FUTURE WEBINARS, EVENTS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
WEBINARS
DATE
TOPIC
LINK
Wed 7 October
10:30 to 11:30
How to predict the demand for your customer-facing services in April 2021
COVID-19 has created residents who are newly financially vulnerable and who will be looking to you for help in the near future. But who are these people, and what action can you take now to stop them falling into crisis? And, critically, how will your support services need to adapt?
Join this webinar to learn:
- What the best and worst case scenarios look like for councils in 2021
- How flexible modelling of the future can help you understand the impacts on your caseload
- What the likely impact will be on employment, arrears, and homelessness, and what that means for you
Wed 11 November
10:30 to 11:30
How to find the right debt solution for everyone
In today’s economic climate falling into debt is perilously easy, getting out is hard. Firms in the debt sector have adopted flexible and ethical collection practices to support families who are struggling, yet costs and the time taken to collect have increased.
Whether you’re a utility company, advice agency, local authority or housing association, you’re are on the frontline for helping people in debt.
You can boost the financial resilience of households by helping them to increase their income. In this way, you can increase collection rates and social impact, in the knowledge that you’re doing the right thing.
Join this webinar to hear:
- How COVID-19 has already hit people’s incomes, and what’s in store
- How to reduce existing arrears and the chance of a customer falling into arrears
- How to minimise the cost of debt collection
Wed 9 December
10:30 to 11:30
2020: Policy review of the year, and forward look to 2021
2020 has brought fundamental changes to our lives, both personally and professionally. As our economy took second place to our health, so the welfare safety net came to the fore to support families who faced an income shock, seemingly overnight.
In this webinar we look back at the policy response to the seismic shifts in our economy and society wrought by the pandemic. We will revisit the research findings we uncovered from our analysis for clients across both local and central government. And, as the focus turns to the health of our economy, we look at what 2021 means for people facing redundancy, debt or lower incomes.
Join this webinar to hear:
- How well the COVID-19 welfare changes worked, and what should happen next
- How living standards changed this year, and what the future holds
- The outlook for 2021 and how organisations can best support families
Our policy experts will discuss our analysis and what this means in 2021 for council tax support schemes, housing and homelessness demand, the outlook for living standards in the context of economic recovery, Universal Credit and Brexit.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
DATE
TOPIC
LINK
Wed 30
September
11:00 to 12:00
What financial advisers need to know about Universal Credit
iPipeline. Webinar. Deven Ghelani speaking
Deven Ghelani joins Justin Harper, LV, to discuss how COVID-19 has created financial vulnerability for families, many of whom now need to rely on the benefit system for support. Deven will talk about how the benefit system was boosted to help people cope with their changed circumstances, and it can be complex and confusing to navigate. Financial advisers can be well placed to offer timely support to people navigating their way through the crisis but how much do they need to know about the benefits system in order to help? And how can they stay up to date?
Thurs 1
October
The Future of the Welfare State: Universal Credit, Furlough Schemes and Other Initiatives to Support Those in Need
Public Policy Exchange. Online webinar. Deven Ghelani speaking
Deven has been invited to talk about the effectiveness of Universal Credit and the social policies introduced in the light of COVID-19. He will join speakers Debbie Abrahams MP, Steve McCabe MP, Dr Sophie Wickham and Dr Guy Standing.
Tues 6
October
A tale of two councils: ReImagine Debt Collection
IRRV. Virtual Annual Conference. Deven Ghelani speaking
As COVID-19 continues to hit the financial resilience of many families councils are looking ahead to what this means for collection rates. With council tax arrears already at £3.5 billion pre-crisis, and forecast to reach nearly £5 billion by the end of parliament, councils will need to find new ways to maximise collections. Deven Ghelani will talk about how two councils identified which residents owed multiple debts to them, how they stabilised their incomes, and how they tracked the effectiveness of support. Attendees will learn how early intervention offers a proven approach for other councils to consider to prevent problem debt.
Wed 7
October
COVID-19: Who has fallen through the gaps?
IRRV. Virtual Annual Conference. Zoe Charlesworth speaking
The new COVID-19 schemes operate alongside means-tested benefits, pay different amounts and cater to different kinds of eligibility, resulting in a wide yet inequitable net of support. Zoe Charlesworth presents analysis by Policy in Practice that looked at over 2,500 individual cases of households who struggled with or missed out on support. Zoe will explore the characteristics of eight groups who you should watch out for as you advise residents, and a worked example of surplus earnings rules. Delegates will learn who missed out on support, what impact of COVID-19 support has had on inequality and, practically, who will need more guidance as their circumstances change.
Thurs 15
October
Embedding a data-driven culture
Housemark. Ten Days of Data festival. Deven Ghelani speaking
Commitment to embrace data-driven decision making is needed at all levels of an organisation to realise the full value of insights. At this event Deven Ghelani will join the speaker panel to explore how to lead by example to ensure what we do, say and ask, fosters a data-driven culture and embeds the use of data across an organisation.
Tues 20
October
How viable is your council tax support scheme?
CIPFA. Public Finance Live. Zoe Charlesworth speaking
Councils are looking ahead to what COVID-19 means for collection rates, people’s ability to pay, and whether their council tax support schemes can cope with increased demand.
Council tax arrears were already £3.5 billion pre-crisis and are forecast to reach nearly £5 billion by the end of parliament. Zoe Charlesworth will examine what the worsening financial crisis means for council’s collection rates, budget setting and council tax support schemes, and will look at efforts across central and local government to improve how council tax debt is recovered.
Thurs 29
October
Building financial resilience to get ahead of the curve
MALG. Virtual summit. Sarah Lambert speaking
Over 20 million of us don’t have the necessary skills to effectively manage our money and 11.5 million of us have less than £100 in savings.
With predictions of widespread unemployment and an expected tsunami of people needing debt advice and support during the coming months and years, this session will explore the innovative new tools and approaches that will help organisations to improve the financial capability of customers, increase the financial resilience of customers and engage customers earlier.
Sarah Lambert from Policy in Practice will discuss research and initiatives they have developed to support organisations to get ahead of the curve.
Watch an on-demand webinar
Browse our extensive back catalogue of on-demand webinars to hear our local authority, housing association and Citizens Advice clients talk about the challenges they face, and how our solutions are helping.
DATA ANALYTICS
How councils can recover from COVID-19
We look at which households were vulnerable before and after the pandemic, and Luton Council shares how data insights are helping them recover from COVID-19.
Coronavirus and tackling vulnerability
As new measures to control Coronavirus (COVID-19) are introduced we were joined on this webinar by RedQuadrant to talk about how frontline organisations can identify and support people through this crisis.
The most underclaimed benefits and how to drive take up
In this webinar we showcased innovative work Folkestone and Hythe Council is doing to encourage take-up of pension credit and other underclaimed benefits. We showed how the LIFT Dashboard is used to identify people who may be eligible for extra cash but aren’t claiming, and how the Benefit and Budgeting Calculator has the eligibility for little known benefits built in.
Designing effective data-led local authorities
Mark Fowler, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, shares how the LIFT Dashboard has helped them build a data led approach to deliver the highest quality, people-centred services for their residents.
Designing effective data-led intervention campaigns
Margaret Gallagher, Linda Morris and Emilio Innocenti from Haringey Council tell us how they use data analysis and their LIFT Dashboard to run targeted intervention campaigns to encourage take-up of backdated Pension Credit claims.
How to target your Discretionary Housing Payments well
Ellie Kershaw from Tower Hamlets Council explores the challenges the borough has in spending Discretionary Housing Payments funding well. We hear how consistency with local priorities, speed of decision making and understanding effectiveness are key, and how Policy in Practice’s software is helping.
How Croydon Council is using data to deliver better outcomes
Julia Pitt, Director of Gateway and Welfare at Croydon Council, joined us to discuss how Croydon’s early intervention and prevention approach to helping families affected by welfare reforms and how the LIFT dashboard has supported the work of their award-winning Gateway programme.
Using data analytics to understand child vulnerability
Haroon Chowdry, Head of Analysis, Children’s Commissioner’s Office, joined us to discuss the crucial information that benefits data can give about family context, and how this can help with early identification of vulnerability. We shared findings from analysis we did for the CCO on the impact that welfare reforms will have on levels of child vulnerability.
Data analytics: Who’s missing out on benefits in your area?
Listen back to this webinar to hear guest speaker Corin Hammersley, Royal Borough of Greenwich, explain how they identified £20 million of unclaimed benefits for residents using a Policy in Practice LIFT Dashboard.
Use your data effectively to identify and prevent vulnerability
Following our summer Leading Lights Network event at the House of Lords with Lord Bird, founder of the Big Issue, we continue the conversation about how to prevent households from falling in to crisis. Listen back to hear frontline stories of creative uses of public data that tackle vulnerability early, and in a proven sustainable way. With Chris Parker, Newcastle City Council.
Proactively tackle homelessness
Hear about our work to proactively tackle homelessness using local predictors, developed with household data. With Claire Horton, Newcastle City Council.
Track the living standards of low income households
Listen back to hear how we track living standards and visualise drivers of poverty with our LIFT dashboard. With Chris Buckman, Exeter City Council.
COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT SCHEMES
How viable is your council tax support scheme?
We look at how remodelling your CTRS scheme now can safeguard residents from COVID-19 income shocks in the future.
Webinar: Is your post COVID-19 Council Tax Support Scheme sustainable?
Listen back as Zoe Charlesworth presents new nationwide analysis on the Hardship Fund allocations and discusses what this means for collection rates. Megan Mclean will talk about what this means for those who become newly unemployed, and what this means for CTR support schemes. Finally, Deven Ghelani will look at what councils can do now to proactively support people.
Lessons learned: our year modelling Council Tax Reduction Schemes
Listen back as Zoe Charlesworth and Megan Mclean as they review the 150 or so council tax reduction (CTR) support schemes we modelled for local authority clients in 2019. This recap includes highlights from our analysis, a discussion of trends we’ve identified and consider what this means for local organisations in 2020.
Council tax support models that Members can sign up to
In response to shrinking budgets 90% of English councils made changes to their CTRS schemes last year, almost all of them cuts. But, as Universal Credit rolls out, how should councils change their schemes, in order to protect their most vulnerable residents?
Policy in Practice’s Zoe Charlesworth and Megan Mclean talked to Allan Clark, Barnet Council to learn how they’re changing their council tax support scheme for Universal Credit and how Policy in Practice’s Council Tax Support Scheme modelling helped.
Changing your Council Tax support scheme: what are others doing?
Listen back to hear guest speaker Clive Jones, Luton Borough Council, talking about why modelling the impacts of different options is the key to designing new CTRS schemes and the importance of member involvement. Zoe Charlesworth gives Universal Credit analysis updates and Juan Alvarez Vilanova outlines the 4 different approaches to modelling that we take.
Understand how Universal Credit affects Council Tax Reduction Schemes
Universal Credit means the default council tax reduction scheme is no longer the best option. Find out how support schemes need to change. With Jenny Hoare, Wolverhampton City Council.
Future proof your Council Tax Reduction Scheme for Universal Credit
Listen back to hear Paul Howarth, Welfare Reform Club and Ian Jones, LB Hackney talk about Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Universal Credit.
BENEFIT AND BUDGETING CALCULATOR
How to simplify the complexity of surplus earnings
Many self-employed people will receive a grant through the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) this month. These payments can be up to £7,500 and will be counted as earnings under Universal Credit. As a result, lots of self-employed households will be affected by the complex ‘surplus earnings’ rules for the first time.
In this webinar Zoe Charlesworth gave a simple guide to the SEISS, Universal Credit and surplus earnings rules while Duncan Hatfiled, Policy and Operations Analyst, gave worked examples illustrating the challenge, and what to look out for. We were also joined by Sue McCarron who shared how frontline staff from Citizens Advice Wirral use the Benefit and Budgeting Calculator to support customers facing fluctuating income and, finally, Peter Carter gave a brief demo of the Benefit and Budgeting Calculator to those who stayed.
Coronavirus: Stories from the frontline
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has made life tough for people who are scared for their health and their finances. It’s also brought huge pressure to frontline organisations who are there to help. In this webinar we are joined by Ellie Kershaw, Tower Hamlets and Grant Bailey, Cheltenham Borough Homes to discuss how they are dealing with the current changes, and how the crisis now will affect their residents in the future. We explore how services may need to change and how organisations can be proactive now to safeguard their residents’ wellbeing.
May 2020: Recap of the major benefits changes and Coronavirus
As new measures to control Coronavirus (COVID-19) are introduced Policy in Practice’s Head of Policy, Zoe Charlesworth, gave a recap of the major changes to the welfare system and explored their impacts in this webinar. Guest speaker Victoria Todd, Head of LITRG, LITRG, talked about recent developments and focused on tax credit issues. Megan Mclean shared some of the common questions we’ve received on our Coronavirus support page from people who are worried about their income and, finally, Peter Carter briefly walks through software tools that help our clients to give the best advice possible to their customers.
April 2020: Recap of the major benefits changes and Coronavirus
As new measures to control Coronavirus (COVID-19) are introduced Policy in Practice’s Head of Policy, Zoe Charlesworth, gives a comprehensive recap of the major changes to the welfare system in this webinar. In addition, Louise Murphy shares some of the common questions we’ve received on our Coronavirus support page from people who are worried about their income. She explains the answers we’ve given, highlighting the complexity of what has become a dual welfare system. Finally, Peter Carter briefly walks through software tools that help our clients to give the best advice possible to their customers.
How Curo triages support to help customers onto Universal Credit
Hear guest speaker Emma Owens, Curo, discussing their triage approach to helping their most at-risk customers first. This outward facing strategy means they spend 80% of their time with 20% of their customers. Emma talks about how they use Policy in Practice’s Benefit and Budgeting Calculator to help manage this process and effectively maximise staff time.
How frontline organisations can prepare for Universal Credit managed migration
Hear guest speakers Michelle Birley and Nadine Burns, The Guinness Group, discussing the Universal Credit managed migration pilot and how Guinness is preparing.
How Citizens Advice is helping Universal Credit claimants
Hear guest speakers Kayley Hignell, Citizens Advice, and Nicky Rees, Citizens Advice Peterborough, in conversation with Deven Ghelani, Policy in Practice. As Universal Credit receives a refresh we asked what the recent changes mean for people affected, and how Citizens Advice is responding.
Budgeting support: Best practice ways to help low income households
Hear guest speaker Marie Hardeman, The Guinness Group, in conversation with Donna Gallagher and Peter Carter. As personal debt hits new highs we talk about the budgeting support they offer to their tenants nationwide.
Universal Credit: how are frontline advisors responding?
Hear guest speaker Darren Thomas, Senior Welfare Advisor, Grwp Cynefin, in conversation with Zoe Charlesworth and Peter Carter, Policy in Practice. As Universal Credit rollout progresses from the live service to full service they discuss what the changes mean and how frontline advisors at Grwp Cynefin are faring. Zoe also outlines our Budget 2018 analysis of the changes to Universal Credit.
Understand the impact of Universal Credit on rent collection
Hear guest speaker Bill Irvine, UC Advice & Advocacy, in conversation with Deven Ghelani and Zoe Charlesworth. They discuss how tenants are being hit as Universal Credit rolls out, what the latest policy updates mean for landlords and what practical steps housing associations can take to help tenants and protect rental income.
Practical ways to help vulnerable households deal with debt
Hear about our award winning work with Phoenix to help vulnerable people deal with debt early whilst improving collection processes and reducing costs. With Carole Kenney, Phoenix, and Nick Rowe, London Borough of Ealing.
Support disabled job seekers on their journey into work
Learn how frontline advisors are helping disabled job seekers understand benefit changes as Universal Credit rolls out nationwide. With Marise Mackie, Pluss.
Help people on their financial journey to Universal Credit
Listen back to hear guest speakers from Solihull Community Housing and Your Homes Newcastle talk about how they use our Benefit and Budgeting Calculator.
POLICY
Recap of the major benefits changes and Coronavirus
As new measures to control Coronavirus (COVID-19) are introduced Policy in Practice’s Head of Policy, Zoe Charlesworth, gives a comprehensive recap of the major changes to the welfare system in this webinar. In addition, Louise Murphy shares some of the common questions we’ve received on our Coronavirus support page from people who are worried about their income. She explains the answers we’ve given, highlighting the complexity of what has become a dual welfare system. Finally, Peter Carter briefly walks through software tools that help our clients to give the best advice possible to their customers.
2018: A policy review of the year
In our policy review of the year speakers, Deven Ghelani and Paul Howarth, looked back on a busy 2018. We reviewed the policy changes that have happened in 2018, shared some key findings from policy analysis we commissioned to do by clients, and looked forward to what this may mean for 2019.
Help people transition onto Universal Credit
Listen back to our webinar with Aster Housing Group and Croydon Council on how they’re helping people transition onto Universal Credit.
How to influence central government
Listen back to our webinar to hear how to influence central government policy development and get your frontline experiences heard. With Paul Howarth and Jake Love Soper.