Joint working in Southwark
The benefits service at Southwark Council has worked hard to develop strong partnership working arrangements, overcoming significant barriers. The Joint Team - a partnership between the Council’s benefits service, the Pension, Disability and Carers Service and Age Concern - and the successful participation in the cross-government ‘Tell Us Once’ pilot, are two examples of partnership working that have improved outcomes for customers.
The Joint Team, set up in March 2005, provides older residents with a one-stop service for any benefits-related issues and other associated services such as community care. Early research identified many overlapping services available to older people, with little collaboration. The Joint Team brought those service providers together to establish how a joint approach would work. As a result, coordinated services were delivered in customers' homes, including signposting to other services and a referral system amongst the partners.
The Joint Team has provided support for the most vulnerable members of the community who had not realised they were entitled to additional support. By September 2009 the team had generated £20 million for its customers by supporting them to maximise their entitlement to a full range of financial benefits. In addition it has put people in touch with complementary services.
The following services and organisations are involved in the project:
- Counselling, befriending: victim support, bereavement, CRUSE.
- Day/personal care: home help, Meals on Wheels, respite care, carers' support.
- Financial (non-benefits): prescription charges, hospital fare, fuel cost, charities, TV licences, tax, debt.
- Health: RNIB, RNID, chiropody, osteopathy, opticians.
- Home adaptations/fittings: hand rails, stair lifts, bath seats, special chairs, occupational therapy.
- Home maintenance: Handy Persons Unit, Home Improvement Agency, Warm Front, approved contractors, pest control, gardening.
- Mobility: walking frames, bus passes, taxi card, blue badge, disabled.
- Parking: bays, motability.
- Safety and security: alert/alarm systems, crime prevention.
- Social: day centres, education opportunities, fitness and leisure facilities, employment, volunteering.