The Courses
Our aim is to provide training that works - by providing the tools and knowledge your staff need regarding benefits, including Housing Benefit and Welfare Reform. We will work with your staff to focus on the real issues and discuss the best way forward by providing key information, confidence and practical help such as standard letters. By the end of the course, participants will be enabled to tackle everyday issues to minimise arrears and maximise residents' income. If you decide to book a course, we will:
- Find out what your specific requirements are regarding the outcomes from the training.
- Consult you on the content and format of the training.
- Plan and agree the programme with you.
- Include your corporate strategies where possible.
- Produce comprehensive reference material for future use.
- Deliver an enjoyable and successful course that produces real results.
If requested, we can incorporate the use of our website to show participants the extensive help it can give.
We tailor the content of each course we run – so if you don’t see exactly what you require please do ask. We can mix and match our courses and add topics that are relevant to the delegates’ requirements and problems being experienced.
Our Welfare Reform Courses include:
Introductory:
Welfare Reform Overview
Debt Awareness
Bank Accounts / Credit Unions
Standard:
Welfare Reform: what you need to know
Financial Inclusion and Sustaining Tenancies
Universal Credit the Essentials
DLA to Personal Independence Payment
Discretionary Housing Payments - half day
Welfare Reform for Housing Workers
Experienced:
Welfare Reform for practitioners
Personal Independence Payment: Claims and appeals
Universal Credit calculation
Our Housing Benefit courses include:
Introductory:
Introduction to Housing Benefit
HB for Contact Centre Staff
Housing Benefit and Lettings
Standard:
Preventing Arrears through Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit Overpayments
Using hbnotes to Resolve Housing Benefit Issues
Experienced:
HB for People from Abroad
Calculating HB
Challenging HB Decisions
Our other courses include:
Introductory:
Introduction to Welfare Benefits
Benefits for Older People
Benefit Essentials at Sign Up
Standard:
Maximising Income to Reduce Arrears
Benefits for ill health / disability
Benefits for people living in Supported Housing
Experienced:
ESA Claims and Appeals
Benefits for Young People
Housing Benefit Pick 'n Mix!
We can also run a Housing Benefit 'pick 'n mix' course where you choose what modules you would like to make up a full days training - please contact us for more details info@housingsystems.co.uk.
Our work usually involves delivering a full day's training to staff. But, no project is too large or too small. In 2010 we organised and presented a series of over 50 'Working Benefits' workshops throughout the country for the DWP. But we are equally happy and comfortable delivering short workshops to small groups of staff or tenants.
Fees
The cost from 1st January 2013 for a full day's training for up to 14 delegates is:
£725 +vat (registered users)
£945 +vat (non-registered users)
The cost from 1st January 2013 for a half day's training for up to 14 delegates is:
£480 + VAT (registered users)
£600 + VAT (non-registered users)
Note: the maximum number of delegates is 14 to aid discussion and learning. The cost assumes you provide the venue and suitable refreshments. There may be an additional £115+vat charge for travel/accommodation depending on the location.
Interested?
If you would like more details on a particular course, or if you would like to discuss your training needs, please contact us by email at info@housingsystems.co.uk, or by ringing 01756 796394.
Our Trainers:
Jane Crawford: Jane is an experienced welfare rights worker and trainer. She is currently working as a Welfare Rights Adviser for a local authority. She has also worked as a Welfare Rights Co-ordinator for a large Housing Association and the Benefits Agency (DWP).
Glenys Harriman: Glenys has been presenting training courses for over 25 years. She is a qualified teacher, and has worked for the CAB as a welfare rights adviser and as a deputy manager. She spent 15 years in housing, working as a Benefits Adviser and training staff on benefits before working full time for Housing Systems (hbnotes and ucnotes).
Janet Monks: Janet qualified as a Housing Manager in 1983 and has worked for Local Authorities and a Housing Association in roles which include, Housing for the Elderly, Allocations, Homelessness, Leasehold Property Management and Benefits & Income Advise. She has also worked for Macmillan CAB and is a qualified CAB Adviser and continues to volunteer as a CAB Adviser. She has presented training courses on benefits for housing staff for many years.
Gerry Powell: Gerry is a freelance welfare benefits trainer with 10 years of experience in the housing field. Before going freelance Gerry worked at Tees Valley Housing as a Benefits Officer. She has also worked for a Local Authority as a Welfare Rights Worker and spent 4 years doing voluntary work for the CAB.
Julia Service: Julia has been a benefits trainer for 20 years. Having worked in roles such as a HB Assessor, a Housing Officer, and Benefits Adviser and Trainer for voluntary agencies, local authorities and Housing Associations, she now works full time for Housing Systems (hbnotes and ucnotes).