UK Government Connect Announces Doncaster MBC switches to GCSX
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council switched on to the Government Connect Secure Extranet (GCSX) in February 2008, less than a year after submitting its first Code of Connection assessment return.
With the GCSX connection fully “Live” Doncaster has seen immediate benefits with its Housing and Council Tax Benefit (HB/CTB) service now migrated over to GCSX. The seemless migration process saw no disruption to services and has improved the security of handling citizens data.
Other efficiencies gained in addition to improved security arrangements are that Doncaster can now receive Local Authority Input Documents (LAIDs) and Local Authority Claim Information (LACIs) electronically. This removes the need for there-keying of information, reducing errors and saving time. Queries to the DWP which would have been sent via post are now emailed securely so responses are received much quicker which speeds up the claim process.
In addition to the process of HB/CTB claims, the Enforcement Team now communicate with HM Courts Service (who are part of the secure government community) using secure email over Government Secure intranet (GSi) for liaison on Council Tax Liability Orders and committal proceedings matters which previously had to be hand delivered to court.
In the battle against fraud, the Council use the DWP Solicitors Division to prosecute local authorities only HB/CTB offences. They obtain regular updates on cases by secure email over GCSX to send documents rather than posting through courierservice. This means that documents are received much quicker. Doncaster are also seeing improved liaison with other local authorities. One such example is with HB/CTB fraud cases resulting out of the National Fraud Initiative where personal data can now be shared by secure email using GCSX across authorities.
“We are delighted that Doncaster council can now offer an improved and more secure process when handling Benefit claims” says Geraldine Morton, Head of Revenues and Benefits at the council. She explained “GCSX has enabled us to ensure that client data is secured to the highest possible standard, an issue which the council has always made one of its highest priorities. One of the challenges for us with getting GCSX up and running was getting staff used to the new processes for transferring data and setting up new e mail facilities which I am pleased to say we have overcome by communication and training”
Doncaster Council is a metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire in the Yorkshire and the Humber Region of England. The borough has a population of over 290,000 people. Doncaster is one of only 11 authorities in the country to have a directly elected mayor.
Topics: Britain, Doncaster, England, GCSX, Governance, Government Connect, Government Connect Seure Extranet, HB/CTB, Housing and Council Tax Benefit, MBC, technology, UK, United Kingdom
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