Child Poverty - NCC application case study

Background

The Sure Start Information and Resource Service (IRS) was established in the Cowgate and Blakelaw area of North West Newcastle in 2003 as a targeted service to reduce the number of children living in workless households. The area has high levels of deprivation, low levels of adult qualifications and skills and little social capital. In 2007/8 the IRS worked with 467 parents.

The IRS was initially designed and developed by NCH, and the council's Families Information Service (FIS). It was shaped through:

• Analysing need through data relating to the area
• Consultation with local parents and careers of preschool children to understand their specific needs and what help they needed to become economically active
• Identifying existing provision and support services.

It became a pilot for this type of outreach delivery model in Newcastle and has continued to be re-shaped based on feedback from service users, other key partners and external evaluation.

Service description

The IRS focuses on the needs of each individual service user and supports them on their unique journey into work and training. Although some of the support described might seem unimportant to people who are easily able to locate and use services, it is these relatively simple actions that make the service successful in engaging some of the most socially excluded parents out of deprivation.

The success of the IRS is through:

• Taking the service into the community and building rapport
• Communicating clearly and effectively
• Offering choices Using a 'positive solution focus' model
• Redesigning the service based on self evaluation and feedback from service users
• Being welcoming, helpful and approachable
• Listening
• Delivering flexibly and in response to individual need
• Being highly knowledgeable and reliable

Role of the Information and Resource Worker

• To use FIS and other resources (e.g. childcare information, job vacancies and service directory) to identify childcare vacancies, training, jobs and parenting support locally
• To provide support to access a wide range of benefits
• To enable service users to access other key agencies through practical support and assistance to contact and communicate with agencies, e.g. using the telephone, completing paperwork, attending meetings, using interpreting services
• To support families experiencing financial difficulties, housing issues, relationship and family challenges
• To establish effective working relationships with a wide range of key partners, i.e. Jobcentre Plus (JCP), Newcastle Futures, CAB, Family Law, FE and training providers and to help these organizations to deliver services locally through the Children's Centre

Development

This successful service is now being delivered within other Children's Centres in Newcastle. To maximise its reach and benefits, training is offered to reception and other staff to improve engagement, standardisation and the quality of advice offered to parents at the first point of contact.

Case Studies

These are just two of many examples of how the work of IRS and partners is having a positive impact on the lives of families living in poverty.

Emma

Emma is a lone parent with two preschool children. She left school at 16 after achieving some low grade GCSEs in several subjects then had a number of short term temporary jobs and a period of unemployment before becoming pregnant at 18 years old.

She has recently started working again and is delighted that her family income has increased and her children are settled with a local registered child minder. Her mental well-being has improved in recent months and her confidence and personal skills have developed enormously.

• Emma approached the IRS for support in claiming benefits after having her first child.
• Over a period of time she was encouraged and supported to attend a baby group, training courses, exercise sessions and engage with family support services.
• Via the service she received support on budgeting and debt advice from A4e.
• Emma more recently sought information about getting English and Math’s qualifications and the IRS worker accessed help from Newcastle Futures (including going with her to an initial appointment).
• Through working with Newcastle Futures, JCP lone parent advisors and FIS, IRS enabled Emma to engage in accredited training, and secured funding for and found good quality local childcare.
• Emma continued to use IRS for job vacancies and help in completing application forms for jobs and benefits.

Emma says:

"I found it great to be able to see someone close to home who I could ask about benefits. I didn't have a clue about who could look after my children or where to find out about childcare. It was so useful having someone introduce me to child minders."

Jamal

Jamal is married with three young children and has refugee status. He has lived in the area for about 2 years. As a very proud and motivated young man, Jamal is thrilled to have found employment, be able to provide for his family and have a sense of belonging in the community. Jamal was signposted to the IRS by other community workers when he did not know where to go for benefits advice.

Through IRS and collaboration from other agencies, Jamal was supported locally to: 

• Understand the benefits system and access Job Seekers Allowance
• Complete Child Benefit forms and to make follow up calls to chase up his claim
• Get financial advice and support in accessing a crisis loan from the social fund
• Complete Child Tax Credit forms and Working Tax Credit and telephone calls to notify changes in circumstances
• Gain confidence and employment
• Move a workless household into employment

Jamal says:

"This service is so near to my home. I feel very comfortable with the worker so I can share my families' problems, which I have never done with anyone else."

Jamal's wife, who felt very isolated when her husband started work, has also been supported through IRS and has gained in confidence to access Children's Centre services herself. She plans to improve her own language skills and qualifications in order to seek employment.