Westminster Advice Service Partnership

Descriptions

The Westminster Advice Service Partnership provides advisory services to support residents with; claiming benefits, debt problems, housing applications and challenges, energy support and planning applications. It includes telephone and online support, face to face appointments, drop-in sessions, and a referral network to cross refer between agencies. Areas of advisory focus include; welfare benefits, debt (including advice on switching energy suppliers and issuing of Debt Relief Orders), employment advice (not employability advice), housing (any issues related), managing and borrowing money, information and advice on income maximisation through finance advice, immigration to OISC level 1 and 2, energy advice and other advice specific to priority care groups. The service will consist of the following components and will be delivered across three levels. All levels will be expected to be accessible to all service users: Information (Level One) - An information service gives clients the information they need, for them to know and do more about their situation. It can include signposting, providing factual information about the role of another organisation, and/or how to find or contact that organisation. Responsibility for taking any further action rests with the client. Advice (Level Two) - An advice service involves: a diagnosis of the client's enquiry and the issues involved, giving information and explaining options, identifying further action the client can take, and some assistance: e.g. contacting third parties to seek information; filling in forms. This would usually be completed with one interview although there may be some follow-up work. The client would take responsibility for any further action. Advice with Casework (Level Three) - Some advice with casework service includes all the elements of an advice service previously listed and also involves taking action on behalf of the client to move the case on. It could include negotiating on behalf of the client with third parties on the telephone, by letter or face-to-face. It will usually involve follow-up work and the adviser would take responsibility for this. We're currently anticipating a contract term of five and a half years and two two-year allowable extensions (5.5 + 2 + 2).