Transcript Document
Role of the Welfare Rights Service By Samantha Creary Structure of Welfare Rights Ian Hubball Liz Smith Bal Bajwa Sam Creary 9 Officers 4 Advisors 7 Officers 5 Advisors Aims and Objectives • • • • Helping the residents of Sandwell Achieving Excellence Improving Lives Independent advice and advocacy Provide holistic income maximisation service – Benefits and debt • Influence local authority policies What We do? • • • • Help people claim millions of pound in benefit gains Advise and assist to claim all (30) benefits Complete all relevant forms for clients, also do: – Reconsiderations – Supersession's Represent people at – First Tier – Upper Tier • Home visits – vulnerable people • Open door service – for those with access • Networking and partnership work • Provide training to LA Staff strategic and partner organisations. • Policy work locally and nationally. • Information updates – at all levels • Consultations • MP/Cllrs Briefings • Prevention Work – Rent Arrears • Support and supervision of the voluntary sector • ADVICE LINE 0121 569 3158 - Five days a week Additional Work • • • • • • • Introductory Tenancy Panel Independent Living Fund Charging Policy IAP’s Debt Task Group Promotional Work Regional and national links Holistic Service Means • Complete service to live independently in the community • Blue Badges • Aides and adaptations • Tele - care • Energy Extra • Macmillan Grant • Family Fund • Harborne Parish Lands Trust • Vulnerable Children/Adults • Food Parcel • Charities • Financial Inclusion Who do we do it for? • Older people • People with disabilities (mental health, learning disabilities, etc) • Carer Leavers • Care • Families with children • Teenage Parents • People with Health Problems • Those is low paid work Why we do it • Compliment the Council’s Anti-Poverty Strategy • Protect vulnerable groups • Contribute to broader strategic frame-work • Equalities – Poverty – Health – Ethnicity Quality Standards • Staff trained to level 4 Advice and Guidance – Degree equivalent – Staff with first degree and Masters – All staff Trained in Debt – Consumer Credit Counselling Service • Quality Standards – Checked in supervision Staff Projects • • • • • • • • Harpal – Bridges Macmillan Louise – Mental Health/Sure Start Leanne – Tax Credit - Childcare element take-up. Nicole – Teenage Pregnancy/Deaf Project Lee – IAPTS & Leaving Care Team Balbir – Mental Health & Sure Start Priti – Health Conditions Raj – Children's Social Care/Extra Care Housing • • • • • • • Yvonne RF – West Bromwich TT Kashmir – Smethwick TT Carole – Rowley TT Diana – Oldbury TT Nisar – Tipton TT Fiona – Wednesbury TT Corrin – Smethwick TT Advisor Locations • • • • • • • • • Kam K – Wednesbury N.O. Kam D – Ford Street N.O. Michelle – Oldbury N.O. Adilla – Oldbury Council House. Derry – Oldbury Council House Diane – Princes End Rob – Blackheath N.O. Rachel – West Bromwich N.O. Harry – Attached to the Arrears Team (Funded SLA) How do we do it? • • • • Advice Line Housing offices Home Visits Partnership work – External funding streams. • • • • • • • Leaflets/Events Surgeries Midwives Connexions Batman’s hill Health Professionals Promotional Events – coffee mornings, mums and tot’s OUR GUARANTEE • We will seek to ensure that people are better off having used our service. • Often people wrongly assume that thy are not entitled to additional benefits. Our experience is that 8 out of 10 people are under claim. RESULTS We see around 9,000 people per year • Approximately £21 Million Pounds in Additional Benefits 2010/11 – £17 million expected this financial year THANK YOU FOR LISTENING ANY QUESTIONS