Social Welfare Advice Service

Hounslow Council is conducting a market engagement exercise for the recommission of the Social Welfare Advice Service, an independent, confidential and free advice and support service that helps Hounslow residents solve their social welfare problems (in relation to welfare benefits, debt, housing, employment, consumer issues, family and relationships, discrimination and immigration). The service will include casework and specialist representation, including representation at social security tribunals and administration of Debt Relief Orders. The service should provide a range of access routes to social welfare advice and support, including face-to-face (in a range of localities across the borough of Hounslow), telephone and online and through both drop-in and booked appointments. The service provider will need to demonstrate the following: • Hold a recognised quality standard relevant to the provision of social welfare advice • Have appropriate Professional Indemnity, Public Liability (third party) and Employer’s Liability insurance • Membership of a recognised national network of independent social welfare advice providers, including current members of the Advice Services Alliance such as AdviceUK, Age UK, Citizens Advice, Law Centres Network, Shelter and Youth Access • Authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide debt counselling and debt adjusting on a non-profit basis • Able to support residents to apply for Debt Relief Orders • Registered by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner to provide immigration advice at Level 1 or above • Registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office with appropriate data protection and information security measures in place, including Data Protection Policy, Privacy Statement and relevant data sharing agreements • Relevant policies and procedures including Equality and Diversity, Confidentiality and Health and Safety Policies, Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy and holding Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates The service will begin in April 2024. The London Borough of Hounslow is keen to engage with potential providers, any potential provider interested in engaging with Hounslow should complete the market engagement questionnaire available on the London Tenders portal https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=3fe93427-1209-ee11-8123-005056b64545 and submit by 13:00 on Wednesday 19th July 2023.