Westminster Advice Service Partnership

Description

The Westminster Advice Service Partnership provides advisory services to support residents with; claiming benefits, debt problems, housing applications and challenges, energy advice 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, and home visits for vulnerable residents and people needing home energy advice. We're currently anticipating a contract term of five and a half years and a two year allowable extension (5.5 + 2). Lot 1: 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. Providers with experience of delivering these types of services are invited to register their interest in an upcoming tender opportunity, currently estimated to commence in October/November 2024.