Achieving the projects aims:

There are two main strands of work the team are focussing on.

The three primary partners, Age Concern, Citizens Advice Bureaux and Shelter have set about improving access to their own advice services.

 

 

In 2010/11 the partnership will launch:

• Recruit community organisations onto the partnership – working together to increase access to advice and enable more seamless referrals.
• Advice Line – a single telephone number to access Citizens Advice Bureaux and Shelter across Cheshire.
• The Online Referral System –a new and innovative tool that will be made available to community organisations to refer clients to Age Concern, Citizens Advice and Shelter seamlessly. By filling in a simple online form services will be able to give their clients access to a wealth of services and support.
• Increase methods/access to advice – ranging from extending opening times to looking at online options and further work in more community settings.
• E-learning workshop – partners will be able to take up the opportunity of an e-learning workshop to make best use of the Bureau’s Advice Guide, a one stop website for all your advice needs.
• Signposting & Referral Sharing Good Practice workshop – partners will be able to sign up to the free workshops across Cheshire.
• Cheshire Advice Partnership Mark of Quality for Information – partners have the option of working towards to mark of quality. The team are producing a workbook with examples, case studies and top tips for all the key elements.

An example of how the service could work for your organisation:

Rosemary was abandoned by her partner three months earlier. This left her and her children unable to cope financially. The bank is seeking repossession of her house, and a court date has been set. Rosemary has a disability and contacts Cheshire Disability Federation.

With Rosemary’s permission, CDF contacts the Gateway Assessment phone number to make a referral. An arrangement is made to call Rosemary at home. A Gateway Assessment interview identifies four issues with which Rosemary needs help:

• maximizing her income by assessment of her benefit entitlements;
• challenging the repossession of her home;
• making arrangements with a number of other creditors;
• making arrangements regarding financial support from her partner.

This will lead to appointments being made for Rosemary to see:

• a volunteer CAB adviser (benefits);
• a Shelter adviser (repossession);
• a CAB debt adviser (general debt);
• a solicitor specializing in family law (financial support).

As Rosemary is not confident in being able to get to all of these interviews, CDF agrees to attend the solicitor’s meeting with her.

Please contact the Cheshire Advice Partnership if you think we can assist your organisation