Browse our webinar slides to learn how to influence central government policy development and get your frontline experiences heard. With Paul Howarth and Jake Love Soper. A new Parliamentary term brings fresh opportunity to talk to decision-makers about the things that really matter. We think it’s important that policy hears from practice. But we also know it can be hard for people on the front line to get their voice heard above the noise. Our guest speakers spoke about how to influence central government policy development and get your frontline experiences heard. With Paul Howarth and Jake Love Soper. For more details call 0330 088 9242 https://policyinpractice.co.uk/webinar-how-to-influence-central-government/

1. Deven Ghelani
Jake Love Soper
Paul Howarth
Webinar: How to influence
central government
Wed19July2017

2. Housekeeping
• Audio check
• Please ask questions
• Polls and a survey
• Finish by 11:30

3. Speakers
Paul Howarth
Welfare Reform Club
Jake Love Soper
Policy and Strategy Consultant
Deven Ghelani
Policy in Practice

4. Agenda
1. Why Policy in Practice influences government
2. Your objectives
3. Who to talk to at DWP
4. Timing: the policy pulse
5. Current DWP priorities
6. A word on committees
7. Your personal approach

5. 5
5
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Poll: How do you rate your current
knowledge of government?

6. 6
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7. We make the welfare system
simple to understand, so that
people can make the decisions
that are right for them

8. www.policyinpractice.co.uk
Policy
national impact
Analytics
local impact
Software
individual impact

9. 9
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Poll: Why do you want to talk to central
government?

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11. The importance of having objectives
Be clear about what your organisation wants to achieve: why do you want to influence
central government?

12. Where to go in DWP
• Who you want to influence will start with what you are trying to achieve
• Match your objective to the right person in the department
STRATEGY
DELIVERY

13. A primer on ‘grades’
• Grade 1: Perm Secretary
• Grade 2: Director General
• Grade 3: Director
• Grade 4: Rare: qualified professional such as a Doctor
• Grade 5: Deputy Director
• Grade 6: Management grade
• Grade 7: SEO, HEO. Policy expert: should have enough detailed
knowledge to discuss policy options and explain why a decision was
taken
EXPERTISE
INFLUENCE

14. Who’s who in DWP

15. Timing: the government pulse
• The submission cycle
• The fiscal event
• The legislative cycle
• General election (Purdah)

16. Staying current on research priorities
• DWP’s Secretary of State is keen on research –
especially long-term trialling
• For example, in long-term impact of approaches
to helping people with mental health issues into
work
• A fuller list of DWP research priorities will be
coming out shortly – we are staying in touch
Rt. Hon. David Gauke, PC
Cabinet Office are keen for all departments to
publish their research needs

17. Social Security Advisory Committee
• Statutory body
• Must be consulted on new regulations
• DWP must respond
• Also write reports on topical subjects
• Diverse membership
• Chairman has ear of Ministers
• Worth getting known by them
Paul Gray, CB. Chairman, SSAC

18. Work and Pensions Committee
• There is a Commons Select
Committee for each
government department,
examining three aspects:
spending, policies and
administration
• Undertakes several inquiries
each year; useful to submit
evidence
• Chairman is Frank Field.
Members reflect make-up of
House of Commons
• Can be influential though also
adversarial

19. Policy in Practice looked at
187,475 real families across
17 local authorities
We modelled the impact of
all welfare reforms
The combined impact of
welfare cuts will leave "just
about managing families”
worse off by over £2,500 a
year by 2020
The impact on low-income families
Source: The Guardian, 22 November 2016

20. The need for anti-poverty strategies
Policy in Practice analysed the impact
of the two child limit to tax credits.
From April, a third child born to low
income families will miss out on up to
£2,780 of tax credit support a year.
This change will affect 8,000 children
born in April and one million children
by 2020.
See policyinpractice.co.uk/blog
Source: The Guardian, 3 April 2017

21. Evidence to Scottish Parliament on two
child limit for tax credits
Source: BBC News, 25 May 2017

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Poll: What factors are important for
establishing your credibility?

23. Patience and tenacity
• Don’t see a cold shoulder as a final rejection – it might simply mean you should wait
for the right moment
• Hunt in packs – if your organisation is small or not well-known, you might find it
difficult to get traction. Getting together with like-minded organisations can solve
this
• Make and use personal contacts

24. In summary
1. Be clear about your objectives
2. Be sensitive about timing
3. Be prepared to hunt in packs
4. Be persistent but patient
5. Be prepared to make and use personal
contacts

25. 25
Questions

26. Next steps
Download our ‘How to Influence Central Government’ handout
Short survey:
• We value your feedback
• Ask questions or clarifications
Next webinar:
• Helping people transition onto Universal Credit
• Wed 6 September, 10:30
• Guest speakers: Housing association and local authority client

27. www.policyinpractice.co.uk
Thank you
Paul Howarth
paul@welfarereformclub.co.uk
Jake Love Soper
jake@policyinpractice.co.uk
Deven Ghelani
deven@policyinpractice.co.uk
hello@policyinpractice.co.uk
0330 088 9242