Impact Report - Bron Afon · Impact Report 2016 – 2017 9 The Brothers A partnership programme between Bron Afon Community Housing Association and Charter Housing. Its primary aim

Impact Report

Inclusion and Support

Strategy

2016 -2017

Beneath the surface… ’don’t walk by’

2

Our Comm

itment

Bron

Afo

n In

clusio

n & Support Strategy 2015-18 To

proactively help people succeed in their

Bron Afon home & within their community through the provision of

effective & efficient person centred support services which grow people’s independence.

This includes the implementation of a broad portfolio of support & employability

programmes which maximise opportunities to secure external funding, work in partnership

& bring benefit to Bron Afon tenants, members & leaseholders & wider communities across Torfaen.

Through our integrated whole business approach

to inclusion and support activities we will have a core service that is

not dependent on short term financial funding. We will have a reputation amongst

our communities and nationally as an exemplar of great practice. We will have a

solid set of outcomes data that demonstrates our success with a tailored preventative

approach which does not give up on people, manages risk and demand,

builds on people’s strengths, increasing resilience and

independence.

Impact Report 2016 – 2017

3

Contents PAGE

Foreword 4

Investment and Inclusion 5

Anti-Poverty Portfolio 6

Proactive approach to managing risk and vulnerability 7

Protection, Prevention and Remedy 8

We will strike a deal through support creating resilience and independence 10

Reducing Demand on Core Services 12

We will maximise our stretch and reach 13

The support services we offer 17

Moving people from dependence to independence 19

Develop a robust monitoring framework 20

Deliver support services in partnership 21

We will use our knowledge and networks to influence policy and practice 22

Next Steps 23


4

We have made a strategic commitment to put support at the heart of frontline services, focusing on early

intervention & ensuring our staff don’t ‘walk on by’. This drives our innovative approach to the provision of housing & community focused support services, associated programmes & partnerships.

Recognising the diverse & complex needs of the communities we serve, we have created a

menu of support interventions, ensuring so our services remain fit for purpose. We constantly

develop & reshape services in response to demand. A key ongoing concern for us is the impact

of welfare reform (WR) on our communities. Increasing numbers of households require more support at a time when

agencies are faced with already high caseloads & pressure on budgets. Our business purpose is about ‘improving lives & life chances’ so this operating context simply drives our desire to make an even bigger difference.

To maximise positive outcomes for families & help break the cycle of poverty, all housing related support services & preventative interventions within Bron Afon are moving to the Families First model in terms of alignment of referral, support & risk assessment & outcome measures. Moving forward, we will have an even more effective housing & support service with specialist intervention strands to

meet the needs of our tenants & communities, with a clear point of entry & consistent ways

of working. Our rationale for doing so is based upon learning from ‘tried

& tested’ models of practice & the premise of ‘one journey’ for our

service users.

Bron Afon is an

organisation that believes

in investing in people. It is

important to note future external

landscape changes, partnership

pressures and scarce resource’s

are demanding that we diversify

and deliver more to ensure

sustainable tenancies.

Foreword


5

Who do we support?The Investment and Inclusion team have

developed an anti-poverty portfolio that focusses on the protection, prevention

and remedy stages of the continuum of support through a broad range of programmes and interventions in keeping with the Bron Afon Inclusion and Support Strategy and The Torfaen Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy for Children, Young People and their Families; Don’t Walk on By…’

Last year we supported 3098 individuals across the service.

It is important to recognise, that ‘beneath the surface’ of these figures

are ‘real lives’ with real challenges and real journeys of change as result of

intervention.

Why… Business Mind and Social HeartGrowth and rapid development of early intervention and prevention portfolio has been stimulated by Investment levered in via non traditional housing funding routes. This has provided opportunity to ‘think outside the box’ and ‘test’ new working

practices to ultimately put support at the heart of frontline services, evidencing an ‘invest to save’ approach

Bron Afon recognises that we need innovative solutions to alleviate poverty, in particular to meet needs of tenants furthest from the labour

market, ensuring sustainable tenancies and to mitigate the challenges of Welfare reform.

The Investment and

Inclusion team provide a

bespoke model of ‘support for

those who need it’ to improve quality

of life and life chances, in turn increasing

tenancy sustainability. The service has been

designed to meet the challenges presented

by the changes in the external landscape,

particularly Welfare Reform, the anti poverty

agenda, the implementation of the Social Services

Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014, Well-Being of Future

Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the recent

emphasis on the need for services to

address the prevalence of Adverse

Childhood Experiences in the

Welsh adult population.

3776 Individuals supported last year

Investment and Inclusion


6

3. Pre-Tenancy

Delivers a person centred approach, using a

strength based assessment, in the form of ‘getting to know

you’. This ensures the proposed tenant is in the ‘driving seat’ of housing options and choices,

addressing both financial and human support

needs.

4. Tenancy Support

Proactive and reactive support for individuals and families whose tenancies

are at risk and require focussed intervention, to

prevent eviction and homelessness.

1. Employability

‘That Works Training Academy’… Support to

maximise income through connecting and creating employment and support programmes to reduce

worklessness.

6. Hardship Fund

For tenants when they are experiencing human

and financial challenges, the fund ‘goes hand in hand’ with a bespoke support package

to mitigate crisis and sustain tenancies.

5. Own 2 Feet

Living, Ty CyfleProvides modern innovative housing solution for young people aged 16 – 24 with 8

starter homes and ‘wrap around’ support enabling young people

to reach their potential and sustain independent

living.

Anti-Poverty PortfolioThe portfolio can be divided into six key intervention strands, supporting tenants and Torfaen Communities, these are:

2. Children,

Young People and Families

Adopts an ‘Invest to Save’ ethos of a ‘whole family approach’,

with a key worker function supported by a ‘team around the family’ to build resilience,

creating long term sustainable change.


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The past 12 months has focused on earlier identification of risk and vulnerability to prevent crisis intervention and subsequent human and financial impact. 1436 early pre-tenancy assessments with Home seeker applicants undertaken with 766 tenancies created. The process provides early identification of risks and support needs, providing a basis for bespoke support plans before tenancy begins. This process works to improve tenancy sustainability and design out demand with an overall sustainability figure of 92.3% within the first year.

i.Development of

bespoke contact and case management system

(internal) YODA for both pre-tenancy functions and support.

Next steps to create safeguarding ‘bolt on’ module widening

the reach to ensure safeguarding is

everyone’s business.

v.Delivered an early

intervention and prevention programme ‘Out of my hands’

reaching 113 young people aged 14 – 16, with the message that

homelessness can happen to anyone. The aim is to provide learning and knowledge of housing options for

young people, working to prevent youth homelessness. It is specifically designed

to raise awareness of the realities of available housing options and the benefit changes with its impact for 16 – 21 year olds.

Key changes have been made in systems, processes and approach;

Proactive approach to managing risk and vulnerability

ii.Key worker

function and assertive outreach

approach adopted, with a sophisticated growing

portfolio of dual function case management

and prevention intervention

specialism.

iv.Undertaken

early impact assessments of new government welfare reform

policies on our tenants, including; Scope of Local Housing Allowance,

Impact of Benefit Cap reduction, Impact on loss of Housing Benefit for

Under 21’s, Impact of Supported Housing definition on Ty Cyfle

and future ‘Own Two Feet living’ projects.

iii.Upskilling of

frontline staff and building capacity to roll out

Families First ‘Early Intervention and Prevention’ approach, principles and processes to

ensure ‘one journey’ for tenants and a co-ordinated, added

value support approach for business.


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Protection, Prevention and RemedyBron Afon’s Domestic Abuse Policy sets out our response to the causal links between domestic abuse and housing management issues, believing it is imperative we tackle it if we are to effectively support our tenants and manage our homes.

In turn, we have;

“We will continue to build

on the foundations which

have already been made to

create a stronger, more resilient

sector to support individuals and

families who are either at risk, or are

struggling with the consequences

of violence against women,

domestic abuse and sexual

violence.”

Carl Sargeant, AM

Invested in specialist interventions to implement train the trainer across the

organisation. Dyadic Development Practice: Psychotherapy and parenting

(DDP); A framework for therapy and parenting for developmentally

traumatised children. Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT); skills for living programme, working with

the most traumatised young people.

We proactively support through raising awareness, publicity and specific workshops

where 551 children and young people have benefited from the Safeguarding Portfolio, learning what a safe relationship looks like and how to keep safe whatever

your age or circumstances,

with the message that: Enough is Enough

“Domestic Abuse comes

in many forms and

doesn’t always result in

bruises or broken bones.

Emotional abuse is also

domestic abuse and should

be seen as such.”

Leighton Andrews, AM

Developed High Risk Escalation

process to ensure effectively mitigating risk to staff, tenants

and organisation.

Refocussed services across

Community Housing and Support for more prominent Domestic

Abuse function for both prevention and case

management.

Developed Safeguarding Portfolio

of early intervention and prevention programmes, as a response to the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

(Wales) Act 2015.


9

The Brothers

A partnership programme between Bron Afon Community

Housing Association and Charter Housing. Its primary aim is to

tackle inequalities that affect young people through awareness raising and

empowerment initiatives. Domestic abuse is its key focus, with young men creating and delivering a unique interactive workshop

session, highlighting the subtle signs of risky and potentially abusive

behaviour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui8HnfO4Ric

Safer Relationships

Delivers an 8 week early intervention and

ACE prevention programme in Primary Schools (year 6), learning about what a safe

relationship looks like, averting hurt and harm.

Enough is Enough

This partnership project with Women’s Aid and Pippins Art, enables women who have

experienced domestic Abuse to explore their feelings and emotions in a safe environment, to gain strength and understanding that ‘Enough is

Enough’! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBzauURL9fM

Go Girls

Partnership project with Charter Housing. Its primary aim is to tackle inequalities

that affect young people through awareness raising and

empowerment initiatives. Go Girls have developed and delivered their

toolkit of Safer Relationships, Health & Wellbeing and

Women’s Equality.

Child Sexual

ExploitationFunding secured via Police Crime Commissioner, Local Education Authorities SEWSB and Housing Associations to deliver creative

interactive workshops to 8,500 year 8 students across secondary schools

in Gwent, with the outcome to move towards creating

‘hostile communities’ for CSE.

Healthy Minds, Healthy

BodiesPartnership programme with

Changing Minds, promoting positive mental health, increasing physical

activity, mitigating the impact of ACEs to reduce risky and potentially abusive

behaviours. It provides participants with coping strategies around anger management, anxiety,

depression and the effects of ‘mood and food’.


10

That Works Training

Academy; We have developed a Framework and scaled up delivery of

Bron Afon That Works Training Academy, as part solution to Welfare Reform, mitigating its impact and increasing

tenancy sustainability.

Total April 2016 – March 2017 Accumulative Total graduates; That Works Training Academy

627

Total Into work (including under 35’s and TR&T)

159

Under 35’s 203 engaged 51 into work 75 into training

Under 21’s 122 engaged30 into work52 into training

NEETS 126 engaged 49 into work

Further Education/Training 156

Work placements 47

Volunteers inducted 119

Workclub participants 246

TR&T £85,298 33 into work

Literacy/Numeracy 69

Tablet for tenants 145

Princes Trust 32

Digital/financial inclusion 326

Accredited qualifications 340

HACT £9,865,764

We will strike a deal through support creating resilience and independence


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Participant Case StudyEmployability and Volunteering Intervention

Tenant B joined the Trade that Works employability programme and completed numerous accreditations, including CSCS card, which he needed to be able to work on site. He received intense one to one support with employment related training, dramatically improving his confidence, resilience and motivation to get back into work. Tenant B continued with his support at Bron Afon Job Club and was invited to interview with R&M Williams as part of Bron Afon TR&T framework opportunity. He was successful at interview. Working on site and being part of a team, his confidence and social skills continued to improve, reducing his feelings of depression. Since starting paid employment, Tenant B has now reduced his rent arrears and is no longer at risk of eviction.

“There’s no

better feeling

than getting up in the

morning and going to

work, I now feel so proud

that I am now able to

provide for my family and

make a better future

for us all.”


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Reducing Demand on Core ServicesAs part of our work around providing homes which address demand and need we will consider housing options to meet specific needs of our tenants.

Case StudyTenant C was street homeless, sleeping in a multi storey car park, which made him feel anxious and depressed. He had a young child that he was unable to see regularly without a home. Ty Cyfle became his home for 2 years, which provided the opportunity to build life skills and be able to stand on his own two feet. He has now secured a tenancy, enabling him to move closer to his child. Tenant C states he is now ready to successfully live independently.

Draft innovative alternative housing proposals have been prepared for the development opportunity at Ty Cyfle to provide ‘move on’ accommodation with light touch support for under 35s.

Own2Feet We have tried and tested assertive outreach tenancy support model for young people 16 - 25 with multiple needs. The Own Two Feet project is an accredited, pre tenancy programme for young people aged 16 to 25 in Torfaen with the aim of reducing tenancy failure, covering aspects such as: How to be a good neighbour; Money Management/Income Maximisation; Employability Skills; Cooking on a Budget; Expectations and Aspirations and Health and Wellbeing. On completion of the programme, participants receive a Housewarming Pack when they obtain a tenancy and a certificate of achievement which can be used to reassure alternative landlords.

A bespoke, condensed version of Own2Feet has been developed to meet the demands of Welfare Reform and its impact on U.35’s, working to raise awareness and explore available housing options such as shared accommodation and the Bron Afon ‘offer’.

Own2Feet Living ’Ty Cyfle’ Provided 8 starter homes for young people aspiring to be in Education, Training or Employment, thus improving life chances through adopting Youth Co-operative principles enabling ‘move on’ to future sustainable tenancies. Since its inception in November 2014 there have been 20 tenants, of these 5 have moved onto full Bron Afon tenancies and are successfully sustaining. One has joined another social landlord and one is private renting. Three have moved back home (reforming positive relationships with family from foundations learnt at Ty Cyfle), two have moved out of county and one gave notice. Ty Cycle currently is achieving zero rent arrears.


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We will maximise our stretch and reach by accessing the opportunities available through external funding and partnerships to deliver support services Sophisticated, strategic levels of partnership working has supported Bron Afon to lever in external funding, pilot and learn new ways of working and plug skills gap identified in existing Bron Afon services. Collaboration and seamless partnership working is absolutely key to achieving successful outcomes for our tenants and Torfaen Communities.

With the introduction of Universal Credit and Welfare Reforms, an increasing number of families will require support at all levels, prevention, protection and remedy more than ever. This anticipated upward slide for ‘families requiring a broad range of support’ is at a time agencies are faced with already high caseloads, strained, overworked budgets, resources and unemployment is at its peak. Such pressures, stimulates demand for change; true collaboration, pooling of resources, innovation and aligning of priorities to maximise positive outcomes for families and break the cycle of poverty.

Case StudyTenant D was referred through Bron Afons’ Job Club. She has never had a paid job and was lacking in confidence and skills to gain employment. Critically, she was in rent arrears of £1430.71 and could not see a way out. Through the ‘Decorating That Works’ project she was supported to gain qualifications, complete a CV and prepare for interviews which led to full time employment. Throughout the process it was identified that she was in financial difficultly so Bron Afon supported with Hardship fund. A payment plan was put in place and regular communication with money solutions team was vital in order to prevent eviction or court action during the transition from benefits to employment. Arrears were reduced to zero with eviction and its associated costs avoided.

https://youtu.be/eLq3wpW8K8c

“I have found

fulltime employment

with a care agency and I

feel completely independent

and self reliant, I never

thought after 30 years of

unemployment I would

get a job”

Families @ Work

Investment from DWP

Flexible Support Fund has

allowed us to ‘test’ new ways of

working using early employability

intervention with a ‘family

support twist’, using community

development ethos to tackle

barriers to sustainable

employment.


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‘Own2Feet Working’Grant funding from ESF priority 3 ‘Active Inclusion’ has provided resource alongside Bron Afon Match funding to engage participants aged 16-24 deemed furthest from the labour market (NEETS). The programme acts as a ‘first step’ in the participants’ journey to employment, offering a vast range of employment and skills training activities that are tailored to attract and retain young people and support then into sustainable employment. Further support includes basic skills training, volunteering, money management and social skills.

Project Review, highlighted that ‘the project looks set to deliver some excellent outcomes as the staff are committed and have the full support of Bron Afon… I think they are set to do well.’ (WCVA)

Case StudyTenant E was referred by his support worker at Llamau. He was struggling with issues around recreational drug use and was on probation. He felt that he was fighting a losing battle and that no matter where he turned for support, nobody was willing to help him turn his life around. Through regular contact and mentoring he feels much more confident and is now preparing for employment.

“I feel so much

better and more

focused on what I can

achieve. I have given up

drugs, taking plenty of

exercise and feel my

future is very bright

moving forward.”

Older Persons

Supported Living Team

The Team is funded by

Supporting People and

provides housing related support

to anyone over 50 years of age

who lives in Torfaen.

In 2016/17 we were contracted to

deliver support to 323 persons.

678 persons were supported

across the year.


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Learner to EarnerBron Afon Community Housing has developed and launched an innovative ‘real solution’ to mitigate the impact of the Local Housing Allowance Welfare Reform changes. As part of the ‘That Works Training’ Academy the ‘Learner to Earner’ driving project has been identified with partners and tenants as part solution to break down barriers to sustainable employment.

The programme is geared to break benefit dependency, maximise income and provide ‘real’ routes to employment, optimising successful tenancies. ‘Learner to Earner’ in partnership with Communities First Torfaen offers driving support to individuals that identify the need to drive as essential to either undertake continued employment or to gain employment/self employment opportunities once they have passed their driving test. Value for money is evidenced through robust tracking of tenancies for 12 months after intervention.

Changing Lives… Changing CommunitiesSuccessful 3 year grant funding via Big Lottery ‘People and Places’ to deliver four intervention strands,

‘Home family support’ has provided a highly skilled pool of volunteers primarily working within the home on a one to one basis offering regular support,

friendship, and practical help to families under stress in their own homes to prevent family crisis and breakdown. Volunteers undertake accredited and non accredited training that is specific to working with

families.

‘Intergenerational befriending’; Befriending has provided both positive skills and experience. Volunteers have gained new skill sets and opportunity to build or develop new career pathways. Customers report reduced isolation and increased positive well-being.

Digital Inclusion/financial Inclusion; provides communities with skills and access to digital services to mitigate impact of Welfare Reform. Connecting communities in order to save money, increase access to services and open doors to employment opportunities.

Employment; has developed and scaled up the That Works Training Academy, creating needs led employment programmes, leading to real job outcomes. Applicants who successfully secure employment are tracked and supported for a 12

month period, ensuring any early in work ‘blips’ are addressed and long term employment sustained.

Strand One

Strand Two

Strand Three

Strand Four

“Being

able to drive

means I can grow

my business, making

me more Independent,

as I don’t have to rely on

others.”

Young person 18


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Case StudyTenant F (single parent and 3 children) were escalated as an emergency referral with over £2200 rent arears and described as difficult to engage. Referrals had been made to Social Care regarding home conditions. Bailiffs were calling to the house for council tax arrears and prison threatened if debt was not paid. Intervention began immediately with Tenant E now engaging well with the team to ensure correct benefits received and all outstanding debts addressed as a matter of urgency. A Vicars Relief application was successfully awarded. Due to intensive work and the high level of collaboration rent arears were reduced from £2200 to £110 and escalation to Child protection (CP) avoided.

Families FirstInvestment secured to provide ‘wrap around’ family support to 118 families, 586 individuals, during this financial year. 718 children and young people have engaged in early intervention and prevention projects, family hubs and pre employability programmes.

Targeted Recruitment and Training (TR&T)Continued negotiation with contractors through Bron Afon’s contractor framework has seen an upsurge in paid employment opportunities over the past year. 33 individuals have gained employment to the value of £85,298. Key to success has been robust accredited training package through ‘Trade that Works’ programme to ensure participants are site ready. The recruitment process adopting ‘speed dating’ style interview technique and in work support has proven attractive to local employers who are now seeking recruitment support outside of their TR&T commitment.

‘The standard of

candidates again was

very good throughout the

Clarence Street recruitment

processes. All employees recruited

have been enthusiastic, reliable, hard

working and have applied themselves

admirably to any given task, whether

it would be on their own or working

as a team.’

Billy Pearce: TR&T

Manager,

R+M Williams


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The support services we offer will have an impact on core business demonstrate outcomes achieved and offer sound value for moneyThe refocussed Investment and Inclusion service has been committed and shaped to ensure that the resources we put into support have a evidenced ‘payback’ for the wider business. Noting;

Tablet for TenantsAs part of implementation of the Service Access Strategy, we supported 1,264 tenants to communicate digitally through ‘My Account’. 150 individuals and families have taken part in our ‘Tablet for Tenant’ pilot, with 81% looking at their rent account, 40% stating they are managing their money better. 79% of participants reported that it’s easier to contact Bron Afon, 34% reporting repairs.

Homes that Work Family InterventionProvided practical and emotional support to 155 individuals and families with complex needs, eg. Mental health, alcohol and substance misuse, physical disabilities or experiencing bereavement. Families are referred when home conditions have come to the attention of other agencies such as Social Services or Health visitors. A ‘team around the family’ is created to provide support tailored to their needs, involving the family in a commitment to change. There has been a sharp increase of social care referrals to prevent escalation of children entering the care system due to condition of homes. As a result of intervention and strong collaboration; 21 Children removed from CP register with 14 evictions being prevented. Working to reduce our lower quartile figure of 0.5%. Cardiff Met University provided a UK average figure of £10,000 per eviction.

Case StudyTenant G was referred via Social Services due to poor home conditions and child neglect. There had also been a history of domestic violence. Tenant G is a single parent to 9 children. All of the children had poor school attendance and school had reported that they were often poorly presented. The family were in breach of their tenancy and were worried about receiving an eviction notice.

Following holistic Family Support Assessment and co-ordinated multi agency support, the family reduced arrears from £2226.25 at point of referral to £615.81 to date. The family have now been stepped down from Child Protection and school attendance increased.


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The support services we offer will have an impact on core business demonstrate outcomes achieved and offer sound value for money

Bron Afon Hardship FundDemonstrating positive impact on sustainable tenancies

The Hardship Fund is a pot of money a Bron Afon tenant with a support plan in place, can access when they are experiencing financial crisis, it acts as an early intervention prevention program, to identify barriers faced to ultimately pay their rent and sustain their tenancy.

As the hardship fund has matured, two strands have been developed, Strand 1 Crisis Support intervention through Petty cash system for items such as gas, electric or food can be proactively approved to avoid further embedded crises. Strand 2 is planned support intervention for essential items, white goods, beds, etc. Requests through Hardship ‘minimises the risk’ of skipping rent payments to purchase such items, enabling the support worker to put budgeting plan in place, effecting behavioural changes. The Fund can be accessed internally or by external organisations.

The 2016/17

Hardship grant saw

116 applicants access

a total amount of

£28,671.69 (averaging

£247.16 per person)

With the approved

grant , support package

and payment plan, Bron

Afon saw a 38% decrease in

rent arrears of applicants that

successfully secured the fund …

saving a total of £13,769.20 in cash

whilst also having a huge positive

impact on social outcomes

around health and wellbeing,

employment, family

relationships and tenancy

management.


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We are moving people from dependence to independenceTenancy SupportThere were 353 referrals into the service with 285 individuals receiving intense one to one support during this financial year, many of the remainder requiring specialist services such as MIND, Gwalia, Gofal and GDAS with 102 exiting the service. The team provides proactive and reactive support for individuals and families whose tenancies are at risk and require focussed intervention, to prevent eviction and homelessness. The team often provide advice on budgeting effectively, how to live safely and independently in the community, providing increased tenancy sustainability.

Case StudyTenant H was referred by Bron Afon Community Manager. Tenant H was struggling with bereavement, drinking heavily, and was feeling unsafe in her home. There was a Notice Seeking Possession (NSP) in place and arrears of £116.27 and she had £1500 utility arrears.

A DAF application was completed. Support was provided to enable utility arrears to be written off and smart meters installed. Door and window alarms were fitted, she now feels safer in her home. She was supported to attend an ESA medical assessment resulting in her benefits being reinstated and an application for PIP.

A Hardship application was submitted, she was pregnant, with no money for food, gas or electric. Hardship fund was granted, proving to be a lifeline for her, enabling her to access basic living essentials, reducing her stress and anxiety.

Tenant H completed a Detox programme. She is now 29 weeks pregnant and doing really well. She has accessed training opportunities and is looking to enrol in College to learn new skills. Tenant H is now in credit on her rent account.


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Develop a robust monitoring framework whereby we are consistent in the way we are capturing outcomes for individuals and collectively across all support servicesWithin a 12 month period we have merged the Investment and Inclusion, Pre-Tenancy and Tenancy Support Services to align as ‘One’ Bron Afon Inclusion Service that has the agility to deliver early intervention and prevention portfolio and has rich partnership relationships to support cases with multiple complex needs. We have developed a bespoke support and pre-tenancy module building upon internal data capture system YODA. This has been specifically designed to clearly capture the customer’s journey through the Investment & Inclusion support process and services, from the initial support needs being identified through to the exit of the service. This allows us to:

Manage and

mitigate risk with

clear escalation

pathway.

Create a culture of

change by adopting Families First principles

of Team Around the Family (TAF), embedding the

case conference process across the

organisation.

Optimise positive

outcomes for the customer.

Operate one entry

route into service and case allocation to specialist team.

Streamline Support

Assessments, Reviews and

Exits.

Bron Afon ‘That Works Training’ AcademyWe have launched a framework that sets out Bron Afon’s ‘That Works Training’ Academy bringing together all training and employability strands including; apprenticeships, traineeships, volunteering, work placements, bite-size employability programmes and targeted recruitment and training (“TR&T”). It provides details of how our ‘That Works Training’ Academy will work in practice, providing a coherent approach to capturing data, outcomes, its impact on individual and business performance. This model has the ability to measure individual outcomes, project outcomes and collective organisational outcomes, clearly evidencing that early intervention and prevention services are critical to core business success.


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Deliver support services in partnership where it maximises the benefits for tenants and service usersCollaboration: Family Minded +3 Through true collaboration and with a clear understanding of support needs for families, the ‘Family Minded’ Plus 3 model came to fruition. This model is leading a step change in service delivery across health, housing and statutory sectors to increase life chances for families at risk/in poverty. Core strengths of the Family First approach, coupled with specialist child and family psychological formulation (both direct/indirect) has unlocked the potential to boost access and engagement of families to build resilience.

The delivery model has 3 levels:

Collaboration: Job Centre PlusBron Afon Employability teams have been co-locating as appropriate at JCP in Torfaen. With the impending roll out of Universal Credit, we have been at the forefront of organising ‘Verify’ to prepare customers for this new way of claiming benefits. This approach ensures customers have a consistent message of the changes, individual’s impact and options.

Direct Therapy Service (Level 3):

If the degree of severity warrants a short term specialist intervention but would not meet the criteria for

secondary services, the Clinical Psychologists alongside the Lead

Worker will provide short sharp intervention

Collaboration: Communities FirstEmployability partnership links with Communities First provides us with the opportunity to offer our tenants, some of whom live in the most deprived areas of Torfaen, a more robust, holistic menu of interventions available to them at a point in time when they are needed the most. This provides us with the ability to target and maximise resources, allowing us to expand our ‘stretch and reach’.A

Consultation’+’ Service (Level 2):

The more complex cases are directly assessed by the Clinical Psychologist

within the home.

A Consultation

Service (Level 1):A Clinical Child and Family Psychologist provide staff with consultation around worrying/stuck children,

young people and their families.


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We will use our knowledge and networks to influence policy and practice

LHABron Afon Community Housing and Partners have committed resource and developed collaborative learning structures to change practice ‘as is’ to pilot an innovative step change to mitigate the impact of Local Housing Allowance and Welfare Reform for both business mind and a social heart.

As part of the pilot we are really keen to provide support, clarity and accountability to change ‘as is’, focusing on both human and financial impacts. We have changed and adopted processes to refine practice to absorb changes in external landscape and needs/demands of applicants to ensure they thrive in their tenancy noting; improve quality of life and life chances.

Early findings since ‘go live’ evidence that there is increased sustainability, clear monitoring of social value; allowing us to demonstrrate our social impact, a reduction of people in arrears and the amounts owed.

#housingcrisis

The crisis is around the

affordability of homes to

buy and limited housing

options for young

people.


23

iRefocus our

inclusion and support services for 2016 - 2018,

with a particular emphasis on supporting single

tenants under 35 years of age, claiming LHA and

under 21 on JSA

ii‘Strike a Deal’

with tenants as part of a support plan to

build resilience, skills and independence.

iiiEmbed tenancy sustainability in

business culture, ensuring it becomes critical

to core service delivery.

Whole Business Approach

Delivering Excellence

iCustomers

will have greater opportunity to easily

manage their high volume transactions with us

using a variety of digital communications.

iiOutcomes

across all support services will be

consistently measured, easily aggregated up and clearly feed into national outcomes frameworks

iii‘Make every

contact count’ through roll out of pre-tenancy and support

YODA modules. Providing accountability, data integrity and robust case conferencing

iWe will seek

to win new work through commissioning and partnership activity

whilst reducing our reliance on short term funding.

iiCustomer

satisfaction survey results shape future

service delivery to ensure we embed business mind

with a social heart.

iiiBuild upon

and create local, regional and national

profile to connect strategic partnerships and funding

streams.

Next StepsSupport for Tenancy Sustainability

Tel: 01633 620111www.bronafon.org.uk

@bronafon@bronafon

Documents

Impact Report - Bron Afon · Impact Report 2016 – 2017 9 The Brothers A partnership programme between Bron Afon Community Housing Association and Charter Housing. Its primary aim