AIMS and OBJECTIVES
In 2006 we were commissioned by Hammersmith and Fulham Drug and Alcohol Action Team DAAT to research and make suggestions for action on the unmet treatment needs of adults and young people from a range of different communities in the Borough to ensure that the DAAT can fulfil its commitment to ensure the availability of drug and alcohol treatment services that are capable of meeting the substance misuse needs of its whole population.
METHODOLOGY
To achieve these aims and objectives and address the research questions above we developed a four stage process:
• Inception Phase
• Community Organisation Engagement
• Communities Research
• Developing the Findings &Reporting
INVOLVEMENT
A major part of this study looked at the needs and experiences of people from the community and the community organisations they are part of in accessing and using dug and substance misuse services.
Published March 2004
This report examines the main economic development issues and barriers which prevent refugees and asylum seekers from fully participating and contributing to London's economy. The research was premised on the fact that London faces significant skills shortages and is also home to a substantial number of refugees, many of whom are underemployed or unemployed. The report was commissioned by the London Development Agency, in part to inform the creation of a Lead Body to champion the causes of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in London in terms of employment, training, and enterprise. The report was used by the London Skills Commission's Framework for Regional Employment and Skills Action subgroup on Refugees and Asyulum Seekers to develop a framework for LORECA.
The report is available at LORECA's website www.loreca.org.uk
FS Evaluation
FS 1000 Word Abstract
Freedoms 1000 Word Abstract
North London Specialist Commissioning Team, on behalf of the London Primary Care Trusts, commissioned Michael Bell Associates to undertake an evaluation of one or more areas of intervention work currently being undertaken by the London Gay Men's HIV Prevention Partnership (LGMHPP).
Published in October 2004
This action research study was commissioned by Southwark’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) with the aim to investigate the perceptions of drugs and drug-related crime within Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities and to explore the development of culturally competent responses through the engagement of families and carers.
This action research was undertaken within the wider national context of drugs policy and within a local context which places Southwark as the ninth most deprived borough in the country and sees most crime occurring in and around the most deprived wards. In addition, the latest MORI poll indicated that tenants regarded drug dealing as a serious problem on or around their estates.
All existing evidence suggests that BME communities in Southwark are the most affected by drug related crime. In recognition of this and to impact significantly on the reduction of crime to these affected communities consultation, dialogue, support and understanding with individuals, groups and representative organisations is required. Existing initiatives seek to engage communities on a geographic basis, this exercise seeks to target BME communities to explore the perceptions and views of the Borough's BME communities in relation to drugs and drug-related crime.
This work takes place within the context of the Race Relations Amendment Act, which commits public authorities to proactively promote race equality and to consider race equality when planning, commissioning and delivering services. One of the key objectives of this work is to provide an evidence-base for the development of services in Southwark, and with specific regards to the needs of its communities.
Safe and Sound: Asylum seekers and temporary accomodation July 2004
During 2003 the GLA, in partnership with the London Health Commission, undertook research to explore the experiences of one of the most socially excluded groups living in London - asylum seekers in temporary accommodation. A central aim of the research was to look at the impact of poor housing conditions on health and well-being. This report presents the key findings and makes recommendations aimed at improving the conditions in temporary accommodation for asylum seekers and the information, support and advice they receive. The GLA is also working towards getting minimum standards in temporary accommodation for homeless households extended to asylum seekers. The research looked also at asylum seekers' own experiences of living in temporary accommodation and the impact of housing conditions on their health and well-being.
The report is available at the website of the Mayor of London www.london.gov.uk
In April 2007 Michael Bell Associates completed a commission for Haringey Council Social Services Directorate to undertake a review of advice and income maximisation services delivered by the Council and its key partners in the voluntary sector. The review provided input into the development of a strategy to promote the income maximisation and benefits take-up of the Borough’s poorest residents.
Michael Bell Associates was awarded a contract by the Scottish Executive to develop competences for welfare rights and debt advisers in Scotland.
The competences aim to provide a common framework for all advisers to work to, building on and improving the best existing standards of work in the advice sector and they will enable advisers to demonstrate what is unique and valuable about their work.
This work was overseen by a national working group which includes Citizens Advice Scotland, Money Advice Scotland, Rights Advice Scotland, Child Poverty Action group in Scotland, Scottish Law Centres Federation and others.
The Scottish Executive commissioned research to identify the support needs which refugees may have in order to access housing information, advice and support and the potential need for ongoing support for refugees to move into and occupy accommodation. The research explored how local authorities could ensure that the identified needs were met and developed a basic service specification.
This report is available on the Scottish Executive Social Research website only www.scotland.gov.uk/socialresearch.
Michael Bell Associates was commissioned by Reading Borough Council to conduct a review of its grant-aid funding for social welfare law advice provision in the City, leading to the development of a commissioning strategy for advice services in Reading. This was driven by the need to ensure both generalist and specialist advice is easily accessed and maximises efficient use of resources.
In February 2005, Bristol City Council commissioned Michael Bell Associates to undertake a strategic review of the provision of advice services in the city. The main aim of the review was to make an assessment of the extentto which advice services funded by Bristol City Council are "fit for purpose and provide value for money." This was undertaken through a survey of advice providers, interviews with stakeholders and through meetings with a Steering Group and local advice providers.
Published in 2006
Michael Bell Associates worked with Victim Support to undertake research into the impact of hate crime in England and Wales. The results draw attention to the nature and scale of hate crime, and to improve the services they provide to the individuals and communities affected.
Published Spring 2006
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, in partnership with the Legal Services Commission, engaged Michael Bell Associates to carry out a review of legal and advice provision in the Borough. The aim of the review was to inform the development of an Oldham Advice and Information Strategy and Action Plan covering the next five years that will be expected to deliver improved outcomes for local people and improved value for money for the Council.
Michael Bell Associates carried out similar advice reviews in 2005 for Bristol City Council, Nottingham City Council and Reading Borough Council.
The Involvement Consortium was set up with funding from Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust (THPCT) to increase black and minority ethnnic groups' involvement in health and social care decision-making processes. The PCT commissioned Michael Bell Associates to carry out an evaluation of the Involvement Consortium's work, to indentify ways of improving its work and ensure people from all communities in Tower Hamlets have a voice in the future of their own health services.
Michael Bell Associates was commissioned by Citizens Advice to conduct a national research project in providing advice services as partnerships between voluntary sector and local government. This is a critical piece of research because of the prominence given to partnerships. Partnerships are designed to be a driver in the Government's agenda for public sector reform and modernisation. They are one part of the tool-kit to ensure "contestability" in public services, with the opportunities for developing collaboration and competition between different providers - a key means of establishing more responsive and better value public services. This research identifies good practice examples of different sorts of partnerships, detailing the way in which they work and the contribution they make to improvements in the development of legal and advice services.
Commissioned by Shelter to undertake research into the experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in accessing housing advice, this report was published in 2007. The research particularly focused on how BME communities get advice on housing issues and the barriers they face in doing so.
Capital Ambition is London’s Improvement Partnership set up in 2006 by London Councils, the Greater London Authority (GLA), London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and London Connects to drive up standards and ensure that London is a better place in which to live and work. As part of their Quality, Efficiency and Credibility theme, they are committed to seeing 90% of London Local Authorities reach level 4 of the Equality Standard for Local Government by 2008. Level 4 requires information systems and monitoring to be in place to monitor against a set of targets and objectives. 24% of authorities described themselves as making slow progress in November 2006. In 2007/8 we were engaged to provide individual support, establish learning and development mechanisms to enable authorities to reach the target.
Published May 2004
This report was commissioned by the London Development Agency and the Government Office for London on behalf of the London Skills Commission, in order to explore the arrangements necessary to establish a Lead Body to champion the causes of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in London in terms of employment, training, and enterprise. Please note that this report offered recommendations only, some of which have been taken forward in the development of LORECA.
The report is available at LORECA's website www.loreca.org.uk
The Study set out to identify the main skills, employment, enterprise and other economic development issues and barriers which prevent Refugees and Asylum Seekers from fully participating and contributing to the Capital's economy and then to make recommendations on policy measures and initiatives for maximising the economic potential of London's refugee and asylum seekers communities.
The study also aimed to identify the ways in which support services for Refugees and Asylum Seekers can be better designed, developed and delivered within the current UK policy and legislative frameworks and indicate what else could be done if anticipated changes to those frameworks were to come about.
Academic or research organsations wishing to see the report based on the study should contact Michael Bell Associates.
Michael Bell Associates was commissioned by Youth Access to undertake the evaluation of the Rights to Access Project (RAP). Youth Access’s vision is a national network of effective and sustainable joined-up legal advice services for young people. They aim to develop a strong evidence base of what works well for young peoples advice services, and to help funding and commissioning bodies such as the Legal Services Commission and Children’s Trusts to understand young people’s legal and advice needs and to fund services in a co-ordinated way. The evaluation:
Michael Bell Associates was commissioned by Manchester City Council to conduct an independent review of advice services in the City. The aim of the review was to inform the development of a Manchester Advice and Information Strategy and action plan designed to lead to improved outcomes for local people and deliver improved value for money in the use of resources for advice provision in Manchester.