Information and Advice Framework Consultation

Overview

In Sutton, information and advice is provided to residents across a broad range of topics including social care (both adult and children), benefits, housing, wellbeing, public health, education and environmental services from a range of different providers including the council.

By 'information services' we mean: giving clients the information they need, for them to know and do more about their situation. An information service may inlcude; providing general information, signposting and assisting clients to find information that relates to their enquiry.

By 'advice services' we mean: a diagnosis of the client's enquiry and the legal issues involved, giving information and explaining options, identifying further action the client can take; some assistance: eg. contacting third parties to seek information; filling in forms.

Over time, the council has commissioned both generalist and specialist information and advice services from a range of different external sources, in addition to providing its own internal services; whilst the voluntary sector and others also provide a wide range of independent information and advice to residents.  As a result the current information and advice offer is complex and often confusing for residents.

Why your views matter

The context in which we operate is changing as councils face unprecedented reductions to their funding coupled with increasing demand for services due to demographic pressures. There are also a number of pieces of new or changing legislation that have a direct impact on our provision and commissioning of information and advice provision including the Care Act, Children and Families Act and welfare reform.

Putting this into the context of our financial position and our commissioning cycle, there was a case to holistically review information and advice for our residents based on a thorough needs assessment. This framework identifies our future vision and priorities for information and advice to ensure any future commissioning is reflective of affordability, prioritisation of statutory provision and ensuring residents are able to help themselves wherever possible.