The Inclusion Cornwall 2017 Annual Report

Annual Report

2017

The Inclusion Cornwall 2017 Annual Report

“the primary role of Inclusion Cornwall is to challenge with diplomacy”

Chair of Inclusion Cornwall – David Sillifant

Be pro-active and re-active to inclusion issues
Support and lead the transformation of services by identifying gaps and identifying how they can addressed
Manage the Inclusion Strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
To inform ongoing review and to evaluate and from this set direction and priorities
Continue Helston and the Lizard Works and Scilly Works model.
Develop the Crisis Ladder and Prevention model
Inclusion Priorities
Mental Wellbeing
Housing
Skills and Learning

2017 At a Glance

We have successfully progressed 1130 referrals and averaged 50 general enquires a week
We have delivered Multi Agency Training to over 115 frontline workers
The membership of our Resource Sharing network remains active and has grown with over 400 members
Resources sheets on our website, driven by identified need.
We continue to support Cornwall Council with their Discretionary Fund applicants
We have processed 34 enabling fund applications
We have been chosen as a model of best practice by the Local Government Association and Public Health England
We have devised the Inclusion Cornwall Crisis Ladder for prevention and developing a clear picture of the level of poverty in Cornwall

Strategic Inclusion

Inclusion Cornwall has supported Equality and Diversity development in Cornwall. The aim has been to merge several groups into the Cornwall Equality and Diversity Network.

We have been chosen as a model of best practice by the Local Government Association and Publich Health England for our Inclusion Cornwall approach

Strategic links have been made with Children, Families and Adults, Cornwall Council. This has resulted in the Hub supporting Social Workers conferences and discussions to link the Social Workers with Hub Conversations. We have linked with the ‘3 conversations’ team within adult social care.

Inclusion Cornwall is part of the Steering Group for the Nos Da Project (No First Night Out). Which was launched this week in Truro. In addition £1.1 million was announced to deliver the multi-agency rough sleeper reduction strategy will work to prevent rough sleeping in the first instance by helping those most at risk, help new rough sleepers quickly access housing, help and support to get off the streets as well as identify and provide support for entrenched rough sleepers to help them off the streets permanently.

Menopause Self Care started a new course in Camborne, the first time a course has taken place in Camborne. Women in midlife challenged with health issues and stress (age 35 through 65) & for women who work with or care for women challenged with health issues& stress & experiencing barriers to work & home life find out more her . Inclusion Cornwall continues to support MSC

Public Health England invited Inclusion Cornwall to present their work at the Annual Conference. Working with the LGA, Public Health and the Rural Network IC was identified as a good model of working https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/1.39_Health%20in%20rural%20areas_WEB.pdf

Concerns over delays in Universal Credit Payments resulted in Inclusion Cornwall having an open meeting attended by over 40 organisations. An Open Letter was agreed and circulated to Chief Officers across Cornwall and through Social Media. Awareness was successful raised.

Cornwall Takes Tea with the World (funded through the Church Urban Fund) saw a series of Tea’s in Helston, All Saints Church, Truro, St Austell to bring communities together. The Teas were successful and Lottery has suggested we develop the project further and apply for Lottery funding. The Full report can be found on our web-site

Inclusion Cornwall continues to be part of Cornwall Council’s Supporting Zero Suicides in Cornwall objectives. Two conferences were supported during the year.

Inclusion Cornwall and Helston Town Council visited Westminster to share Helston and the Lizard Works – Scott Mann MP stated “I can see now why you were nominated for the star council award”.

Links with the Private Sector continued to develop in particular with the FSB (women in business) and the Chamber of Commerce (understanding the role of the Hub and how to work together).

Inclusion Cornwall was delighted to speak at the Poverty Forum with Bishop Chris Goldsmith. Frontline Worker Network stressed the need to know the opportunities for people in poverty and how to provide a more human approach for all.

Inclusion Cornwall Hub

The Inclusion Hub continues to be a central resource of information for those moving towards and returning to work. The Hub links with other Hubs i.e. The Growth Hub, The Skills Hub, Age UK. Increasingly we are experiencing larger number of enquiries with complex social issues. We have created a Hub of Hubs report showing the number of hubs in Cornwall.

This years Multi-agency training was badged under the title Bringing Cornwall Together, over 115 people attended – feedback was once again outstanding full details here

Inclusion Cornwall has supported a number of Job Fairs with Jobcentre Plus

Work with Helston and the Lizard Works continues working directly with customers of JCP but also supporting other activities as seen with the Crafting Project in Helston. Crafts of many kinds were on show and everyone who attended felt it was a great opportunity. Some of those attending are going to carry on making crafts at Helston Museum. They Mayor of Helston attended the celebration event in December.

Helston and the Lizard Works identified a group of isolated men and welcomed the involvement of Active Plus. A bespoke session was attended to encourage the men to join an Active Plus Course. The results have been considerable with men not leaving the house now actively volunteering with their aim of going back to work.

Helston and the Lizard Works has facilitated Gail Copp (Employer Adviser from Jobcentre Plus) linking and visiting Goonhilly Earth Station to discuss opportunities for working together to support our most excluded into volunteering and working at Goonhilly. We are expecting a number of customers to gain experience by working at Goonhilly in the coming year.

IC dropped in all Jobcentre in Cornwall throughout the year to support the Work Coaches and customers sharing information about opportunities

Goonhilly Earth Station

A typical comment received showing the work the Hub carries out, “Thank you so much for your help. You are the only service I haven’t had to fight to get help from. You made it so easy and things wouldn’t be happening without your involvement”. And partners have made similar comments, “Just wanted to say thanks so much for your help earlier on the phone! Inclusion Cornwall is such a great service, would be lost without it! Laura Mead (Wild Project)

Inclusion Cornwall Hub Report – Feb 18

Cornwall Council Discretionary Conversations

1130 referrals over the last 12 months
New reporting and outcome based system put in place 6 months ago
700 referred in last 6 months. Of those;
Successfully engaged 49%
15 people into work (or improved existing work)
24 people with new long term support in place
81 people supported to engage with a service
67 people took some positive action as a result of advice
157 were signposted / given supportive info
Over the last quarter our engagement rates have risen to 55%

Inclusion Cornwall Hub Conversations - The Inclusion Cornwall Hub conversation is a concept that was first developed and trialled through Inclusion Cornwall in their Winter Wellness work. People in crisis would apply for emergency funding and while this often alleviated the presenting crisis it did not always aid longer term progression. A new style has been adopted which advocates deploying resources in a way that maximises long term outcomes.

In the first instance this is just a case of sense checking what and why the person /family is presenting in crisis. Sometimes a small amount of funding is all a person needs to overcome a short term crisis and progress themselves. Other times a system of support needs to be put in place and out of these instances the Conversation was born; a conversation linked to a crisis application that seeks to address the wider needs of the individual of family with the aim of moving them to self-sustaining financial stability.
The model was very successful and we have extended this to work in partnership with Cornwall Councils Discretionary Awards team, ensuring every applicant has just such a conversation. The Hub holds extensive knowledge of opportunities for our most excluded and complex customers.
The next step will be to build on an identified gap for often single people who are isolated by the complex and multiple within their rural communities.

General Enquiries

Consistent rate of 50 general enquiries a week
Increase in contact from social workers, JCP work coaches and mental health workers – reflects wider comms work we have undertaken
Continued increase in complexity of presenting issues and acute needs

Resource Sharing Network

Membership has grown to over 450 frontline professionals
Widely regarded as the best means of disseminating info about support
A good tool for finding obscure support

Comms and Engagement

Adult Social Care – IC presented a well received workshop at the annual social workers conference. Mini versions have also been presented to each of the Three Conversation innovation teams. We have been invited to do another workshop as part of World Social Work Day on March 8th.

Community Mental Health Teams –Networking at a conference IC made a link with a CPN. As a result she was invited to present to the whole of the St Austell CMHT. The team felt they were too busy firefighting acute social issues to effectively deliver mental health support. IC worked with them to support their patients with social issues through a conversation approach. This worked so well that other CMHT offices now also refer to us.

Universal Credit – IC carried out engagement and comms with key partners and community support providers in order to close the gap for those affected by the Dec roll out in the East.

Jobcentre Plus – IC have spent a morning in each of the Cornwall based jobcentre offices, taking over the forum area to speak to people as they waited for appointments. Also spending time with the work coaches to strengthen relationships. We also supported many JCP employer events.

DWP Service Centre – IC were invited to the St Austell service centre and spoke to around 70 case managers and team leaders who are involved in managing UC claims and assisting claimants to access support.

Winter Wellbeing 2017

November saw the launch of Winter Wellness – call this number if you know anyone who might need advice and support with energy

Inclusion Cornwall contacted all customers who received central heating in 318 homes (Cornwall and Isles of Scilly) to see how they are getting along with new heating. £2.3m Central Heating Fund programme was aimed at those with health conditions, living in rented or owned homes. This short video explains what happened.
Winter Wellness to devolution – we have developed and implemented the Local Authority flexible eligible programme for energy efficiency with Economic Growth. Intend to “declare” as eligible a minimum of 200 households a year to improve affordable warmth for those in fuel poverty but above income thresholds for free or part funded energy efficiency.
Warm and Well Cornwall – Winter Wellbeing secured £3.6m from the Warm Homes Fund (National Grid) to run an £8m Affordable Warmth programme to install first time central heating in 1,100 homes in Cornwall, for households that have a health condition. Our Call Bev campaign was key to the successful bid. For more information call 01872 326552 or https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/warmandwell

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Working with CRCC Inclusion Cornwall visited the Isles of Scilly to support residents with their energy needs

Last Winter, we helped 1,439 households, with an initial contact usually made through the Winter Wellness Freephone hotline, hosted by Community Energy Plus.

This led to the following help and assistance :

444 households referred to other partners for assistance; 250 energy monitors distributed (CEP);
25 households referred to (Plymouth Energy Community) for energy advice and fuel debt issues ;
797 households received energy advice (Cornwall Rural Community Charity and Community Energy Plus);
198 households had smart warmth advice, including 61 Central Heating Fund households Smart Warmth help
£103,000 saved by 682 customers switching energy tariff/supplier (Community Energy Switch).

The Winter Wellness Emergency Fund (run by Inclusion Cornwall), helped 254 households for help with: heating oil (31 households); coal, logs and wood (16); gas /electric key meter (108); gas/electric (account) (56); gas bottles/LPG (8) and heating repairs/no heat (35).

23% of customers of the Winter Wellness Emergency Fund also applied for and received £18,200 of “Welfare funds” (Discretionary Housing Payments, Crisis and Care Awards and/or help with Council Tax). An improved income, helped to reduce money worries.

9%* of customers of working age were supported to progress to work or remain in work (* this is likely to increase as this figure is pre follow up)

20% of customers were supported by Winter Fuel Payments, donated through Cornwall Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter campaign.

Cornwall Homeless Hospital Discharge Project

Since January 2014, 609 patients were discharged with a support plan and 415 moved into alternative, suitable accommodation. Between 2014 to 2015 the service has made a cost saving of £280,500 across the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trusts (RCHT. The remainder either have a home but no longer suitable due to their health or poor quality that contributed to their health problems.

Inclusion Cornwall, with St Petrocs, Shelter, Cornwall Council, Public Health, Cornwall Housing, NHS, Health for Homeless and Coastline Housing are partners in the Cornwall Homeless Hospital Discharge project.

The project seeks to reduce the number of repeat hospital admissions and delayed discharge from hospital by single homeless people who were medically fit to leave hospital but had no home to go.

The project started in January 2014, with a dedicated Homeless Patient Advisor (hosted by Shelter), taking referrals for any patients in hospitals in Cornwall (including Treliske, mental health and community hospitals).

Inclusion Cornwall manage the Homeless Hospital Discharge Enabling Fund to facilitate (where agencies are unable to) safe discharges that improve outcomes for homeless patients.