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The efficiency imperative: driving impact via data driven outreach With increasing demand and shrinking resources, councils face growing pressure to deliver impactful support to vulnerable residents efficiently.

In this webinar, we explore how data driven outreach campaigns can help local authorities overcome these challenges and achieve impactful results.

Join us to hear from two leading local government organisations as they share their experiences using Campaign Manager, a powerful new feature of the LIFT platform.

Discover how they’ve leveraged their data using intelligent analytics to identify financially vulnerable residents, streamline their outreach processes, and maximise both resident outcomes and cost savings.

This session will cover:

- Strategies to manage rising demand with limited resources
- How data insights can drive targeted and efficient resident support
- Real world results from councils using Campaign Manager for impactful outreach campaigns

Join us to learn how your council can also turn insights into action and make smarter, data-driven decisions to support your communities.

With guest speakers:

- Fahmida Rahman, Senior Policy Officer, Greater London Authority
- Seth Pearson, Darlington Partnership Director, Darlington Borough Council
- Sarah Small, Darlington Partnership Programme Officer, Darlington Borough Council

26/3/2025

10:30am GMT

1.3 hours

Protecting vulnerable consumers in regulated sectors Regulated industries such as water, energy and finance play a critical role in people’s lives. With increasing economic pressures, more consumers are becoming vulnerable, requiring additional support and protections.

Regulators like Ofwat, Ofgem and the FCA have tightened expectations around how businesses identify, support and engage with vulnerable customers. Failure to comply can result in reputational damage, regulatory penalties and customer hardship. But how can organisations balance compliance with commercial priorities while delivering fair outcomes for consumers?

Join industry experts as we explore best practices, regulatory expectations and practical strategies for businesses to proactively identify and protect vulnerable consumers. Gain actionable insights on:

- The evolving regulatory landscape across Ofwat, Ofgem and the FCA
- Effective strategies for identifying and supporting vulnerable customers
- Case studies showcasing successful industry approaches
- How technology and data can enhance consumer protection

Join this webinar to learn how to strengthen your compliance strategy, improve customer engagement and safeguard both consumers and your organisation’s reputation.

Register now to stay ahead of regulatory expectations and build a more consumer focused business.

30/4/2025

10:30am BST

1.3 hours

Harnessing data for regional impact: empowering local leaders to drive change Devolution is one of the core missions of the new government, promising a strong focus on giving local areas more control over services. To tackle economic inactivity, and with many people across the UK needing support, it’s vital that local authorities deliver effective, targeted interventions. The success of tailored, region-specific approaches depends on how well local areas can harness data to drive change.

Local organisations, from Mayoral Combined Authorities to county councils, need to deliver these crucial services. Accessing and using the data insights required to implement efficient and effective programmes is a challenge and, without localised data, decision making can become less accurate. This leads to inefficient resource allocation and missed opportunities to reach those who need help the most.

Data analysis offers the key to overcoming these challenges. By harnessing the power of local data, authorities can get the accurate insights they need to target support where it will be most effective. With the right insights, local areas can design and deliver services that are more tailored, timely and impactful, ensuring the right residents get the right support at the right time.

Proven results from current data led initiatives already show the transformative potential of this approach.

Join this webinar to hear from guest speakers who have successfully implemented data driven campaigns. They will showcase real world examples of how they have come together to achieve measurable outcomes.

We’ll also explore how these data insights can be applied to address key issues like economic inactivity, youth unemployment and social isolation to deliver lasting change across regions.

21/5/2025

10:30am BST

1.3 hours

Blog

Universal Credit and the Work and Health Programme: stories from the frontline

Deven Ghelani Published on 26th July 2018

Policy in Practice was invited to host a session on how Universal Credit is supporting people on the work and health programme at the revamped Employment and Skills Conference 2018.

Policy in Practice’s Better Off Calculator helps people on the Work and Health programme understand and navigate the benefit system and how the move onto Universal Credit will affect them. In our session we were joined by Marise Mackie, Contract Manager, from Pluss and Hazel Dales, Partnership & Integration Manager from Ingeus. They shared practical, on the ground examples of the work they’re doing to help people transform their lives as Universal Credit rolls out across the UK.

Tackling the disability employment gap

Disability remains by far the biggest barrier to work. The Government wants to see 1 million more people with disabilities in work by 2027 and has most recently committed funding of £4.2m to help people with mental health and musculoskeletal conditions stay in work. Policy in Practice’s own analysis shows that just 1.5% of all workless households with someone living with disability moved into work between January 2016 and January 2017, far lower than any other group.

Just 1.5% of all workless households with someone living with disability moved into work between 2016 and 2017

Why is it so hard to close the disability employment gap?

A recent Policy in Practice survey found that the biggest challenge frontline advisors face when helping people with disabilities into work is a lack of suitable employment opportunities. This significant challenge was closely followed by the need to help a person overcome their specific disability barrier. Other notable challenges include the ability to identify and engage with those who may benefit from support and poor financial work incentives and inadequate costs of work support.

Lack of suitable employment opportunities is the biggest challenge to helping people with disabilities into work

Marise Mackie and Hazel Dales agreed, adding that raising the aspirations of people who have been out of work for a long time can often be as important a factor in success.

Deven Ghelani was joined at E&W18 by Marise Mackie, Pluss, and Hazel Dales, Ingeus

Marise highlighted the importance of finding ‘hidden vacancies’, typically unplanned or unconventional roles that can add real value to the organisation. She also urged frontline advisors to be tenacious, as not all employers ‘get it’ immediately.

Marise shared the experiences of Reuben and Tom who both have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. They each faced significant barriers to work which they successfully overcame, with Pluss’ help.

Reuben’s story

Tom’s story

Hazel said that working with local authorities and ensuring that support is not just signposted, but is truly followed through, can really help resolve issues that affect work search. Such issues can include management of debt or housing. In Ingeus’ experience, this is best done when information is shared, often in the same geographic location.

Sally-Anne’s story

Sally-Anne is on her journey back to paid employment after caring for her husband for many years; he’s now moved to residential care. She has physical mobility issues, anxiety and depression, and felt quite isolated. The community centre where she sees her Ingeus caseworker hosts coffee mornings and the NHS deliver psychological therapy from there too, which is very convenient for Sally-Anne. The centre is also where she attends the IT course her caseworker helped her to access, to help achieve her goal of a job in reception or administrative work where she can be seated. Sally-Anne’s confidence is growing and the centre is becoming a hub for her socially.

Martha’s story

Martha’s been out of work for a few years due to anxiety. Her confidence was very low and she needed lots of support and reassurance from the Ingeus team. This included help with goal setting from her caseworker and job search support from the hub guide, several times a week. After mock interviews with the employer account manager, Martha was put forward for a role in support work, and she was successful. Her caseworker called in regularly in her first few days in the new role, ensuring that Martha’s anxiety didn’t get the better of her.

To help the financial transition to work, Martha was received a better off calculation using Policy in Practice’s Better Off Calculator and it was at this point that Martha’s personal debt issues became apparent. The Ingeus team wrote to courts to establish repayment plans, helped her apply for in-work benefits and ensured she had travel funds for her first weeks at work. Martha is now settled and still regularly comes to the hub to continue her job search to better paid work now, she has gained experience.

Moving into work may mean moving onto Universal Credit

Helping someone who’s been out of work for a long time move into work can trigger a move from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit. To help people understand how the transition will affect them both Ingeus and Pluss use Policy in Practice’s Better Off Calculator.

Pluss and Ingeus use Policy in Practice’s Better Off Calculator to show people the impact of moving into work

This graphic, from a Better Off Calculator calculation, shows a single unemployed person on the Work and Health programme moving into 20 hours of work per week, at £10 an hour. The chart clearly illustrates the changes in take home income under both systems, both in and out of work. This person would see an increase of over £185 per month under Universal Credit, more than under the current benefit system.

“We believe that, with the right support, most people can find work and build a career. We chose to work with Policy in Practice because their unparalleled expertise in simplifying the welfare system, as well as their Better Off Calculator, allows us to deliver innovative services to jobseekers across the entire Southern region.”
Marise Mackie, Pluss

Hard work is taking place across the welfare to work ecosystem to support people with the right information and help. Policy in Practice is proud to be supporting people across the UK move towards financial independence.

View the slides presented by Deven, Marise and Hazel at Employment and Work 2018 here.

Find out more about how Pluss helps support people with disabilities on their journey into work using Policy in Practice’s Better Off Calculator via this recent webinar with Marise Mackie.