St Helens Information and Advice Service

Descriptions

Background St Helens Council are keen to undertake soft market testing to inform upcoming commissioning intentions for its information and advice service. The Information and Advice service is accessed by adults over the age of 18 years of age, the service will utilise approaches that enable the people of St Helens to become active contributing citizens, and to find nonservice solutions whatever their life experience or challenges, by supporting an asset based approach to the needs of the individual. The service will provide information and advice to people on a wide range of social care related issues (for example, accessing care and support, health promotion and prevention and accessibility of services, homelessness, housing issues, benefits advice, employment and training opportunities, befriending and services available to reduce social isolation) and signpost to statutory, voluntary and community organisations where applicable. The service must offer a range of appointments to meet the needs of clients. In addition to outreach support and engagement opportunities, the supplier must operate a local accessible venue for face to face appointments The provider of the information and advice service will register with the Advice Services Alliance and work towards the Advice Quality Standard (AQS). The Advice Quality Standard is the quality mark for organisations that provide advice to the public on social welfare issues, and any other quality standards relevant to delivering information and advice.