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January 2002Quinquennial ReviewTrevor Chapman (Operations Director) You will be aware that the Department for Work and Pensions have been carrying out a review of the Independent Living Funds and that local authorities, contact officers, clients and disability organisations were invited to submit comments as part of a consultation process. The report of the review was published on 28 November 2001. The most significant recommendations were: · The Funds should continue in their present form and continue to be funded by the DWP; · All earnings of clients and their partners should be disregarded in the Funds’ financial assessments; · The capital limit should be raised to £18,500. Other recommendations ranged from specific policy matters, such as the payment of retainers for interruptions in care provision of up to 4 weeks and the ability to make one off payments above the maximum where the average cost remains within the limit, to procedural matters, such as the introduction of a formal complaints procedure and a review of our literature. We believe that these recommendations will provide more flexibility for our clients and the changes are welcomed. The report does recommend that DLA and SDP continue to be taken into account in the financial assessment and that there continues to be a limit to the joint cost of an initial package. The changes arising from the review are expected to come into effect in April 2002 and we are currently developing the policies needed to implement them. As soon as these have been finalised we will issue a newsletter detailing the changes. The full report is available on the Funds’ website, at www.ilf.org.uk, and on the DWP site at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/2001/ Copies of the report can be obtained from the DWP. Please note that we are not able to provide copies of the report. If you have any questions about the report you can contact the Customer Services team on funds@ilf.org.uk or the Operations Director, Trevor Chapman on extension 8198, or e-mail on trevor.chapman@ilf.org.uk Data Collection Notices Robyn Lewis Customer Services Many thanks to all who have returned the data protection form sent. May I use this opportunity to remind others who have not yet responded to reply as soon as you can. Transitional Housing Benefit (THB) Jeff Macbeth Customer Services Manager THB - Background The Transitional Housing Benefit Scheme is currently in operation, pending the implementation of the ‘Supporting People’ (SP) programme - a new policy and funding framework for housing-related support services to vulnerable people, originally expected to be implemented from April 2003. As the list of services that can be funded by THB includes some that are arguably personal care (e.g. shopping and night supervision), some Social Services staff have been attempting to move over these services in an effort to maximise the figure for THB expenditure as of 1 April 2002, even though the THB expenditure will only be one consideration when establishing forthcoming local Supporting People Grants. New THB Guidance was issued by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in October 2001, and a consultation paper on the use of the SP Grant stresses that: · The grant is limited to housing-related support and should not “be inadvertently used to meet the cost of intensive services which should more properly fall to Social Services or NHS mainstream budgets”. It is our understanding that housing-related support includes paying for a warden in sheltered housing irrespective of any community care package that might be provided, but not for nursing or personal care or social care which are not housing-related. THB - ILF Policy The main concern for the ILF recently has been that Social Services may have been transferring over to THB services that were part of the authority’s £200 contribution towards jointly funded packages. The following policy has been adopted: · The ILF will accept that for existing care packages, if some of the Social Services’ care provision is transferred to THB, provided this does not reduce the Social Services’ contribution below £200 per week, the ILF will make no changes to its payments. If there were a need for an increase, Social Services would be expected to cover this until back to its original level before the ILF would consider meeting any of this increased cost. · For new packages, as at present, anything paid for by THB would be considered outside of the joint ILF and Social Services package. This means that Social Services would need to contribute £200 per week, net of any services funded through THB. Customer Services Update Robyn Lewis Customer Services There have been some recent changes to the customer service department. Responsibilities are now detailed as follows:- C/S manager Jeff Macbeth Contact Officers Robyn Lewis Presentations Lesley Berry General Enquiries Ian Lawrence Robyn Lewis Lesley Berry In the event of the nominated person being unavailable, one of the other team members will be happy to discuss your query. SSD1000 Robyn Lewis Customer Services The SSD1000 in its new format has now been in use for over six months. Could you please let us know if there are any problems you are encountering with it now that you have had time to get used to it. I have been asked to remind people that it is very important the date a service commenced is noted in the relevant box. This will hold up an offer if not completed. We appreciate that the information we need is at times difficult to obtain and we are currently looking at ways to make this easier. We will inform you of our findings as soon as they are available. Summary Of Processing Times Tracy Tatler 1993 Fund Manager Average processing times are currently as follows :- 1993 Fund new applications :- from the date the visiting social worker (VSW) report is received, to the date an offer is made, approx 8 –10 weeks. 1993 Fund review revisits :- from the date the VSW report is received, to the date a revised offer is made, approx 10 - 12 weeks. 1993 Fund postal reviews :- all review forms are actioned on receipt, however the review cannot be cleared until both client and SSD forms are returned and all necessary information received. Clearance times currently approx 10 weeks from issue. Factors affecting processing times are as follows :- SSD1000 · delay in returning form · incomplete information LA contribution :- · delay in returning LA input confirmation form when offer has been made 1993 staffing :- · reduced levels · inexperienced new staff Inappropriate applications :- · Cases disallowed before visit example over 3 month period
Client delays in returning information :- · financial information form · PA details · banking details The Fund is taking the following action to reduce delays :- · Training and temporarily promoting some staff to assist on sections · Overtime when available · Prioritising oldest/backlog work · Increasing SSD awareness of importance to return forms/information as soon as possible. Extension Fund :- review revisits and paper reviews being actioned/cleared currently approx 2 weeks ILF Staffing for 2002/2003 Martin Swinckels Personnel Manager We are going to recruit shortly to reach a compliment of 130 members of staff for the business year 2002/2003. We currently have 118 employees. This means that we hope to start new staff in April or May 2002. The extra staffing for 2002/2003 includes 2 extra staff for Customer Services and another Personnel Manager. Most of the new staff will be added to the operational teams so that we can offer a quicker and more effective service to customers. SSD & Health Pooled Budgets Robyn Lewis Customer Services It is becoming more common for local authority social services and health authorities to operate pooled budgets when providing packages of care. When making an application, or reassessing a care package, it is essential that the extent of involvement of each authority is established, thus confirming that they remain within the Fund’s eligibility criteria. Please detail the monetary value or percentage amount each party is contributing towards the package. Registry Joins 20th Century Dave Butcher, Registry Manager It is now possible to contact the registry section directly via email. All queries regarding new applications before a visit has taken place should now be addressed to:- regman@ilf.org.uk until 16 April 2002, then dave.butcher@ilf.org.uk from 17 April 2002 Or telephone 0115 942 8191/8192 and ask to be put through to the Registry department. Signature Requirements on Part One of the Application Form Many application forms are currently being returned, as social workers are signing part one of the Application Form. Part one of the form must be signed by either the person making the application, or by their appointee or power of attorney. This ensures the applicant is aware that an application is being made to the Fund. Difficulties have arisen as the DWP/DLA/AA departments are not prepared to accept a social worker’s signature as being consent from the applicant to release information. Payments will not be made unless we have confirmation of benefits - having consent speeds up the process. It is also essential that the applicant’s date of birth and national insurance number in part one is filled in. Part Two of the Application Form Application forms are also being returned because all of the questions in part two of the form are not being answered. In order to speed up the application process, please ensure that all the questions are answered by ticking the relevant boxes. This will stop delays whilst the form is sent to and from the ILF and SSD’s offices. Special Rules DLA We have recently had several applications received on behalf of applicants whose DLA was awarded under the special rules. Having received letters from the applicant’s doctor, (see newsletter Spring 2001 for the special rules procedure), the applications were turned down as the prognosis was that they would not be able to live in the community for six months. The special rules for applying for DLA can be used only if it is thought the person applying for DLA is terminally ill and is not expected to live over six months. The ILF can accept an application only if we are advised by the applicant’s doctor that the updated prognosis is that the applicant may live for more than six months. It would be appreciated if this could be borne in mind with future applications of this kind. |
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