GB-London: Reshaping Financial Support - Evaluation and Proposal

The LGA has commissioned and delivered a programme of work on Reshaping Financial Support (RFS), which began in autumn 2019. This programme has centred on a core group of councils who were engaged in both local pilots and action learning. In April 2020 the programme was reviewed and amended to enable the LGA to support councils and share learning as the sector put in place support for households whose finances and income were affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The events of the summer have seen financial hardship and economic vulnerability rise rapidly up the agenda as key considerations for councils and their local partners. Councils have cemented their role as lynchpin organisations who know their communities and connect partners. Throughout this period the LGA's RFS programme has been developing case studies and guidance, bringing councils together through meetings and webinars and engaging in vital policy discussions with HMG and key partners with the objective of ensuring that low income households are most efficiently and effectively supported both now and in the longer term. The LGA would now like to commission a partner organisation to: -produce a review / evaluation of the approaches councils have taken so far, and where possible the impact / outcomes these have achieved, drawing on the work of the RFS programme to date -inform current policy and funding discussions -develop proposals for priorities, partnership working and sector-led improvement for 2021/22 -An analysis and impact evaluation of councils' approaches to financial support. This will focus on the core councils within the existing RFS programme, but should also consider the support that councils have put in place throughout the pandemic -As appropriate, evidence-based support for the LGA's engagement with key HMG and partner work programmes e.g. Cabinet Office Fairness Group; Money and Pensions Service strategy for financial wellbeing -As appropriate, review and expand the content of the LGA's financial hardship and economic vulnerability demand dashboard -Proposals for outcomes-focused support and sector-led improvement from April 2021. This should include proposals for work with key partners and stakeholders and: oInform national and local policy development oSupport councils with the efficient and effective use of available funding oStrengthen local partnership working and integrated delivery oHelp to develop emerging practice in key areas including income smoothing; debt recovery and local welfare oContinue to develop good practice in the collection and use of data and insights oContinue to develop the evidence-base for the social and economic benefits of preventative approaches to financial hardship and economic vulnerability