Thu 04-Jan-07 09:58 AM by ken

Edited to correct email link

Hello and happy new year to all.

I work for a local authority welfare rights service that was once as impartial a such a service can be but recently got placed under the management of the Housing Benefit department.

I am the Unison steward and the union has put in a grievance on behalf of the team, relating to the take-over. I have been asked by the chair of the grievance, on behalf of Unison, to get examples from other LA services (and anyone else with any ideas) who have been subject to such a management take-over about how this has affected their ability to advocte, their impartiality, the public and others perception of their service, etc, etc. I am particularly interested in hearing about how they have been able to represent at HB appeals against their own deparment, whether tribunals have raised any objections/issues to the two sections going head to head and in fact whether anyone has been told that they are no longer able to advocate in relation to HB. We have so far been told that we will not be asked to stop doing this, but clearly it's not that simple. Our concerns are that claimants wont want us to represent them any more than they would want the Jobcentre to represent them against a wrongful JSA decision.

Does anyone know of any cases where tribunals have objected to HB-managed WRO's (not just Local Authority WRO's) representing at HB appeals? Does anyone have examples of how public perception of their service has shifted since hey were taken over in such a way?

Also, does anyone think here will be any repercussions for our Quality Mark as we can no longer be seen to be impartial, being managed by a benefits provider?

Please email me at sarahroy.work@virgin.net

Cheers.

Hi Sarah

You may want to have a look at CSHC/729/03 - in that case, the local authority rep was not from the same department as the housing benefits department but the practice adopted by Mrs Gibson (the rep) was commended by the Commissioner - it ought to be the practice that other LA WROs should have -

our advice service in Blackburn with Darwen is in the same department as housing benefits - that has not resulted in any problems due to us adopting the same practice as Mrs Gibson for several years - we also found that a statement of indepdendence of the advice service that was agreed by a committee of the Council has been very useful - in essence the advice offered is not influenced by the department or departmental management - the advisor acts in the best interests of the client (including helping them to complain to the Ombudsman in suitable cases)

Happy to chat if you want.

Shabir
01254-585762

It's not that different from working in a Citizens Advice Bureau that is entirely funded by the local authority: and we certainly don't pull any punches in dealing with them. Mind you, they do seem to keep cutting our grant, but then they do that to everyone esle too.

Brigid