Councils faced pandemic fraud surge
April 20, 2022
Local authorities have faced a surge in attempted fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have reported.
Local authorities have faced a surge in attempted fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have reported.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s report on the first 18 months of its investigations linked to COVID suggests that huge pressure pushed on already-present fault lines. Michael Hyatt explains.
There appears to be no momentum to urgently provide councillors with the choice to attend meetings remotely or in person, says Quentin Baker. LLG and ADSO have launched a petition in the hope of allowing the House of Commons to express its opinion.
Andrea Watts explains how Sefton’s partnership with Digital Advantage delivers innovative work experiences to young people and is helping to tackle the inequalities exacerbated by COVID.
Bradford City Council won the Building Diversity and Inclusion category of The MJ Awards for a partnership project working with vulnerable communities using data-led interventions to keep people safe during COVID. Kersten England explains.
Cllr Asima Shaikh explains the steps being taken in Islington to help female entrepreneurs reach their full potential, build back differently and create a more equal borough.
Carol Ford and David Godfrey say we need to look local when it comes to creating a better food system – and they outline how partners in Kent are pulling together to tackle a range of risks.
Paul Hunt outlines how Bradford City Council’s innovative use of the Government’s pandemic grants has benefitted local care providers – both throughout the pandemic and long-term
Anthony May says hybrid working will play a big part in helping Nottinghamshire CC to deliver the best and most cost-effective services possible.
Gerry Taylor outlines how the LA7 group of North East councils used the insight gained from market research to create a localised comms campaign to help slow the spread of the virus.
Buckinghamshire Council is offering Kickstart placements across all its service directorates to support young people, as part of a much longer-term project, says Cllr Anita Cranmer.
The South London Listens partnership has brought together councils, the NHS, Citizens UK and others to address the pandemic-related pressures residents have told them they face. The process has been demanding but inspiring, says Sir Norman Lamb.
Councils are uniquely placed to convene and work with local and national partners to address the jobs and skills challenge as the economy opens up, says Sir Richard Leese.
It’s time to get back to the basics of good communication and make these skills more accessible to local communities, says Cormac Smith. He outlines the core communication disciplines every organisation needs to master.
Claire Hawkes outlines Buckinghamshire Council’s community board approach to distributing COVID-19 crisis funding, using a ‘light-touch, but robust application process’.
In a series of articles over the coming months, Emmet Regan will look at what public leaders can learn from other sectors and industries. Here, the issues of physical and mental wellbeing are to the fore.
Community engagement and reassurance was the overarching approach to Walsall MBC’s rapid roll-out of surge testing, says Stephen Gunther.
Rachael Wardell reveals how promoting flexibility in Surrey CC’s usual practice is one of the biggest changes in the way children's services have responded to the impact of the pandemic.
Marie Power outlines Watford BC’s approach to ensuring their business community survives, revives and thrives in the face of the COVID-19 challenge.
Cllr Danny Thorpe outlines how Greenwich RLBC changed its processes at pace to support residents throughout COVID-19 – at times branching out into the unknown.
Tracy Walters explains how the West Midlands Combined Authority has supported the workforce during the pandemic with a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
Peter Baeck says an enhanced understanding of how to make the most of collective intelligence will ensure public institutions are better placed to respond to the pandemic – and prepare for any others that follow.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has set up a local enhanced contact tracing service. Claire Ramwell says ‘hard work by our enthusiastic, skilled contact tracing team has demonstrated success’.
Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street explains how coding bootcamps are helping learners from the West Midlands to start exciting new careers in technology.
Joe Carson describes how the NHS volunteer responder scheme has helped Middlesbrough Council reach many more people in need of vital support during COVID-19.
The coronavirus crisis has tested care to the limit, but it could serve as a turning point for commissioning, writes Ewan King.
The ‘Everyone In’ programme has not only transformed lives, but it also has the potential to radically change the way we care for people who were sleeping rough, according to John Glenton. He says we need to work together to embed these practices [..]
As one of the regions hardest hit by COVID-19, Lancashire is taking steps to ensure its communities emerge better prepared for future challenges, writes Stephen Young.
Hackney will now have two pieces of public artwork that will act as a permanent reminder to everyone who walks past about how the Windrush generation has enriched Britain, says Cllr Carole Williams.
Matt Williams outlines how South Lakeland DC is working with other councils and agencies across the region to help businesses and residents withstand the crisis.
Cllr Vikki Slade outlines the key aspects of BCP Council’s response when day trippers arrived in droves after the relaxation of lockdown.
Sarah Newman looks at the impact of the crisis on disadvantaged families including those from BAME communities – and shows how the systemic practice model can make constructive conversations possible.
The London ADASS region has quickly evolved a social care quality standards platform into a vital COVID-19 data collection tool. Ben Chance explains.
Rachel Spencer-Henshall says the response to an outbreak of COVID-19 at a meat processing factory in Kirklees was ‘partnership working at its best’.
Using a structured, objective and consistent framework to support decisions about whether a project should proceed will make it far more likely that councils make the right choice, says Katie Lynch.
What happens when home isn't a safe place to be? Julie Tyas discusses how tech is becoming the eyes and ears of social workers during the pandemic.
C.Co has been working with a pan-Cheshire programme designed to provide a safe place to live and support for complex needs for survivors of domestic abuse. John Knight explains.
Somerset West and Taunton Council pulled together with partners to provide both accommodation and a support programme for rough sleepers. A powerful case is being made to government to keep the project going, says Federica Smith-Roberts.
A Flintshire CC support system for foster families was awarded innovation funding last week. Angharad Dalton of Nesta looks at what it offers.
Tom Bridges and Siri Arntzen explain how testbeds can be successfully used to experiment our way towards the high streets of the future.
As the nation begins to emerge from lockdown, leader of Westminster City Council Cllr Rachael Robathan describes some key elements of a rolling renewal programme for the heart of the capital.
CIPFA and Xantura have set up a data partnership to support the local authority fight against COVID-19.The key aim is to find and protect those in immediate need, say Rob Whiteman and Wajid Shafiq.
Establishing effective contact tracing in Greater Manchester as part of a National Contact Tracing Service will be critical as we move into the next phase of our response to the pandemic, explains Professor Kate Ardern
Jason Strelitz and Rebecca Eligon reveal how #HelpNewham hubs are reaching out to shielded and vulnerable residents. They also consider how to build on this work to offer assistance for an emerging ‘test, trace, isolate and support’ system.
The Government has announced £300m will go to local authorities to create track and trace programmes. Dominic Harrison asks just how far testing should go.
The Wellbeing Automated Call Service (WACS) is a system that asks people how they are and if they need help - and has already contacted 6,200 people just three weeks in, says Steve Carefull.
Sanjay Mackintosh outlines how the Haringey Together Food Hub set up in response to the pandemic has been a ‘humanitarian effort of epic proportions’ – representing local government at its best.
With the advent of virtual decision making in local government, Ian Fytche offers insight into how it is working at North Kesteven DC in challenging times.
Tim Aldridge outlines how his team in Newham has responded to the challenge of working during the pandemic, and says adversity has sparked innovation, resilience, collaboration and creativity.
Sarah Newman, executive director of children’s services for the bi-borough - Kensington & Chelsea RLBC and Westminster City Council – outlines how the councils have been working to protect children and families during the COVID-19 crisis.
Rachael Robathan explains how the community contribution raised from Westminster’s top-rate band H council taxpayers is helping local organisations manage the COVID-19 pandemic
Tiffany Cloynes considers force majeure provisions in contracts, but points out that they may not always be the most attractive options available to councils trying to ensure continuity of important services.
The Public Service Transformation Academy has set up a free virtual learning community to help prepare for a ‘real reboot’ and radical rebuilding after the coronavirus crisis. Benjamin Taylor explains.
Brighton & Hove City Council’s adult social care team has created a new interim assessment and support planning framework in response to COVID-19, in partnership with Peopletoo. Richard Cattell and Kirsty Jordan explain.
Lisa Walsh explains how Better Children’s Centres within Greenwich RLBC are helping families by providing practical and emotional support online and over the phone.
Mark Jones outlines how a group of Hull care leavers has set up a walk-by food hub to help others in their position, making more than 20 donations a day.
OLM has developed software - free to councils until the end of September - that acts as an online community whiteboard to support operations in community hubs, says Peter O’Hara.
Peter Baeck looks at how local authorities can best harness collective crisis intelligence to gather and share data on the spread of coronavirus, and mobilise community responses.
West Midlands Combined Authority has launched a COVID-19 support website to help people who want to gain new skills, or to look for a new career. Cllr George Duggins explains.
Martin Esom outlines how Waltham Forest became the first council to pilot its monthly planning committee meeting virtually - using technology to deliver democracy during the pandemic.
An East Suffolk Council-led multi-agency partnership pilot is providing crucial support during the pandemic in getting people discharged from hospital to their homes or to ‘halfway home hubs’, as Cllr Richard Kerry explains.
Tom Symons and Juan Mateos-Garcia of Nesta examine how local government can make use of data to support its own response to the COVID-19 emergency, and see three significant areas where data can be useful.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is throwing out the life ring to businesses at the earliest possible opportunity, says leader Cllr Elizabeth Campbell.
Stockport’s rapid and collaborative response to the disruption caused by COVID-19 has seen an online jobs matching website go from concept to reality in just three days, says Cllr David Meller.
Hertfordshire CC is providing ‘clarity, reassurance and the human touch’ - and its recruitment team turned into a redeployment hub once the potential impact of coronavirus was clear, says Sally Hopper.
Members of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire’s diverse communities have recorded video blogs with crucial COVID-19 public health messages in more than 30 languages so far, says Adrian Chapman.
During this crisis, people are looking to local leaders for answers and visibility, says Andrew St Ledger – and he outlines five key communications lessons that focus on ‘getting the basics right’.
Alison Mckenzie-Folan explains how Wigan’s place-based model of integrated public service delivery, based around seven ‘footprints’ each with their own ‘healthy networks’, has been used to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.
Durham CC’s focus during the COVID-19 outbreak is on supporting commissioned adult and health services to continue to deliver sustainable high quality care, says Neil Jarvis.
Communications has often been seen as a luxury, says Richard Stokoe – but this time it is ‘at the centre of quashing the spread of COVID-19, protecting the health and social care sector and saving lives’.
Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council Dr Justin Varney outlines how the city is co-ordinating its COVID-19 outbreak response and planning for future challenges.