Hlth92 Integrated Family Support Teams Pilot Scheme

29 July 2011

Request for Information – reference 5251

In your e-mail of 6 July you asked for the following information related to the Integrated Family Support Teams: Pilot Scheme:

“What is the total cost of all aspects of the pilot scheme to both the Welsh Government and local authorities?

What is the cost of the individual evaluations carried out in Newport, Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wrexham and were the contracts awarded by competitive tender? Who were the successful tenderers and what was the value of the tenders?

In relation to the Wales-wide evaluation who was the successful tenderer and what was the value of that tender?

When the pilot schemes were devised what were the targets for referrals to the IFST?

What are the referrals to date and what were the actual number of referrals?

When will the review of the scheme be completed?

Are there any interim findings to date that have flagged up concerning the impact of the interventions or methods of attributing and measuring those interventions?”

Taking each of your questions in turn, I have set out the information you have asked for below.

What is the total cost of all aspects of the pilot scheme to both the Welsh Government and local authorities?

The Welsh Government has made available £3.15m to the three pioneer areas of Wrexham, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil (as a consortium), and Newport between 2009-2011.

In 2011/12 up to £3.3m will be made available to existing Integrated Family Support Service (IFSS) areas and new areas coming on stream over this period. These new areas were announced on 14 July following a bidding round and will cover the following areas:

 A regional consortia of Hywel Dda University Health Board, Powys Teaching Health Board, and their respective local authorities of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys; and
 A consortia of Cardiff and the Vale University Local Health Board and the local authorities of Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

In addition, the Welsh Government has spent £0.290m up to April 2011 in providing a central resource to support the pioneers in their preparations for becoming IFSS compliant and to raise awareness amongst other areas of Wales.  This sum includes: research, national evaluation, provision of tools, and an accredited training programme (focussing on Evidence Based Intervention (EBI) techniques, such as Motivational Interviewing (MI).

The total costs to local authorities and their partners in providing IFSS in their areas is not centrally recorded by the Welsh Government, however statutory guidance requires the IFS Board to provide and publish an annual report each March on the effectiveness of their IFSS arrangements (sections 5.17 to 5.20 of the Statutory Guidance refers ). For 2011/12, an interim report is due to be published in September 2011 which may offer some more information on local expenditure etc.  

What is the cost of the individual evaluations carried out in Newport, Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wrexham and were the contracts awarded by competitive tender? Who were the successful tenderers and what was the value of the tenders?

In relation to the Wales-wide evaluation who was the successful tenderer and what was the value of that tender?

The Welsh Government has not specified a requirement for separate local evaluations, although we are aware that pioneers have established local evaluation arrangements.   These are a matter for the individual authorities and their partners.

In respect of the national evaluation, a consortia led by SQW have been contracted to evaluate IFSS. This was arranged through the “Buy-For-Wales” website and went through the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The contract value is £300,000 over three years (2010 – 13).

When the pilot schemes were devised what were the targets for referrals to the IFST?
What are the referrals to date and what were the actual number of referrals?

In relation to referrals for the teams, our expectation is that IFSS areas will support around 100 families each year. This target is indicative and estimated from families supported in similar schemes such as ‘Option 2’ and the ‘hackney model’. It is the duty of the statutory IFS Board to ensure the teams are fully effective in their caseloads and services are accessible to those with highest needs. Indicative information received from existing Phase I Pioneers suggest that the following number of referrals have been received between September 2010 and June 2011:

Newport: 50
Rhondda Cynon Taff/Merthyr Tydfil: 46
Wrexham: 65

More information on service activity should be published as part of each IFS Board’s statutory duty to publish a report on the effectiveness of the ISF Team in their areas (sections 5.17 to 5.21 of the Statutory Guidance refers). An interim report will be published in September 2011.

When will the review of the scheme be completed? Are there any interim findings to date that have flagged up concerning the impact of the interventions or methods of attributing and measuring those interventions?

All new legislation and policy is subject to ongoing monitoring and review as is IFSS.

Lessons learned from the Pioneer areas’ operation over the past year has informed our preparation for the roll-out of phase II and will further inform the implementation arrangements including any refinement to the regulations and guidance for the successful schemes to come on line later this year. To assist local authorities and their partners in their preparations for IFSS, the Welsh Government hosted through the Social Services Improvement Agency (SSIA), a series of regional learning workshops on IFSS where the learning from the pioneer sites was shared. Details of these learning events are available at the link below: http://www.ssiacymru.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5431. (external site) 

One of the pieces of learning from this event was the crucial importance of the Board understanding and being clear about its role. As a consequence of feedback during the past year and the learning opportunities we have recently organised additional training for the boards.

In addition to the information emanating from the Annual Reports and IFSS national evaluation (mentioned above), IFSS is also subject to part of the broader inspection of health and social care services where it is operating, via the Care and Social Service Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) and Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) respectively.

You may also find it helpful to look at the IFSS web site at the following link:

If you believe that I have not followed the relevant laws, or you are unhappy with this response, you may request an internal review by writing to:

Joanna Jordan
Director
Department for Health, Social Services and Children
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

When dealing with any concerns, we will follow the principles set out in the Welsh Government’s Code of Practice on Complaints which is available on the Internet at www.wales.gov.uk or by post.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner. Normally, however, you should provide us with an opportunity to undertake an internal review before you complain to the Information Commissioner.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545 745
Fax: 01625 524 510
Email: casework@ico.gsi.gov.uk

Also, if you think that there has been maladministration in dealing with your request then you may make a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales who can be contacted at:
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Ffordd yr Hen Gae
Pencoed
Bridgend
CF35 5LJ

Yours sincerely

Julie Hanley
DHSSC
Freedom of Information Manager