The Improvement Service has worked in partnership with Dundee City Council’s Advice Services to measure the benefits making access to advice available in GP Practices and schools offers. To achieve this a Social Return on Investment approach was used.
This methodology engages with individual and organisations to identify the changes they experience. It uses financial proxies to place a financial value on those changes which are considered by those who experience them to be the most important.
Welfare Advice and Health Partnerships (WAHPs) in GP practices. WAHPs integrate local authority, or third sector, welfare rights and money advice services into primary care settings. Advice is provided by a dedicated welfare rights advisor co-located within the medical practice.
This analysis confirmed many of the predictions that were made in the original forecast report from 2019. It found that as a result of accessing the service, patients/individuals feel more positive about the future and saw an increase in their household incomes, whilst clinical staff were able to make better use of their time and establish improved relationships with patients as they were more able to meet their needs. The report found that every £1 invested would generate around £33 of benefits.
It concluded that:
“Providing access to money and welfare rights advice in GP Practices remains an effective service model that offers multiple benefits to both patients, clinical and administrative staff in GP Practices and the public sector."
Financial Inclusion Support in Dundee schools focussed on a project based in Morgan Academy in Dundee in which parents could access welfare rights and money advice in their child’s school. As a result of accessing the service, parents/carers were less stressed or worried and had an increase in their household income. Morgan Academy was able to use staff time and resources more effectively.
The report identified improvements in internal communications for the council and improvements in skills, knowledge and job satisfaction for staff involved in delivering the service.
The report found that every £1 invested would generate around £33 of benefits.
It concluded that:
“The findings show that the project has contributed to positive outcomes across all stakeholder groups. ... Overall, the evidence suggests that the Morgan Academy financial inclusion support project represents an effective use of public investment.”
For more information contact:
Karen Carrick - karen.carrick@improvementservice.org.uk
John Michell – john.mitchell@improvementservice.org.uk
Craig Mason – craigmason@dundeecity.gov.uk