CAP FREE training

The Cheshire Advice Partnership is committed to working with community organisations to facilitate greater accessibility to advice services.

The training arm of the project has three points of interest: making information on key topics available for professionals, training on signposting & referral and quality assurance.

 

Signposting & Referral – sharing good practice workshop

Since the summer the Cheshire Advice Partnership team have trained over 70 workers from over 30 different organisations across Cheshire. Feedback and evaluation has been overwhelmingly positive with all delegates agreeing that the right amount of material was covered at the right pace and that they would all be taking ideas back to their organisation to implement and discuss. The team would like to send a special thanks to Cheshire East Voluntary Action, EPNAVCO and Chester Voluntary Action for hosting a number of the workshops.

The aim of the workshop is to encourage more signposting and referral activity between community organisations to reduce referral fatigue and benefit those who need multi agency support.

Learning outcomes include:

• defining the differences between signposting and referral

• recognising the barriers to signposting and referral and how to overcome them

• identifying and sharing good practice techniques that can be implemented in individual organisations and help build confidence including - processes and procedures, information sharing and meeting clients needs including reducing referral fatigue

Feedback from community organisations who have attended the workshop:

"I am really pleased and surprised how 'on track' this training is. You often feel a little wary of new training and how good it will actually be, but you have really got this one right' 

 "I found the course very illuminating and feel it will keep us up to speed"

 

E-learning for www.adviceguide.org.uk

Adviceguide is the Citizens Advice online public information service. It provides round-the-clock, up-to-date information on common areas such as benefits, housing, employment, debt, consumer and much more.

Adviceguide is a useful tool for practitioners, offering up to date information. Your practitioners can utilise the expertise of the Citizens Advice online. By simply logging onto the website and using the easy to use A-Z listings you can help answer simple queries or find out your clients rights.

Adviceguide does not aim to provide the level of detailed comprehensive information a Citizens Advice Bureau adviser would. However it aims to help you and your client to have a better understanding of their rights and entitlements, and to take the first steps in resolving problems for themselves. Where appropriate, users are directed to additional sources of expert advice and to details of their nearest bureau.

The e-learning session, free for Associate Partners, has proved incredibly popular with more and more community organisations utilising the website and its expertise. To find out more about the e-learning session email cap@cwcab.org.uk

 

Mark of Quality for Information

Over 50 of our partners have applied for the Cheshire Advice Partnership Mark of Quality for Information. Workbooks and supporting materials will be out in the next few weeks – watch this space.

Quality assurance is used to demonstrate achievement and accountability to users, beneficiaries, funders, statutory bodies and general public. Investment in quality improves effectiveness, efficiency, staff, user and volunteer satisfaction, develops consistency across sites and services, sets targets for improvement and demonstrates a quality of services to funders.

The Cheshire Advice Partnership self assessment workbook will recognise what organisations have achieved so far, areas of improvement and work towards the Partnerships Mark of Quality for Information. It is the first step for our Associate Partners, who wish to attain the mark, to review their quality assurance procedures and practices. The workbook is very practical, uses lots of examples, case studies, tips and advice.

Those applying for the Mark of Quality are asked to complete each part of the workbook, giving examples and/or providing documentary evidence of how they meet each part of the Mark. In areas where Associate Partners require additional support we will be able to offer practical advice and refer to other resources and training providers such as the good work of the Voluntary Actions across Cheshire.

 

If you would like to find out more about any of the Cheshire Advice Partnership free training opportunities please call the training team on 01606 596 391 or email amyj@cwcab.org.uk