John MacPhail

Local Service Group Manager

Scotland

Jacqueline Brown

Partnership Development Manager

LINK-AGE

Developing networks of services for older people

2001 Manifesto commitment

“Pensioners………need simple accessible services that

treat them with dignity and promote independence. We

will build on Care Direct to provide integration of health,

housing, benefits and social care for older people. This

will be an integrated ‘Link-Age Service’ to help older

People.”

Joint Futures

Key goal:

‘How we deliver better and faster outcomes for people who use services and their carers,

and how our drive for continuous improvement can help sustain that’

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

• Builds on existing partnerships to provide an integrated network of services

• Provides easy access to information about the full range of services available locally

• Provides better systems for sharing information between organisations

• Promotes neighbourliness and community support• Ensures issues that matter to older people are given

proportionate weight in community planning process

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

The main Link-Age building blocks:

• Joint Teams

• Alternative Offices

• The Partnership Fund

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

Joint Teams

• Staffed by Local Authority and The Pension Service

• Delivering a ‘whole person’ service• Gathering and sharing information• Working on behalf of each other

Link-Age: developing a network of services for older people

Benefits to the older person –

• Easier access to information about the full range of services available locally

• Less duplication of information giving/form filling

• Single point of contact• Faster, more efficient delivery of services

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

Alternative Offices

• Offices authorised to receive and verify applications for Social Security claims from people aged 60 and over

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

Benefits to the older person –

• Increases choice and gives local access• Information can be gathered and verified at

the same time• Reduces claim processing times• Date of first contact is taken into account

when claim is decided

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

The Partnership Fund

• Not-for-profit organisations bids• Innovative pilots• Effective ways to encourage harder to reach

groups to claim benefits

Link-Age: delivering networks of services for older people

Progress to date in Scotland• Draft Accord between COSLA, the Scottish Executive

and The Pension Service• Joint working agreed in principle with LAs• Range of joint working initiatives ongoing in all areas• 4 Joint Teams fully operational and one full Link-Age

model well developed• 5 Alternative Offices in place• 14 Partnership Fund contracts awarded• Links with voluntary sector organisations

strengthened

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

Progress to date (continued)• Reducing information gathering:

- 5 benefits, 50% fewer questions

- Single Shared Assessment and AA/DLA claims

- IT solutions• Generic Memorandum of Understanding to

overcome data sharing/data protection issues

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

Case Study 1- West Lothian

• Financial Assessments from outset• 86% customers visited so far receive extra benefits,

an average £77.04 per week• 58% referrals cleared without need for a

visit/customer contact• Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit now included• Single Shared Assessment linkages?

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

Case Study 2 – South Lanarkshire

• Benefits & Revenue Team• So far £1.5m per year in extra benefits

already awarded• Care assessor linkages

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

Case Study 3 – Aberdeen City

• Cash in Your Pocket• Range of partners – voluntary, private and

public organisations• Hub and spoke referral system• Community education and involvement

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

What next? We are aiming for:

• Joint Team operational in every LA area by June 2006

• Alternative Office in every LA area by March 2006

• Improved and enhanced partnership working towards a full Link-Age service

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

Contacts:

John MacPhail, Local Service Group Manager, Scotland – 0131 221 4380

Susan McKay, Local Service Manager, Scotland West – 01236 786570

Katriona German, Local Service Manager Scotland East and North – 01592 647517

Link-Age: developing networks of services for older people

What are your views on the vision for joined-up services, and the progress made so far?

What do you see as the main challenges to partner organisations working in a more joined-up way? How do we address these?

What are the benefits to partners of working in a more joined-up way?

Thank you for listening

Any questions?