Advice for Life, a charity which ran Cambridge Law Centre and Huntingdon Law Centre, has gone into liquidation. As a result, both Law Centres have closed.
The Law Centres Federation (LCF), which represents the 56 Law Centres in England and Wales, is very concerned about the impact that the loss of these Law Centres will have on local people, particularly at a time of economic recession.
For this reason, LCF and a neighbouring Law Centre have offered their assistance to the liquidator to ensure that vulnerable local people continue to get the legal help they need.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
LSC announces final plans for civil contract bids
Solicitors, not-for-profit (NFP) agencies and other legal aid providers will be allowed to form consortia to bid for civil contracts, according to the Legal Services Commission’s (LSC’s) plans for civil legal aid announced in June. However, standalone contracts in housing will not be allowed and this will hit some specialist firms and NFP agencies. Housing firms will have the option of providing family work as well or joining with other providers that undertake debt and welfare benefits work (see 'Civil concerns').
The LSC has split the country into 134 procurement areas covering family and social welfare law, and designated as Integrated Services A and Integrated Services B areas. ‘A’ areas tend to be relatively well-served urban areas in which the LSC will expect contracting organisations to have integrated services. In a move that will cause problems for some firms, those undertaking family work in ‘A’ areas will have to provide both public law children and other family law services to qualify for a contract. There will be variable levels of case starts set to allow for those areas where there is not a great demand for services or in those categories of law in which there are low volumes of cases. Details of the procurement areas, along with a question and answer forum to deal with potential bidders’ enquiries, have been published on the LSC’s website.
Successful bidders will be expected to take up at least 85 per cent of the matter starts allocated to them; the LSC hopes that this will discourage organisations from overbidding. LAG understands that the LSC will announce the criteria which will be used to select between bidders if there are more of them than contracts for work in any of the procurement areas.
At a press conference to announce the plans, Carolyn Regan, the LSC’s chief executive, said: ‘We want to maintain standards and quality without pushing everyone down the merger route.’ However, Nicola Mackintosh, a partner at Mackintosh Duncan, said: ‘The concerns of the LSC about clients experiencing referral fatigue are much better addressed through supporting suppliers to develop more effective referral systems and addressing the serious dearth of suppliers to whom potential clients can be referred, rather than devising an extremely complex and costly system of commissioning through consortia bids.’
It is unclear whether or not the LSC will seek to pilot best value tendering (BVT) for civil legal aid work. Derek Hill, director of policy at the LSC, said: ‘It is something we would like to do, but we have no definite plans.’ He confirmed that the decision rests with the Ministry of Justice. The LSC has left itself the option of announcing two or three pilot areas next month. Suppliers in these areas would get only a short-term contract before the process of allocating Legal Help work became open to BVT.
Civil bid rounds for 2010 contracts: a consultation response and the other documents referred to in this news piece are available at: https://consult.legalservices.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/2010Contracts/listdocuments.
The LSC has split the country into 134 procurement areas covering family and social welfare law, and designated as Integrated Services A and Integrated Services B areas. ‘A’ areas tend to be relatively well-served urban areas in which the LSC will expect contracting organisations to have integrated services. In a move that will cause problems for some firms, those undertaking family work in ‘A’ areas will have to provide both public law children and other family law services to qualify for a contract. There will be variable levels of case starts set to allow for those areas where there is not a great demand for services or in those categories of law in which there are low volumes of cases. Details of the procurement areas, along with a question and answer forum to deal with potential bidders’ enquiries, have been published on the LSC’s website.
Successful bidders will be expected to take up at least 85 per cent of the matter starts allocated to them; the LSC hopes that this will discourage organisations from overbidding. LAG understands that the LSC will announce the criteria which will be used to select between bidders if there are more of them than contracts for work in any of the procurement areas.
At a press conference to announce the plans, Carolyn Regan, the LSC’s chief executive, said: ‘We want to maintain standards and quality without pushing everyone down the merger route.’ However, Nicola Mackintosh, a partner at Mackintosh Duncan, said: ‘The concerns of the LSC about clients experiencing referral fatigue are much better addressed through supporting suppliers to develop more effective referral systems and addressing the serious dearth of suppliers to whom potential clients can be referred, rather than devising an extremely complex and costly system of commissioning through consortia bids.’
It is unclear whether or not the LSC will seek to pilot best value tendering (BVT) for civil legal aid work. Derek Hill, director of policy at the LSC, said: ‘It is something we would like to do, but we have no definite plans.’ He confirmed that the decision rests with the Ministry of Justice. The LSC has left itself the option of announcing two or three pilot areas next month. Suppliers in these areas would get only a short-term contract before the process of allocating Legal Help work became open to BVT.
Civil bid rounds for 2010 contracts: a consultation response and the other documents referred to in this news piece are available at: https://consult.legalservices.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/2010Contracts/listdocuments.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
NEWS RELEASE
15th July 2009 – for immediate release
Unemployed young adults left to cope with problems alone
Youth advice and counselling services facing overwhelming demand whilst resources are cut
As youth unemployment soars towards the 1 million mark, services providing advice and counselling for young people are likely to become overwhelmed.
New research published today by Youth Access indicates that, even before the downturn, over 2 million 16-24 year olds, many of them NEETs, experienced serious rights-related social welfare problems every year – yet fewer than half managed to obtain advice.
The recession is now pushing many more young people into unemployment and its inevitable consequences – debt, mental ill-health, problems with benefits and homelessness. Without support from professional advice and counselling services to resolve such problems, many young people will experience long-term social exclusion.
Youth Access’ research follows news that DCSF Ministers have decided they wish to further consider the long-awaited strategy for young people’s Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) services and its implementation over the summer.
Barbara Rayment, Director of Youth Access, says:
“Just as the recession is threatening to produce another lost generation of young people, an alarming gap is opening up in provision for young adults with serious social welfare problems. The Government has already recognised the impact of the recession on the adult population by increasing access to debt and social welfare advice. However, the evidence shows investment in adult services has little impact on young people.
“There is a real need for a national strategy on information and advice that takes account of young people’s social welfare needs into early adulthood, if we are to alleviate some of the difficulties this group experiences in accessing services. We hope Ministers will take account of these issues as they further consider the DCSF’s IAG strategy and look to join up policy across relevant departments.”
Youth Access believes that it is imperative for commissioners of Integrated Youth Support Services and advice services to link up with each other at local level to ensure adequate provision of advice and counselling services targeted at young people.
The Reports
Youth Access is publishing two new reports, which are intended to support policy makers, commissioners and providers in planning youth advice and counselling services according to robust evidence of need. The two reports are:
The Advice Needs of Young People – The Evidence
The Impact of the Recession on Young People – and on their needs for advice and counselling services
The reports show that:
· NEETs account for a disproportionate number of all young adults with social welfare problems and for approaching half of those seeking advice.
· Although they are considerably less likely to access services, getting advice appears to have a greater beneficial impact on young people than it does on older adults.
· Increasing the availability of services targeted at young people (including young adults, importantly) will be vital if the worst effects of the recession – including the spectre of another ‘lost generation’ – are to be avoided.
· Although the Government has recognised that young people are the age group hit worst by the recession, its attempts to boost pressurised advice and counselling services have so far been aimed at generic adult services, which are rarely accessed by disadvantaged young people. Far from receiving additional funding, many youth advice and counselling services are actually facing cuts.
Download the reports
Notes for Editors
1. Youth Access is the national membership association for a network of over 200 youth information, advice, counselling and support services across the UK dealing with over one million enquiries a year on issues as diverse as sexual health, mental health, relationships, homelessness, benefits and debt. For further information, go to: www.youthaccess.org.uk
2. For more information, hard copies of the reports, case studies and access to interviewees, please call:
James Kenrick, Advice Services Development Manager, Youth Access
020 8772 9900 ext. 25 / 07535 344881; james@youthaccess.org.uk
or
Steve Lee, Policy Officer, Youth Access
020 8772 9900 ext. 28 / 07966 739308; steve@youthaccess.org.uk
3. Other relevant reports published by Youth Access include:
· Rights Within Reach: Developing Effective Legal Advice Outreach Services for Young People (2009)
· Commissioning Counselling Services for Young People: a Guide for Commissioners (2007)
· Counselling Workforce Key Findings Briefing (2008)
· Getting Your Advice Service Ready for Commissioning (2008)
· Locked Out: Young people’s housing and homelessness needs and the impact of good advice (2007)
· Young People’s Social Welfare Needs and the Impact of Good Advice (2007)
· Rights to Access: meeting young people’s needs for advice (2002)
· Breaking down the Barriers (2002) - a series of papers on meeting young people’s mental health and counselling needs
Unemployed young adults left to cope with problems alone
Youth advice and counselling services facing overwhelming demand whilst resources are cut
As youth unemployment soars towards the 1 million mark, services providing advice and counselling for young people are likely to become overwhelmed.
New research published today by Youth Access indicates that, even before the downturn, over 2 million 16-24 year olds, many of them NEETs, experienced serious rights-related social welfare problems every year – yet fewer than half managed to obtain advice.
The recession is now pushing many more young people into unemployment and its inevitable consequences – debt, mental ill-health, problems with benefits and homelessness. Without support from professional advice and counselling services to resolve such problems, many young people will experience long-term social exclusion.
Youth Access’ research follows news that DCSF Ministers have decided they wish to further consider the long-awaited strategy for young people’s Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) services and its implementation over the summer.
Barbara Rayment, Director of Youth Access, says:
“Just as the recession is threatening to produce another lost generation of young people, an alarming gap is opening up in provision for young adults with serious social welfare problems. The Government has already recognised the impact of the recession on the adult population by increasing access to debt and social welfare advice. However, the evidence shows investment in adult services has little impact on young people.
“There is a real need for a national strategy on information and advice that takes account of young people’s social welfare needs into early adulthood, if we are to alleviate some of the difficulties this group experiences in accessing services. We hope Ministers will take account of these issues as they further consider the DCSF’s IAG strategy and look to join up policy across relevant departments.”
Youth Access believes that it is imperative for commissioners of Integrated Youth Support Services and advice services to link up with each other at local level to ensure adequate provision of advice and counselling services targeted at young people.
The Reports
Youth Access is publishing two new reports, which are intended to support policy makers, commissioners and providers in planning youth advice and counselling services according to robust evidence of need. The two reports are:
The Advice Needs of Young People – The Evidence
The Impact of the Recession on Young People – and on their needs for advice and counselling services
The reports show that:
· NEETs account for a disproportionate number of all young adults with social welfare problems and for approaching half of those seeking advice.
· Although they are considerably less likely to access services, getting advice appears to have a greater beneficial impact on young people than it does on older adults.
· Increasing the availability of services targeted at young people (including young adults, importantly) will be vital if the worst effects of the recession – including the spectre of another ‘lost generation’ – are to be avoided.
· Although the Government has recognised that young people are the age group hit worst by the recession, its attempts to boost pressurised advice and counselling services have so far been aimed at generic adult services, which are rarely accessed by disadvantaged young people. Far from receiving additional funding, many youth advice and counselling services are actually facing cuts.
Download the reports
Notes for Editors
1. Youth Access is the national membership association for a network of over 200 youth information, advice, counselling and support services across the UK dealing with over one million enquiries a year on issues as diverse as sexual health, mental health, relationships, homelessness, benefits and debt. For further information, go to: www.youthaccess.org.uk
2. For more information, hard copies of the reports, case studies and access to interviewees, please call:
James Kenrick, Advice Services Development Manager, Youth Access
020 8772 9900 ext. 25 / 07535 344881; james@youthaccess.org.uk
or
Steve Lee, Policy Officer, Youth Access
020 8772 9900 ext. 28 / 07966 739308; steve@youthaccess.org.uk
3. Other relevant reports published by Youth Access include:
· Rights Within Reach: Developing Effective Legal Advice Outreach Services for Young People (2009)
· Commissioning Counselling Services for Young People: a Guide for Commissioners (2007)
· Counselling Workforce Key Findings Briefing (2008)
· Getting Your Advice Service Ready for Commissioning (2008)
· Locked Out: Young people’s housing and homelessness needs and the impact of good advice (2007)
· Young People’s Social Welfare Needs and the Impact of Good Advice (2007)
· Rights to Access: meeting young people’s needs for advice (2002)
· Breaking down the Barriers (2002) - a series of papers on meeting young people’s mental health and counselling needs
The law has changed
From 12 October 2009, new measures are being introduced to help prevent unsuitable people undertaking paid or volunteer work with children or vulnerable adults.
It’s called the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been set up to help implement the Scheme and make decisions over who should be barred from working with vulnerable people. Those decisions are legally binding too. Failing to comply could result in both the employer and the employee or volunteer being prosecuted, or even going to prison.
From July 2010 all new employees, those moving jobs and volunteers who want to work with children or vulnerable adults can register with the ISA. From November 2010, they must be ISA-registered. From then on it will be illegal to employ new people who are not ISA-registered.
see this link:
http://www.isa-gov.org.uk/toolkit/
It’s called the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been set up to help implement the Scheme and make decisions over who should be barred from working with vulnerable people. Those decisions are legally binding too. Failing to comply could result in both the employer and the employee or volunteer being prosecuted, or even going to prison.
From July 2010 all new employees, those moving jobs and volunteers who want to work with children or vulnerable adults can register with the ISA. From November 2010, they must be ISA-registered. From then on it will be illegal to employ new people who are not ISA-registered.
see this link:
http://www.isa-gov.org.uk/toolkit/
Archive 7/16/09 12:00 PM Rights Within Reach - Young People
June 2009 Rights Within Reach: Developing Effective Legal Advice Outreach Services for Young People
Maria from our Housing Group was involved in the research that led to this report.
This joint report from the Law Centres Federation and Youth Access puts forward a blueprint for legal advice services for young people. It finds that new technology is not the way to reach teenagers and young adults hit by the recession. Instead, young people prefer to get advice about their problems from a face to face service targeted specifically at them.
Summary: Rights_Within_Reach_Summary.pdf
Full Report: Rights_Within_Reach_Full_Report.pdf
Maria from our Housing Group was involved in the research that led to this report.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
