Shape the future - part 1

Consulting on the DSD strategy for the voluntary advice sector

Dave Wall, Director of the Voluntary and Community Unit, explains the hopes of the Department for the future of voluntary advice and urges agencies to take an active role in the consultation to shape the future of the sector.

The launch of the Department’s Strategy for Supporting Delivery of Voluntary Advice Services to the Community is a significant development for both government and the voluntary advice sector and gives us an opportunity to put in place a high quality, well resourced and modern advice and information service across Northern Ireland.

I think we should acknowledge where we have come from in terms of the delivery of free, independent, quality advice services in a deeply divided society. Throughout years of conflict, the voluntary advice sector has provided a lifeline to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the community. In ramshackle community centres, isolated village halls and beleaguered peaceline bureaux, you have maintained a professional service to all, often in the most difficult circumstances.

And whilst in recent years the political climate has changed and opportunities have arisen to modernise and initiate purpose built facilities, in many ways advice services have suffered from a lack of a co-ordinated policy framework and a reliance on short-term funding. We are now actively pursuing the development of a clear policy framework for advice services and indeed for the voluntary sector as a whole.

Many of you will be familiar with the report of the Task Force on Resourcing the Voluntary and Community Sector, Investing Together, and government’s response, Positive Steps. A key recurring theme in Positive Steps is about government and the voluntary and community sector working together to improve the delivery of public services. This was re-inforced recently by the Secretary of State in an address to the Fabian Society when he outlined the need to 'transform the delivery of government and public services, with power exercised as close to the people as possible.' He also talked about the need to 'foster community, private, voluntary and not for profit sectors to become engaged in delivering government objectives, with communities empowered to take control of their own futures.'

It is in this context that the Department’s advice strategy has been developed. It is about transforming the way local advice services are delivered, about supporting these services in a better way and, most importantly, about making a difference to the lives of people who are most in need of these services. So what are the key recommendations that you need to consider?
Firstly the strategy has tackled the important question of how the advice sector should be structured to meet an identified need, with limited resources. The current structures have developed, not in a strategic way, but as a response to available funding and this has sometimes created unhealthy competition and duplication of services. The strategy recommends a province-wide network of generalist advice providers (known as Area Hubs) with the emphasis on geographical spread, accessibility and targeting social need. It is proposed that these hubs will be linked to a range of satellite and outreach providers with the aim of having every person in Northern Ireland living within five miles of an advice facility.

Under this proposed structure, there will be a key role for specialist providers in working with Area Hubs to ensure that the needs of their client group are addressed and in accepting referrals where appropriate. The strategy recommends that ASA should establish a Specialist Advisory Panel to advise on quality, training and access issues. I would expect that the Law Centre would continue to play an important role within any new structures in providing support and training to local providers and in handling the most complex cases which often test policy or legislation.

The phrase 'joined-up government' is sometimes over used but it is most appropriate in this instance. The number and location of Area Hubs are likely to be closely linked to the proposed new local government landscape, with the emphasis on achieving fully integrated services across the public and voluntary sectors.

I recognise that these changes could present a formidable challenge to the voluntary advice sector and will prove difficult for some. But I believe that, if we are serious about improving services and making a real difference to people’s lives, then no other way forward is acceptable.

So how could the voluntary advice sector benefit from these revised structures? The strategy sets out a clear vision of a properly resourced, sustainable, voluntary advice sector and my Department has a key role to play in working across government, and with other funders, to ensure that this vision becomes a reality. As part of this process, we would hope to establish a Government Advice and Information Group to share information and ensure that future funding decisions are taken in line with the strategic framework envisaged in the strategy. There will be opportunities to take advantage of new funding opportunities. DETI has made a commitment to funding face to face debt advice services and the Social Security Agency is supporting a number of initiatives with the voluntary advice sector around benefit take up. The Legal Services Commission has also expressed some interest in supporting the development of voluntary advice services as it examines alternative delivery mechanisms for appropriate legal services.

The advice strategy is a key priority for DSD and the Minister, David Hanson, has underlined government’s commitment by providing additional resources to directly support local advice provision, through the Community Support Programme. We have asked district councils to match this from rateable income and this should produce almost £3 million per annum for support of frontline services. This investment signals our intent to deliver on the objectives identified in the strategy consultation document and we will be working with district councils to ensure that resources are delivered in line with the agreed structures.

In all of this, we must not lose sight of the overall vision of this strategy 'to ensure that everyone has access to quality advice and information services and, by implication, the ability to benefit from it.' I would urge you all to make a positive contribution during the consultation period. This is the opportunity to have your say in shaping the future of advice services in Northern Ireland and it is only through working together that we can deliver a truly integrated, quality advice service.

© Law Centre (NI) 2006