
Cheshire West and Chester Council's Social Welfare and Advice Consultation 2021 |
Introduction
What is the consultation about?
Cheshire West and Chester Council have a duty under the Care Act 2014 to provide Social Welfare and Advice Services across the borough to ensure residents have:
Cheshire West and Chester Council have a duty under the Care Act 2014 to provide Social Welfare and Advice Services across the borough to ensure residents have:
- Advice on benefits
- Information about housing matters
- Support with debt management and money advice
- Information regarding employment rights and redundancy
- Information to support with social care related issues.
We would like to hear your views on Social Welfare and Advice Services in Cheshire West and Chester. This will help us decide how the services are delivered going forwards. We want to ensure that the development of new services reflects the feedback and experiences of residents and how they wish to be supported in the future.
Why change now?
Current delivery in Cheshire West and Chester uses a traditional model of welfare and advice based in four offices at Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford and Northwich which has remained largely unchanged for several years.
The pandemic period and impact of social distancing restrictions however, have led to an increased remote and digital offer via an online and telephone service.
We are looking to make changes that could see the use of local and community sites, including foodbanks and work zones, and closure of the existing offices. This will make it easier for residents to find and use more locally based services whilst not reducing the level of professionalism and one-to-one support available.
These new methods of support will make it easier for us to meet demand locally, reducing travel costs for service users and improving access to timely support. New approaches to seeking social welfare and advice services could include confidential free telephone advice and volunteer support provided at a range of community sites, such as GP surgeries and leisure centres. As required, residents can then also be forwarded for one-to-one confidential professional caseworker support and representation. This will provide a standard service to Cheshire West and Chester residents with focus on those who are in most need.
Current delivery in Cheshire West and Chester uses a traditional model of welfare and advice based in four offices at Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford and Northwich which has remained largely unchanged for several years.
The pandemic period and impact of social distancing restrictions however, have led to an increased remote and digital offer via an online and telephone service.
We are looking to make changes that could see the use of local and community sites, including foodbanks and work zones, and closure of the existing offices. This will make it easier for residents to find and use more locally based services whilst not reducing the level of professionalism and one-to-one support available.
These new methods of support will make it easier for us to meet demand locally, reducing travel costs for service users and improving access to timely support. New approaches to seeking social welfare and advice services could include confidential free telephone advice and volunteer support provided at a range of community sites, such as GP surgeries and leisure centres. As required, residents can then also be forwarded for one-to-one confidential professional caseworker support and representation. This will provide a standard service to Cheshire West and Chester residents with focus on those who are in most need.
Council information is also available in audio, Braille, large print or other formats. If you would like a copy in a different format, in another language or require a BSL interpreter, please email equalities@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk, telephone 0300 123 8 123 or textphone 18001 01606 275 757.