Description

Northamptonshire County Council is tendering for an Advice Service. The Advice Service will support customers in addressing financial, housing, employment and related problems to enable them to maintain their independence, to fulfil their legal responsibilities and to participate fully within their communities as citizens; it will enable them to maintain their health and well-being by reducing the stress that these problems cause. The Contractor will provide a comprehensive and specialist casework service from initial referral to conclusion of the case, in the areas of Welfare Benefits, Debt, Employment and Housing.

It will include:
• Diagnosing problems and identifying options for the customer to pursue themselves, where they are able.
• Supporting the customer in identification of entitlements to welfare benefits to ensure they are claiming their full entitlement.
• Negotiation with third parties to progress the case on the customer’s behalf.
• Supporting the customer with specific areas of social law on debt, housing and welfare benefits disputes.
• Negotiation with landlords or lenders to avoid eviction / threat of homelessness.
• Representation at court or tribunal if necessary.

The contractor will be expected to promote self-help where it is appropriate and to promote better financial management skills.

The contractor will seek to add social value to delivery of the service through the involvement of volunteers in an appropriate capacity; this will be incorporated into the key performance indicators and monitored.

 

Additional information

Contract Type	Recurring
Option to extend	There is an option to extend this contract One year with option to extend for one year
CPV codes	00000001,