Scottish Welfare Fund: action plan
Sets out improvements to the way crisis support is delivered in Scotland.
Conclusion
The Scottish Government is committed to implementing these 22 actions in partnership with stakeholders in a sustainable and effective way. Table 1 provides an overview of the workstreams and timescales for implementing improvements, ensuring that the SWF continues to work as well as possible in the years ahead and delivers for those most in need across Scotland.
| Delivery from Autumn 2023 to the end of Spring 2024 |
Delivery from Autumn 2023 to the end of Summer 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Workstream 1: Improving Fund Administration, Accessibility and Experience |
Workstream 2: Updating Statutory Guidance |
Workstream 3: Creating a New Data, Monitoring and Audit Approach |
| Action 1: Investigate and introduce further training for Local Authority decision-makers. |
Action 5: Provide clearer definitions on eligibility and what constitutes 'exceptional circumstances'. |
Action 20: Review and establish a new process for data collection. |
| Action 2: Re-establish regular Practitioners' Forums. |
Action 6: Incorporate principles of the Social Security Scotland 'Our Charter'. |
Action 21: Strengthen the usefulness of annual reporting. |
| Action 3: Improve Local Authorities' direct communication with applicants. |
Action 13: Review timescales and assessment prioritisation. |
Action 22:Develop an approach for ensuring there is a commitment to learning and improvement. |
| Action 4: Develop and provide standardised communication messages. |
Action 14: Restructure to improve accessibility and ease of use. |
|
| Action 7: Investigate and examine options for more centralised support for Local Authorities. |
Action 15: Review income thresholds for applicant eligibility. |
|
| Action 8: Investigate if language barriers are a significant issue and implement long-term solutions. |
Action 16: Assess the type and quantity of evidence required for decision-making. |
|
| Action 9: Prepare standardised decision letters to all applicants. |
Action 17: Review methodology to calculate cost of living award rates. |
|
| Action 10: Explore and implement specific requirements for advertisement. |
Action 18: Implement guidelines and standards for Tier 1 Reviews. |
|
| Action 11: Develop and implement a refined and standardised application form. |
Action 19: Introduce annual review and establish Statutory Guidance Review Committee. |
|
| Action 12: Provide guidelines for application referrals. |
||
Contact
Email: swfqueries@gov.scot
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback