Get to know us at an online
FUTURE WEBINARS, EVENTS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
WEBINARS
DATE
TOPIC
LINK
Wed 5 August
10:30 to 11:30
Webinar: How data analytics helps councils look to recovery
The future is uncertain and recovery will be tough. It’s difficult to make projections about what the policy landscape will look like, what the wider economic trends will be and what will happen to different groups of people.
But we need to make projections in order to see the implications for demand for council support and services, and indebtedness.
At Policy in Practice we’re developing two approaches to policy modelling to help councils see what the future has in store, and what action can be taken now to avoid future vulnerability.
Join our webinar to hear:
- What’s happening to your existing low-income households now
- Who your newly vulnerable households are likely to be, and how much they will cost you
- What you can do to help people back to financial independence quickly
STEERING GROUPS
DATE
TOPIC
LINK
Thurs 3 Sept
10:30 to 12:00
Online meeting
LIFT Dashboard steering group
Join us to meet fellow LIFT Dashboard customers. Compare notes about how you’re using the product, get new ideas to take back to the office, hear the challenges others have resolved, ask your peers for advice and provide feedback to us.
Read about what happened at our last LIFT steering group
Thurs 3 Sept
13:00 to 14:30
Online meeting
Benefit and Budgeting Calculator steering group
Join us to meet fellow Benefit and Budgeting Calculator customers, as well as our development team. Learn best practices from other calculator users, help us prioritise new functionality and features for 2020 and steer the calculator’s development roadmap.
Read about what happened at our last BBC steering group
ON DEMAND WEBINARS
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.
DATA ANALYTICS
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
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.
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.