Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval for the transfer of management responsibility for the social care welfare benefits function from the Resources Directorate to the Directorate of Housing & Social Services.

 (i)        That Option 2 be approved, with the resulting transfer of the management of the benefits advice function from the Resources Directorate to the Housing & Adult Social Services Directorate.

Members received a report which sought approval for the transfer of management responsibility for the social care welfare benefits function from the Resources Directorate to the Directorate of Housing & Social Services.  This followed the first stage of a review of the discretionary charging system undertaken jointly by the two Directorates.

The current system for administering discretionary charging had three key components, each of which was separately managed and utilised different information and data systems:

·        Provision of welfare benefits checks and advice, and gathering of information for financial assessments, carried out by the Benefit Advice section of the Resources Directorate;

·        Management of financial assessments, carried out by the Corporate Services section of the Housing & Adult Social Services Directorate;

·        Reconciliation of the level of provision with the assessed charge in order to send invoices to customers, carried out by the Charging Unit in the Adult Services section of the Housing & Adult Social Services Directorate.

The report presented the following options for consideration:

·        Option 1 – To retain the current structure;

·        Option 2 - To manage all components in one section;

·        Option 3 – To combine financial assessment and charging functions.

It was reported that the Executive Members for Housing and Adult Social Services and Advisory Panel had considered the report on 17 July 2006 and had approved Option 2.

It was noted that the first bullet point of paragraph 21 should read, “There is a risk that the advantages gained by linking the welfare benefit function of the discretionary charges with the Council’s Resources Team responsible for benefit advice would not be fully realised;” and that the final sentences of paragraph 21 should read, “It is felt that the impact of the risks are higher and more likely to happen, if the proposal is not agreed.  Any potential risks can be managed through contingency planning”.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for Adult Social Services be advised:

(i)         That Option 2 be approved, with the resulting transfer of the management of the benefits advice function from the Resources Directorate to the Housing & Adult Social Services Directorate.

Decision of the Executive Member for Adult Social Services

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel as set out above be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service.