In Focus Risk
Applying shared values
A new partnership is starting to deliver financial advice and support to citizens in its region
Julie Trahern Head of customer service, Kettering Futures Partnership
JulieTrahern@Kettering.gov.uk
Kettering Futures Partnership was created in 2014 and involves a number of public and voluntary organisations, both locally and regionally based. At the time when budgets were being cut, welfare reform was biting and our customers’ needs for help and guidance were greater than ever! Pre-2012, a partnership was formed
between Kettering Borough Council (KBC) and Kettering Citizen Advice Bureau (KCAB). This partnership evolved further in May 2012, when KCAB moved into the council offices. The primary beneficiaries, from the partnership, were the residents of Kettering who could access joined-up services in the same location. With the advent of the credit crunch, KBC
and KCAB recognised that there was a need to bring more voluntary and public-sector providers under the partnership umbrella, with the aim of working together for the benefit of customers, and so the Kettering Futures Partnership was born. The new partnership was also important to its members, taking into account pressures
faced due to budget cuts and the increasingly complex needs of customers.
Breaking financial barriers The partnership agreed financial inclusion was a barrier that could be tackled together for customer benefit, and that financial inclusion equated to the following four main elements: income, debt, skills and housing. No one single organisation leads the
partnership – this was a conscious decision so as to create a one-team ethos. The partnership agreed that there would be no rigid terms of reference; instead it
adopted a ‘purpose’ which suited what was trying to be achieved by working together: ‘Applying Shared Values for our Customers’. l By working together in a more joined-up way, better, more effective use of resources could be made. l Customers and clients would have a better customer journey and experience with improved and faster outcomes.
In practice The partnership determined its board size should not be too large, so as to avoid getting to a place where no outcomes are identified or it becomes a talking shop. It agreed sub-groups would be created
The primary beneficiaries, from the partnership, were the residents of Kettering who could access joined-up services in the same location
with chairpeople identified from the board. The partnership board want to ensure that the organisation engages with as many
partners as possible when looking at issues faced by all. The chairperson of each sub-group reports their findings back into the partnership board. The partnership has worked together to
incorporate and support a credit-union office within the council offices, and a food bank with hubs throughout the borough distributing easily accessible food parcels. The partnership has a members website, which allows warm referrals throughout the partnership. Perceived barriers between partners have
been broken down and trust established, so benefiting customers. As Debbie Egan, chair of Kettering Futures Partnership, said: “Getting strong likeminded people together with one goalto give the best opportunities and advice to the people who live in the borough of Kettering, can and has only benefited all. Bringing partners together has enabled barriers to be removed and an understanding of how we can work together to help has shone through.” CCR
January 2017
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