Working for Families in Glasgow

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Working for Familiesin Glasgow
Shona Honeyman Development and Regeneration
Services
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GLASGOW 2003

• The McGregor Report
• 90,000 jobless working age adults claiming a
  non-JSA key benefit
• 71,000 sick or disabled
• 17,000 lone parents
• Equal Access Strategy

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Glasgows Infrastructure

• In 1988 GDC set up LEDCs
• Enabled more local response
• Built into an extensive social economy network

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The Glasgow Model

• Planning - things we considered
• Economic development childcare?
• Allocate or request submissions?
• Available infrastructure or new?
• Who could deliver?
• What else does it impact on?

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The Glasgow Model

• Our Conclusions
• Greater flexibility to meet parents needs
• Allocate the fund according to city-wide strategy
  no project funding application process
• Use existing infrastructure join it up better
• Select providers on ability to increase capacity
  within timescale
• Align strategically to Equal Access

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Programme Overview

• Guidance and Mentoring Projects
• Sitter Service
• Pre-ILM Project
• Young Parents Project
• HNC Pilot Project
• Money Advice Services
• Rosemount Transitions Project

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Ahead of the Game

• In planning the programme we identified our
  target client groups as
• Lone parents
• Parents/carers pre-New Deal
• Families with health/disability issues
• Low income families - benefit or wage
• From anywhere within Glasgow city boundaries

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Glasgows Key Worker Model

• The Key Features of the model are -
• Split function between guidance and childcare
• Holistic approach
• Specific to client groups
• Being the pivot point not the expert on
  everything
• Being there

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So . three years onwhere are we now?

• The WFF People 56.5 FTE and bank/sessional
  workers
• The WFF Organisations 10
• The WFF Brand

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What Have We Achieved?

• From Oct 04 Feb 07
• Registered 3431 clients
• In to work 915
• Improved their employment - 35
• Assisted to remain in work - 536
• Entered or completed education and training 664
• Other - 83
• Intermediate activities 459

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What Else Have We Achieved?

• Real partnership working
• Filled gaps
• A programme model that works and produces results
• A management style that encourages innovation but
  retains control
• Good working relationships

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What Have We Learned?

• Client at the centre key worker model
• Flexibility and creativity are key to success
• You dont have to throw money at the problem
  Christines cooker!
• Things dont happen instantly but when they do
  its worth it!
• Dont get complacent theres always more to be
  done
• Stay focused on the vision

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There Are Always Barriers!

• 16 hour rule
• Parents under 18
• Institutionalised debt
• Attitudes
• Sustainability

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Staying Ahead of the Game

• Align with other initiatives in the city
• The City Strategy
• Maintaining progress on economic growth
• Continual development v exit strategy