Planning Framework INTRODUCTION This note gives guidance on the elements of the plans required to trigger the release of reserves for local Information, Advice and Guidance Services in 1999-2000. It includes where relevant the additional details to be produced by partnerships which will be considered as pathfinder projects from June 1999. For those wishing to do so, plans should be received by Marcus Bell, Room E802, Moorfoot, Sheffield, S1 4PQ, no later than 31 May 1999, so that contracts can be agreed by June. Partnerships not wishing to be considered as pathfinders should send their plans to be received by Marcus Bell, at the above address, by 31 July 1999 so that contracts can be agreed for development funding to be available for September. Further details can be obtained from: Anne Lidster Tel: 0114 259 3089 E-mail: anne.lidster@dfee.gov.uk or Vincent Rafferty Tel: 0114 259 4503 E-mail: vince.rafferty@dfee.gov.uk 1. BACKGROUND Describe the area(s) in which the IAG services are to be delivered. This may only be possible once your Local Lifelong Learning Partnership (LLP) area has been identified and agreed. Where LLP areas are relatively small, either geographically or size of the adult population, we would welcome two or more deciding to join together to improve the range of services available to clients and value for money. IAG networks should include information on: size and key characteristics of area covered what IAG services are currently provided how these services are delivered where they are delivered target audience for those services what quality standards, if any, they work to volumes achieved in the last two years sources of funding 2. NETWORK PARTNERS Details of individual partners, to include: organisations name and address; roles in the partnership; any plans to include other parties in future; plans for involving voluntary and community organisations in the partnership for the delivery of services. In particular how you are proposing to raise the standard of service provided by such organisations. what procedures you will have in place for expanding the partnership and or handling applications from other organisations. 3. PLAN FOR DELIVERY OF SERVICES UP TO MARCH 2000 3.1 Most local partnerships will receive funding from September 1999 to enable them to plan and develop the arrangements to deliver a comprehensive range of IAG services from March 2000. Some delivery of services to be undertaken this year. Partnerships will need to provide an outline plan of how they will develop the partnership, bringing together agencies who currently deliver information, advice and guidance, including community and voluntary sector organisations. Funding will be made available from September 1999 onwards, once LLP areas are identified, to: bring local partners together into a network for delivery of IAG services; to plan and target services within the area; to provide training, particularly for smaller organisations, to ensure staff are appropriately qualified; to develop and begin to deliver services to allow partnerships to improve the quality of services and work towards achieving the Guidance Council quality standards; 3.2 Partnerships wishing to operate fully fledged Pathfinder services will in addition need to supply the following: Details of the services to be provided by the partnership. Your outline plans up to March 2000 for the development and expansion of the service, should include: range and type of service to be delivered; who will deliver the service; where the service will be delivered; target client groups; timetable and milestones for those developments; how you propose to bring greater coherence and coverage to local IAG services; what and how you propose providing services to ethnic minority groups, the disabled, those needing help with basic skills and any other particular disadvantaged groups /communities within your area; how you will identify and address gaps in provision, and eliminate duplication; the rationale for the priorities you have identified; how you are proposing to widen participation; performance indicators to measure effectiveness/value for money. If seeking Pathfinder funding, you should also be prepared to : identify which elements of the plans will be delivered as part of the development phase June 1999 - March 2000; outline plans for the range of services you intend to deliver from April 2000 to March 2001; give details of the services currently offered in your area, and by which agencies. Other partnerships should note that this kind of detailed information will be needed for the release of resources in 200-2001. 4. MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS Describe the formal structure and protocols of your partnership and how it will be managed. who will be the lead body for the network? what are the contracting arrangements for other members of the network? what are the arrangements for the lead body to act as the accountable body for funding? how will adequacy of provision across the area be ensured? a shared statement of objectives (and targets) for the delivery of services through which you can demonstrate the coherence of the partnership Detail how you propose to allocate resources, using the following heading as a guide: Staffing Development Training Contribution to premises/overheads Marketing and publicity Evaluation Any others (please specify) Identify where services will be delivered at marginal cost. Identify all other sources, in cash or in kind, that will contribute to the delivery or marginal costs of the IAG service: Department funds for this programme cannot be used for capital purchases, IT development or for databases of learning opportunities, which is being complied through Learning Direct.. 5. QUALITY ASSURANCE All partnerships will by April 2001 be required to comply with the Guidance Council Quality standards. Your plans should include: Your plans for developing a means of ensuring that all partners will achieve this standard. The arrangements you will develop to ensure continuous quality improvement Explain how you will develop systems to monitor quality of service provided by all members of the network. How systems for client feedback will be developed so that information is monitored and acted upon. The arrangements you will put in place for developing and improving the quality of service provided by individual partners. (Review process/systems) Plan to develop local evaluation arrangements. 6. CHARGING POLICY Government policy is to support the provision of a quality information and advice service which is free at the point of entry. Partnerships should set out in detail what their charging policy, for specific target groups, will be. This will need to take account of existing practice with agencies within the network and how this will be reviewed and developed. 7. STAFFING State numbers of staff (full time equivalents) who will be involved in the delivery of the IAG service as follows: Type of IAG service (e.g. central/outreach etc) Number of Locations Total Number of Staff Management Delivery Support Detail which partners will be delivering each particular type of service and where their staff will be located. It may be helpful to present this information in the form of a matrix, to provide a clear picture of which services are on offer, by which partners, in each location. Management = number of staff devoted to the management functions. Delivery = number of staff devoted to client contact e.g. offering information and advice, guidance and specialist help. Support = number of staff devoted to clerical and other infrastructure support. 8. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS How you will develop a plan to market services to adults. In particular, how you intend to attract people and groups who have not previously accessed either IAG services or learning opportunities. Pathfinder proposals should include marketing activity to be delivered from June 1999 onwards. 9. LINKS WITH OTHER LOCAL SERVICES What working arrangements/ plans do you have for linking with other organisations outside of the partnership, Employment Service and University for Industry, including where these are not members locally.