Intersectoral interagency partnerships to promote financial capability in older people

From the second quarter of 2008, the UK economy entered a period of economic decline. Older people are particularly vulnerable during these times. To promote ways in which older people can be better supported to maintain their financial well-being, this study explored the sources older people utilize to keep themselves financially informed. Interviews with older people (n = 28) showed that older people access trusted sources of information (e.g. healthcare professionals) rather than specialist financial information providers (e.g. financial advisors) which highlighted the need for interagency working between financial services in the private, public and voluntary sectors. An example of how such interagency partnerships might be achieved in practice is presented with some recommendations on directions for future research into interagency working that spans public, private and voluntary sectors

Childcare, choice and social class: Caring for young children in the UK

This paper draws on the results of two qualitative research projects examining parental engagements with the childcare market in the UK. Both projects are located in the same two London localities. One project focuses on professional middle class parents, and the other on working class families, and we discuss the key importance of social class in shaping parents' differential engagement with the childcare market, and their understandings of the role childcare plays in their children's lives. We identify and discuss the different "circuits" of care (Ball et al 1995) available to and used by families living physically close to each other, but in social class terms living in different worlds. We also consider parents' relationships with carers, and their social networks. We conclude that in order to fully understand childcare policies and practices and families' experiences of care, an analysis which encompasses social class and the workings of the childcare market is needed

Union renewal in historical perspective

This article revisits contemporary union renewal/revival debates through comparison with the late 1930s resurgence of trade unionism in the UK’s engineering industry. It is argued that the 1930s union renewal arose from more favourable contextual conditions than those currently obtaining. It was led by political activists, with better-articulated organisation and greater resonance in the working class than their contemporary counterparts, and who were assisted by state policy and pro-worker forces. Conclusions are drawn in relation to current debates

A systematic review of the health, social and financial impacts of welfare rights advice delivered in healthcare settings

BACKGROUND: Socio-economic variations in health, including variations in health according to wealth and income, have been widely reported. A potential method of improving the health of the most deprived groups is to increase their income. State funded welfare programmes of financial benefits and benefits in kind are common in developed countries. However, there is evidence of widespread under claiming of welfare benefits by those eligible for them. One method of exploring the health effects of income supplementation is, therefore, to measure the health effects of welfare benefit maximisation programmes. We conducted a systematic review of the health, social and financial impacts of welfare rights advice delivered in healthcare settings. METHODS: Published and unpublished literature was accessed through searches of electronic databases, websites and an internet search engine; hand searches of journals; suggestions from experts; and reference lists of relevant publications. Data on the intervention delivered, evaluation performed, and outcome data on health, social and economic measures were abstracted and assessed by pairs of independent reviewers. Results are reported in narrative form. RESULTS: 55 studies were included in the review. Only seven studies included a comparison or control group. There was evidence that welfare rights advice delivered in healthcare settings results in financial benefits. There was little evidence that the advice resulted in measurable health or social benefits. This is primarily due to lack of good quality evidence, rather than evidence of an absence of effect. CONCLUSION: There are good theoretical reasons why income supplementation should improve health, but currently little evidence of adequate robustness and quality to indicate that the impact goes beyond increasing income

Information technology for advising citizens

Report on a project by Coatsbridge Citizens Advice Bureau to integrate information technology into the task of providing legal advice through Citizens Advice bureaux. Published as part of a special report on the Hamlyn Trust's 50th anniversary awards in Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and its Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London

Spotlight on CAB clients needing emergency accommodation

This Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) report paints a disturbing picture of vulnerable children, families and individuals who are being left without the safety net of somewhere warm and safe to sleep for the night, sometimes after having asked for help from a government agency. CAB acknowledges the complexities in this area – the bigger picture of the lack of availability of affordable housing, including social housing, as well as the fact that some evictions happen because people have breached tenancy agreements. To address these issues, CAB urges Government to redouble its efforts to increase our stock of affordable housing, reduce the waiting times for social housing and support existing tenants to remain housed. In the short term, CAB see a number of steps that could be taken immediately to strengthen our safety net and address some of the issues raised in this report. Recommendations: 1. That Work and Income take responsibility for finding emergency accommodation for people who ask for help because they have nowhere suitable to live and no access to shelter. That, where there is no emergency accommodation available, Work and Income have access to funding to pay for other suitable temporary accommodation. This funding should be sufficient to provide temporary accommodation until adequate safe, secure and permanent housing can be accessed. 2. That Work and Income and the Social Housing Assessment division of the Ministry of Social Development collaborate to ensure that people who are on the social housing register have suitable temporary accommodation while they wait for social housing. 3. That when Housing New Zealand wishes tenants or other residents to leave a Housing New Zealand property these people are supported (in collaboration with other government agencies) to find alternative accommodation that is safe, stable and affordable. 4. That one government agency be made responsible for an Emergency Accommodation Strategy. This would include co-ordinating the roles that different government agencies play; ensuring that government agencies are not themselves the drivers of homelessness but are part of the solution; monitoring the effectiveness of this strategy in preventing homelessness

Sacked, made redundant Your rights if you lose your job: a handbook for applicants to industrial tribunals

LD:82/00188(Sacked). / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Social Security appeals: a guide to National Insurance local tribunals and medical appeal tribunals

2.50LD:81/0008(Social) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Rural perceptions

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:99/37306 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo