. Children
    3. Adults
  4. Contestability
  5. Transforming Social Care – Supporting independence in Bromley .
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Page updated: 23 August 2010