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Executive summary The Cornwall Promoting Change project aimed to identify hidden aspects of the experience of people facing severe and multiple disadvantage: specifically young people going through transition and women with complex needs The Lankelly Chase Foundation states that people who face severe and multiple disadvantage need genuine opportunities to transform their lives. By a ‘genuine opportunity’ Lankelly Chase means one that helps the individual overcome all aspects of the disadvantage which they face, so that they can be and do the things that they value in life. However, within Cornwall the findings of the Promoting Change project show that we are far from ensuring those who experience severe and multiple disadvantage are prioritised and supported effectively. The consequences of this failure to offer coordinated, effective prevention in the support of vulnerable young people and women with complex needs are explored in the full report. Key findings • Clients find themselves navigating complex systems to identify support, often receiving repeated help from a variety of agencies. Due to this multi-agency, complex approach clients describe how they then have difficultly establishing trust in any relationships with front-line workers, because experience tells them the relationships are short-term. (Film: Elaine) • Clients and front-line workers describe the need for a compassionate approach to support that ‘nurtures’ the individual. (Film: CASSPlus) • Positive experiences rely on experienced advocates who establish a long-term relationship and have collective oversight of the ‘whole person approach’ rather than tackling each area of experience as a problem that requires ‘solving’ through targets set by commissioning frameworks. • The statutory sector has to make critical decisions in light of reduced budgets. The most immediate impact front-line workers have described is the reduction in preventative or non-statutory services, that levels of unmet need are growing, and vital support for individuals experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage is being reduced or cut altogether. As a consequence, clients are really suffering at the sharp end. (Film: WRSAC) 3
• The action learning sets have offered the front-line worker a positive environment for independent supervision and reflection. • The cash grants available through the Promoting Change project have filled a small but essential gap in addressing unmet need. They have offered a flexible approach to shift client experience of poverty, distress and isolation. The biggest positive impact recorded on the survey of the grants was on the client’s wellbeing. People felt more empowered and positive, with the sense of a fresh start and maintaining more positive family relationships. • Without secure future funding, the staff describe insecurities in their role and redundancies throughout the sector. The continuing capacity of the voluntary sector to offer creative solutions in the time of great austerity has to be applauded. But it is also important to reflect on the true impact on front-line workers of such a pressurised environment where. ‘the sector seems conditioned to accept how brutal and cut-throat the working environment is,’ and where ‘everyone is made to feel that they are dispensable.’ Despite this, the voluntary sector and civic society are still managing to innovate and deliver. • Voluntary sector front-line workers have demonstrated their commitment and dedication to ensuring the needs of their clients continue to be met. They have stressed that the best protection for the sector lies in us all working together: To work in ways that are mutually beneficial and which contribute more fully and effectively to the wellbeing of communities in Cornwall. Cornwall Compact 2010 This help overall has been totally life-changing. I have gone from feeling like a failure to being able to support my family. I can take back control of my life and care for my family properly; I would not have been able to cope much longer without this help! The findings of this report tell us we need a much more collaborative approach with all stakeholders to see how we can align their services to meet the needs of those who experience severe and multiple disadvantage. Any future investment in the voluntary and social enterprise sector must concentrate on building resilience and capacity to tackle the challenges highlighted in this report. 4
Page 1: Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum Pro
Page 5 and 6: Client characteristics The data we
Page 7 and 8: Women with complex needs What they
Page 9 and 10: What we learnt Partner organisation
Page 11 and 12: Experience of frontline workers The
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