Adviser Support Directory

Adviser
Support
Directory
for money advisers
in England and Wales
1st edition, published in 2010
Produced by wiseradviser,
part of the Money Advice Trust
information
training
community
services
Adviser Support Directory 1
Contents
Introducing the Adviser Support Directory
Introducing the Adviser Support Directory
3
Partnership working
4
The
7
website Information
Electronic resources,
publications, newsletters
and books
Training Face-to-face courses,
e-learning courses,
distance learning materials
and qualifications
Community
Consultancy, conferences,
local groups and forums
Services Advice tools, services
and further resources
Thank you
8
12
26
In order to provide our clients with the best possible advice, our sector
is proud to be free, independent, confidential and impartial.
To provide effective advice money advisers need
knowledge on a wide range of options and information as
well as channels for help and further support.
There are so many different types of support on offer
and we recognise how important it is to find the right
networks, training and support for you.
The Money Advice Trust (MAT) is a charity formed in
1991 to increase the quality and availability of free,
independent money advice in the UK. The Trust works in
partnership to design and deliver these adviser support
services.
We decided to produce this directory to help money
advisers browse, locate and access the right support.
30
Our wiseradviser training, forums and online resources
are one way for advisers to gain the knowledge and
support they need. Our partner organisations also offer
support for advisers through publications, conferences,
training, websites and much more.
34
These services complement the support and updates
available within advisers’ own organisations via
experienced colleagues, in-house training and
information systems.
Money advice is constantly developing and changing
and our sector really thrives on the sharing of knowledge
and experience.
2 Adviser Support Directory
We have brought together information from across
the free-to-client money advice sector to provide
you with a comprehensive guide to adviser support.
We hope you find it useful and informative.
This directory covers support for
money advisers in England and Wales.
MAT also works with partners in
Scotland and Northern Ireland
to provide support for money
advisers in these regions.
For further information visit
www.wiseradviser.org and
www.moneyadvicetrust.org
Adviser Support Directory 3
Partnership working
How and why do we work in partnership?
MAT works with its partners by agreeing
strategy and by sharing resources and ideas
to achieve a common goal. The aim of the
partnership is to support advisers in providing high
quality money advice. Working together helps us to
ensure the work of each organisation does not overlap
but is complementary and makes best use of often
limited resources.
Wiseradviser was established
to build and maintain strong lines
of communication between all partner organisations
to promote consistency and high quality in money advice
training.
The Adviser Support Steering Group (ASSG), previously
known as the Training Steering Group, is key to agreeing
a joined up strategy across the UK. The group was
renamed in early 2010, to better reflect the group’s
purpose and aims. The ASSG meets on a quarterly basis
to shape all aspects of adviser support, including money
advice training, and is attended by representatives of all
MAT’s partner organisations.
4 Adviser Support Directoy
Our partners in England and Wales
AdviceUK
The voice of independent advice
www.adviceuk.org.uk
AdviceUK is the UK’s largest support network for free,
independent advice centres. Organisations who are
members of AdviceUK can access a range of benefits
including joining AdviceUK’s Group Debt Licence in debt
counselling from the OFT. This directory focuses on the
support they offer money advisers such as the Money
Advice Update newsletter and social policy consultancy.
Citizens Advice
The charity for your community
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
The Citizens Advice service provides free, independent,
confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their
rights and responsibilities. Support they provide for
money advisers includes the money advice newsletter
Arian and the Specialist Support consultancy service
for Citizens Advice Bureaux, AdviceUK agencies, IMA
members, CCCS and LSC agencies.
Institute of Money Advisers (IMA)
Assuring Quality in the Money Advice Profession
www.i-m-a.org.uk
The IMA is the only professional body acting solely for
money advisers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It has over 1400 members drawn from right across the
free-to-client money advice sector. The support they
provide includes Quarterly Account magazine,
face-to-face training courses and their new qualification
Certificate in Money Advice Practice.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS)
The charity that helps you manage your debts
and understand money
www.cccs.co.uk
CCCS are a money advice and debt management charity
providing free, confidential advice and support.
They also provide training courses in money advice
and have developed an ICM Diploma in Money and
Debt Advice.
Adviser Support Directory 5
Partnership working
Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF)
As part of the FIF project the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills (BIS) provide funding to increase
free face-to-face debt advice in England and Wales.
We receive part of this funding to provide two streams of
training for FIF money advisers.
New FIF advisers should complete all wiseradviser
generalist and caseworker level courses. We have
created a learning pathway which includes all these
courses.
The For FIF advisers we also provide additional training
events through the year to ensure knowledge is kept
up-to-date, enabling them to provide the depth and
range of advice their clients need.
To access the training and support available, FIF
advisers should register on www.wiseradviser.org
If you have any queries about the FIF programme
please contact the wiseradviser team at
[email protected]
In addition to the information in this brochure please
visit the wiseradviser website to find out more about
adviser support. www.wiseradviser.org
Who can use the wiseradviser website?
This website is for all money advisers working within
MAT’s partner organisations.
How do I register to access the wiseradviser
website?
website
How can I get help using the wiseradviser
website?
There are guides on how to use the website in the Website
Help tab or you can contact us using the contact details in
the Contact Us tab.
In this directory read more
about support available on
www.wiseradviser.org
Resources, Learning
and Adviser Community.
To access wiseradviser you will need to register online at
www.wiseradviser.org
Once your registration has been approved you can make
full use of the all support available.
6 Adviser Support Directoy
Adviser Support Directory 7
Electronic resources, publications, newsletters and books
information
There is a variety of
resources money advisers
can tap into to expand
their knowledge and keep
up-to-date with the latest
developments in the sector.
Information is available
on tools and techniques
in money advice, court
procedures, case law
updates, and much more.
Read on to find out about
information available to
money advisers.
8 Adviser Support Directory
Electronic resources
AdviserNet
AdviserNet, created by Citizens Advice, can be purchased
by other organisations. The AdviserNet CD is a valuable
resource for all advisers and covers employment,
benefits, housing, debt and is updated every month.
Advisers who subscribe to AdviserNet receive an easy
to install CD every month which is used daily by 17,000
CAB advisers and hundreds of libraries, solicitors, trade
unions, charities, colleges and community organisations.
For more information go to their website
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/advisernet
Information for clients
To meet the demand for money advice in recent years
there has been a growth in free self-help resources
for clients. Read online information and download or
order printed fact sheets and information packs on the
following websites:
www.cccs.co.uk/InfoCentre.aspx
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Wiseradviser resources
The resources section of the
wiseradviser website contains a range
of useful articles, documents and
links. As well as money advice subjects
such as Debt Relief Orders, Consumer
Credit Act and Mortgage Arrears, topics
also include England & Wales Venue
Maps & Directions (all venues used
for wiseradviser courses in England
& Wales), and Pre-Course Work
Resources (for wiseradviser courses).
Additionally, links to other websites are
located here, within the Resources tab.
You can also find an electronic version
of this directory.
Log on to www.wiseradviser.org
and click on the Resources tab to see
a list of topics. For help on searching
for a specific resource go to the
Website Help tab.
Publications and newsletters
AdviceUK Money Advice Update
The AdviceUK Money Advice Update
is a regular email bulletin that
contains information about the latest
developments in policy, legislation, case
law, training and funding in the area of
money advice.
If you would like to be added to the
mailing please contact AdviceUK’s
National Money Advice Co-ordinator,
David Hawkes on 020 7469 5700 or email
[email protected] with
‘Money Advice Update’ in the subject
heading.
offers in-depth reporting of all
the key advice areas. In every
issue leading experts and practitioners
provide authoritative articles and
analysis of current issues. Subscribers
receive six issues of Adviser each year,
a free benefits wall chart in April,
abstracts and features indexes.
For more information go to
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/adviser_
magazine
Adviser magazine
As with AdviserNet, Adviser
magazine is created by Citizens
Advice but is available to the entire
advice sector. Adviser magazine
Adviser Support Directory 9
information
Arian
Arian is a free bi-monthly money advice
newsletter produced by Citizens Advice
Specialist Support. It is for money
advisers from Money Advice Trust
partner agencies in England and Wales.
It provides information and practical
support to money advisers through
short news items, references and links
to other publications. It also has regular
items, including a Case Law Update,
details of Money Advice Groups, Dear
Marian, what’s coming up in Adviser and
Quarterly Account and Success Stories.
It also includes a regular item News
from AdviceUK.
Electronic resources, publications, newsletters and books
Quarterly Account
The Journal of the Institute of Money
Advisers (IMA), Quarterly Account, is a
valuable resource for anyone in money
advice. It is free for members of IMA.
Regular features include: News Review,
the Front Line Interview, Q & A with
Citizens Advice Specialist Support
Money Advice Team, Quarterly Quarrel,
Benefit Changes, Letters, ABC of Money
Advice and Legal Round-up.
For more information go to their website
www.i-m-a.org.uk/ima-quarterlyaccount
Members resources
Books
If you are a volunteer, employee or
member of one of MAT’s partner
organisations you may be eligible to
access internal resources such as
intranets and newsletters. Speak
to your manager to see if you have
access to:
Debt Advice Handbook
The Debt Advice Handbook is published
by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).
It contains all the essential information
needed by advisers dealing with debt
problems, and explains the key stages
and issues in money advice.
Citizens Advice:
CABlink
CABmoney
Money Advice Resource Kit (MARK)
The handbook is revised and updated
bi-annually by experts including
members of the Citizens Advice
Specialist Support team. CPAG are also
developing an online version which be
available in 2010/11.
Institute of Money Advice:
IMA News
To subscribe to Arian email arian@
citizensadvice.org.uk or write to
Citizens Advice Specialist Support
(Money Advice), Quebec House,
Castlebridge, 5-19 Cowbridge Road
East, Cardiff CF11 9AB.
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Adviser Support Directory 11
Face-to-face courses, e-learning courses, distance learning materials and qualifications
training
MAT and its partners work
together to ensure training
provided for money advisers
promotes consistency of
advice across the sector.
Read on to check what level
of training is suitable for you,
find out about different ways
of learning and take a look at
courses available.
Training levels
Wiseradviser training is free!
The money advice training provided by wiseradviser and
our partners is structured at three skill levels. These
levels are based on Money Advice Standards agreed across
the sector which can be found on the wiseradviser website.
Wiseradviser training, accessed
through the wiseradviser website, is
free for volunteers, employees and
members of our partner organisations.
Course materials are updated
bi-annually to reflect changes in
legislation and bring you relevant
training of an excellent standard.
Generalist level training is designed to give new advisers
an understanding of the basic principles of money advice.
Caseworker level training is aimed at developing the
skills and knowledge of ‘generalist’ money advisers. It
will assist money advisers to deal with the majority of
debt problems that they may encounter.
Specialist level training is provided to help advisers deal
with more complex cases.
We strongly recommend new money advisers complete
Generalist level training before moving on to Caseworker
level training.
Some courses also ask that advisers have completed
Generalist level training and have had the opportunity to
put the training into practice and the new learning
into context.
Money advisers can benefit from a
full blend of wiseradviser learning
tools to suit individual learning styles
and needs.
Whether you are new to the money
advice sector or an experienced
adviser, you can build upon your
money advice knowledge in the
following ways:
Our Classroom learning /
face-to-face training:
Our guided learning through
e-learning and distance learning:
• Covers essential money advice
topics broken into modules which
can be completed at your own pace
over a number of weeks
• Provides expert teaching from
leading tutors in their field with
excellent printed course notes and
supporting materials
• Includes interactive e-learning
courses to be completed online
and distance learning courses
that can be printed off and
completed at your own pace
• Brings together people from
different advice settings, sharing
experiences to add to learning
• Enables you to track your progress
online and test your understanding
of the subject as you go
• Consists of one or two day courses
in a variety of locations
• Gives you 24-hour access to training
materials, with the option of
attending face-to-face practitioner
workshops to consolidate learning.
• In addition, many courses carry
points for the Solicitors Regulation
Authority Continuing Professional
Development (CPD).
It is important that you check the skill level, full course
details and entry requirements to ensure the course is at
the correct level for you.
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Directoy
Adviser Support Directory 13
training
Face-to-face courses, e-learning courses, distance learning materials and qualifications
Individual study with resources and
discussions, this includes:
• Discussion forums to enable you to
ask questions and share knowledge
and information with other advisers
• Searchable resources and
discussions containing reference
articles, transcripts of court cases,
government papers, research
materials, links to books and
website resources.
Learning at wiseradviser.org
All wiseradviser training is available
through the wiseradviser website.
Go to the Learning tab to browse for
face-to-face, e-learning and distance
learning courses and book online.
Under the Learning tab you can
also find general information about
wiseradviser training:
• Policies
• Qualifications
• Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) points.
For help guides on how to search
for and book on courses and how to
complete e-learning plus distance
learning go to the Website Help tab.
Learning Pathways
Wiseradviser has developed Learning
Pathways which group together
different parts of a course or related
elements of training into a curriculum,
making it easy for you to follow a
recommended path through our
training.
All our modular e-learning and distance
learning courses are available on
the website in the form of Learning
Pathways combining all modules. For
each course there is also a test at the
end so you can revise what you have
learnt. In some cases you can choose
to attend a face-to-face workshop after
the course, giving you an opportunity to
put your learning into practice.
An example of a Learning Pathway
The Debt Relief Orders (DRO) Learning
Pathway for Advisers who will be
Approved Intermediaries combines
different elements to train advisers in
the necessary knowledge and skills to
become an Approved Intermediary.
• T
he learning pathway starts with the
Insolvency e-learning course. This
is recommended for advisers who
want to build their basic knowledge
of insolvency options
• This is followed by the DRO distance
learning course consisting of
6 modules including a link to
completing a practice application
• After the distance learning is the
online DRO post course assessment
In-house training
To make the most effective use of our
funding we use centralised locations
that achieve maximum capacity.
Periodically we pilot courses in new
locations to gauge demand. If you think
there is demand in your area we may be
able to schedule a course near you.
Contact the wiseradviser team
to find out more about in-house training
on [email protected]
or by calling 0207 489 7790.
We can also provide in-house courses
at cost price to MAT’s partner
organisations. If you have a training
room and a minimum of six trainees
that need to attend the same course,
then it may be cheaper for you to buyin the training and run it at your own
premises. This will cut down travel
costs and staff time away.
• Advisers must work through all 6
DRO modules and pass the post
course assessment to attend
the DRO face-to-face workshop
and complete the DRO Learning
Pathway.
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Adviser Support Directory 15
Wiseradviser course
descriptions
The wiseradviser courses on the
following pages are FREE for staff,
volunteers and members of our
partners. They are listed here in
recommended order of completion.
It may not be necessary to complete
all topics for each level depending
on the adviser’s experience and the
requirements of their workplace.
Go to the wiseradviser website to find
further information about the precourse requirements for each topic
and access all wiseradviser distance
learning, e-learning and face-to-face
courses.
Face-to-face training
(Citizens Advice learners should
refer to training pages on CABlink
or contact Stephanie Munn
on 020 7833 5291 or
[email protected])
Individual study
Pre-course reading
Discussion forums
wiseradviser online resourses
Distance learning
Debt Relief Orders
Homeowners Mortgage Support
Good Practice when
Dealing with Debt Cases
Face-to-face training
Dealing with Mortgage Arrears
Rent Arrears
Strategies
Council Tax
Magistrates Court Action
Debt and Mental Health
Negotiation Skills
County Court Representation
for Mortgage Arrears
Individual study
Pre-course reading
Discussion forums
wiseradviser online resourses
E-learning
Insolvency
Debts in the County Court
Dealing with Utility Debt
Distance learning
Consumer Credit Act
Face-to-face training
Further Professional Development
is provided at caseworker and
specialist skill levels from
the Institute of Money Advisers.
For more information contact
IMA on 0845 094 2384 or go
to www.i-m-a.org.uk
Challenging Money Claims
Business Debts
Time Orders
Limitation of Actions
Lay Advocacy
DEBTS IN THE COUNTY COURT (DCC)
Training type E-LEARNING
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course introduces new money advisers to
the foundations of money advice. It includes information
on how to categorise debts, complete comprehensive
budgets, maximise a client’s income, basic signposting
and the key actions and implications involved in the money
advice process. This is an interactive course divided into 5
manageable online modules and 5 assignments to submit
(feedback is provided).
Summary This course provides a detailed insight into
County Court and High Court procedures.
GOOD PRACTICE
WHEN DEALING WITH DEBT
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level GENERALIST
Debts in the County Court
Consumer Credit Act
Insolvency in Practice
Debt Relief Orders
(for approved intermediaries only)
Face-to-face training
INTRODUCTION TO MONEY ADVICE
This course has replaced the ‘Blue Route’.
Training type E-LEARNING
Level GENERALIST
Practitioner workshops
Individual study
Pre-course reading
Discussion forums
wiseradviser online resourses
Specialist Level
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E-learning
Introduction to Money Advice
Caseworker Level
Face-to-face courses, e-learning courses, distance learning materials and qualifications
Generalist Level
training
Summary This course is designed to help advisers provide
a high quality, effective and measurable debt advice
service. It provides an opportunity to explore key factors
in good practice in dealing with debt cases including: case
management, referrals and quality frameworks, support and
supervision.
There are 21 modules we recommend to be completed over
3 or more weeks.
We suggest advisers put this e-learning into practice before
attending our optional Debts in the County Court Practitioners
Workshop.
DEBTS IN THE COUNTY COURT
PRACTITIONERS WORKSHOP
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course is designed for advisers who have
completed the Debts in the County Court e-learning course
and had the opportunity to put the training into practice.
It will provide core practical knowledge sufficient to enable
trainees to deal with everyday cases in their agency, the
majority of which are straightforward undefended cases.
Please note: Before attending this course, you must complete
the Debts in the County Court e-learning course.
Adviser Support Directory 17
training
Face-to-face courses, e-learning courses, distance learning materials and qualifications
CONSUMER CREDIT ACT (CCA)
Training type DISTANCE LEARNING
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course provides a comprehensive and
up-to-date guide to the Consumer Credit Act.
There are 12 modules we recommend to be completed in
3 or more weeks. There is a test at the end to cement the
knowledge gained on the course.
We recommend advisers put this e-learning into practice
before attending our optional Consumer Credit Act
Practitioners Workshop.
CONSUMER CREDIT ACT (CCA)
PRACTITIONERS WORKSHOP
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course is designed for advisers who have
completed the Consumer Credit Act distance learning course
and had the opportunity to put the training into practice.
It aims to enable participants to identify the rights and
obligations of both the lender and the borrower under the
Consumer Credit Act legislation in relation to money advice,
and to assist the client to select strategies to deal with Hire
Purchase debt.
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Please note: Before attending this course, you must complete
the Consumer Credit Act distance learning course.
INSOLVENCY IN PRACTICE
Training type E-LEARNING
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course provides advisers with the criteria for
and main implications of Administration Orders, bankruptcy
and Individual Voluntary Arrangements. Advisers will be
able to compare and contrast these insolvency remedies and
assist their clients to identify if each option is suitable for
them. The course also covers statutory demands, creditors
petitions and the client’s options for dealing with them.
There are 15 modules we recommend to be completed over
3 or more weeks. There is a test at the end. Also see the
Debt Relief Orders (DRO) distance learning as DROs are an
insolvency option.
We recommend advisers put this e-learning into practice
before attending our optional Insolvency in Practice
Practitioners Workshop.
INSOLVENCY IN
PRACTICE PRACTITIONERS WORKSHOP
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course is designed for advisers who have
completed the Insolvency e-learning course and the Debt
Relief Orders distance learning course modules 1-5 and had
the opportunity to put the training into practice.
It aims to enable advisers to (1) assist clients in making use
of the legal remedies currently available for dealing with
their insolvency and (2) recognise statutory demands and
creditors petitions and be aware of the client’s options for
dealing with them.
Please note: Before attending this course, you must complete
the Insolvency e-learning course and the Debt Relief Orders
distance learning course modules 1-5.
Dealing with Utility Debt
Training type E-Learning
Level Caseworker
Summary This course gives you an overview of what happens
when someone has utility arrears and the options available
for dealing with them. The e-learning covers three key topics;
water, electricity and gas.
DEALING WITH MORTGAGE ARREARS
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course will enable you to identify the main
options for dealing with mortgage arrears prior to possession
action being taken by lenders. You will be guided through
County Court possession procedures and through all the
relevant court forms to familiarise yourselves with the
information necessary to gain the appropriate court order.
Unusually at this level, we also look at the most important
legislation and case law relevant to possession.
NB: This course does NOT deal with mortgage shortfall debts.
RENT ARREARS
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course aims to enable advisers to assist
clients with cases of rent arrears, and to assist the client
to select strategies for dealing with rent arrears prior to
possession proceedings.
Adviser Support Directory 19
training
Face-to-face courses, e-learning courses, distance learning materials and qualifications
STRATEGIES
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary There are many codes of practice, guidelines,
and tried and tested strategies which enhance casework.
This two day course will support you in working with clients
to develop and implement a strategy and framework for the
management of their case in a way which is consistent with
the OFT’s Guidance to Debt Management Companies.
COUNCIL TAX
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This is a comprehensive, intensive course,
explaining the basis upon which Council Tax bills are
calculated and how to check a client’s liability. You’ll see how
the ‘liability’ ladder and the various discount and reduction
schemes all fit together to enable the client to reduce their
bill as much as possible. We then move onto the billing,
liability order and enforcement procedures and spend a
short time looking at the rights and duties of bailiffs when
collecting Council Tax debt. We also touch on the rules
relating to committal.
20 Adviser Support Directory
MAGISTRATES COURT ACTION
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course provides trainees with the skills and
knowledge to support clients when faced with Magistrates’
Court action and financial penalties.
MENTAL HEALTH
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course will give money advisers knowledge
of the Mental Health Guidelines and how to apply them to
undefended cases. It will include the opportunity to explore
appropriate strategies to assist clients with mental health
problems to regain control of and manage their debts.
NEGOTIATION SKILLS
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary Negotiation is a key skill required of money
advisers. This course provides you with negotiation tactics
that will help you and your clients negotiate with creditors and
other key parties successfully. It is highly participative with
exercises and discussions to put theory into practice.
COUNTY COURT REPRESENTATION
FOR MORTGAGE ARREARS
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary The aim of this course is to enable advisers to
feel confident to represent clients in undefended mortgage
possession proceedings in the County Courts.
Please note: Trainees are required to have attended the
wiseradviser Dealing with Mortgage Arrears course before
attending this course.
DEBT RELIEF ORDERS (DROs)
Training type DISTANCE LEARNING
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course provides advisers with the criteria
for and main implications of Debt Relief Orders (DRO).
Advisers will be able to assist their clients to identify if a
DRO is suitable for them and advise them of the advantages
and disadvantages relevant to their situation. Advisers who
wish to be approved intermediaries are required to complete
modules 1-6 including the online application and pass the
post course assessment. They can then book a place on
the DRO Workshop, a practical day designed to build on the
distance learning.
Also see the Insolvency e-learning course.
DEBT RELIEF ORDERS (DROs)
PRACTITIONERS WORKSHOP
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level CASEWORKER
Summary In this half day workshop you will review a case
study and explore the role of the intermediary in more
detail. Attendees at these face-to-face events will receive a
certificate of attendance to enable their competent authority
Adviser Support Directory 21
training
Face-to-face courses, e-learning courses, distance learning materials and qualifications
to evidence that they have completed training to act as an
approved intermediary.
Please note: Advisers must complete modules 1- 6 of the Debt
Relief Orders distance learning course including the practice
application in module 6, and pass the post course assessment
before booking a place on this workshop.
In order to attend you must also meet the pre-entry
requirement of 12 months (or full time equivalent) money
advice case work experience.
HOMEOWNERS MORTGAGE SUPPORT (HMS)
Training type DISTANCE LEARNING
Level CASEWORKER
Summary This course provides advisers with a
comprehensive guide to Homeowners Mortgage Support
(HMS) and enables them to take a homeowner through the
whole HMS process. The course consists of 5 modules
followed by an assessment.
22 Adviser Support Directoy
CHALLENGING MONEY CLAIMS
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level SPECIALIST LEVEL
Summary This course will enable you to establish whether
the client has an arguable defence to a claim, with particular
emphasis on catalogue debts. Also clarified are the limits to
an adviser’s involvement and making appropriate referrals.
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS DEBTS
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level SPECIALIST LEVEL
Summary This two day course will enable you to advise
and assist individuals with business debts when they have
ceased trading and to make appropriate referrals where they
continue to trade. Its main focus is on sole traders without
employees, although some of the law and principles equally
apply to other types of business.
TIME ORDERS
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level SPECIALIST LEVEL
Summary This course enables advisers to identify when a
Time Order is appropriate. It looks in detail at the powers of
the court to grant Time Orders, and the arguments to support
the making of such Orders. Time Orders can be an effective
method of gaining extra time to pay an agreement regulated
by the Consumer Credit Act. They can also be used to freeze
interest and charges where perhaps a creditor has refused.
LAY ADVOCACY
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level SPECIALIST LEVEL
Summary This course will identify the key skills used in
effective advocacy, and provide you with an opportunity to
practice and improve those skills. Additionally, this course
will look closely at the expectations of our clients and of
ourselves in the role of advocates to ensure we are not setting
ourselves up to fail. The course will concentrate on formal
advocacy and is designed to enhance the skills of advisers
representing debt clients in legal proceedings.
LIMITATION OF ACTIONS
Training type FACE-TO-FACE
Level SPECIALIST LEVEL
Summary In addition to considering the provisions of the
Limitation Act itself, the content will focus on the two main
topics relating to money advice and the Act; credit debts and
mortgage shortfall debts. The course aims to describe the
relevance of limitation periods in money advice casework.
It will inform you about how to pursue limitation issues with
creditors and how to use statute and case law in support of
limitation arguments.
Adviser Support Directory 23
training
Face-to-face courses, e-learning courses, distance learning materials and qualifications
Other training available
AdviceUK – Introduction to Debt Advice
Basic money advice training is available
from AdviceUK as part of their Learning
to Advise course. The 2 day module
Introduction to Debt Advice covers
topics at a generalist level.
Go to their website for more information
www.adviceuk.org.uk
Citizens Advice – staff
and external training
Citizens Advice provides a learning
route for CAB workers from induction
into the service through to advising
clients. For money advice, as well as
the advice skills learning, there are
Options and Actions for Debt Advice and
several bite size e-learning modules on
key areas. For more information go to:
www.cablink.org.uk/training_index.
htm
24 Adviser Support Directory
Citizens Advice also run a range of
training courses on Welfare Benefits
and Tax Credits and Employment for
advisers from the whole advice sector,
some of which are free for voluntary and
community sector advisers.
For more information including a
full list of courses and booking form
go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
advisertraining
CCCS – debt and money advice
training courses
CCCS provide a range of debt and
money advice training courses for
people in the free-to-client advice
sector. Their basic money advice course
Dealing with Debt leads on to more in
depth courses such as County Court
Procedures and Enforcement, Statutory
Debt Solutions and Non Statutory Debt
Solutions and Budgeting.
For more information go to their
website www.cccs.co.uk
Institute of Money Advisers – money
advice courses and seminars
The IMA run an annual programme
of money advice courses from
caseworker and specialist level
through to advanced. The IMA also
offer a programme of free professional
development seminars in partnership
with wiseradviser, covering immediate
changes in practice and legislation.
For a full list of current courses
and seminars, download the latest
brochures visit the training pages on the
IMA website www.i-m-a.org.uk
Accreditation and qualifications
There are a number of options
available for advisers wishing to gain
qualifications in money advice. Further
details on three current options are
included in this section.
MAT is working with partners to assess
whether additional qualifications
are required in light of current
developments around the Qualifications
Credit Framework (www.qcda.gov.uk/
qualifications/60.aspx) and if so will
take this work forward with partners.
Updates on these developments plus
guidance to help advisers identify which
qualification meets their needs will be
available on www.wiseradviser.org
from autumn/winter 2010.
CCCS and ICM Diploma in Money and
Debt Advice
CCCS has developed six Ofqual
accredited unit awards in Money and
Debt Advice. These work towards a
diploma or certificate in Money and
Debt Advice, a nationally regulated,
professional qualification.
This is a credit based qualification
which sits on the national database of
accredited qualifications. The credits
are recognised by the Qualifications
Curriculum Framework (QCF).
CCCS have six training courses available,
each of which are aligned to one of the
unit awards within the qualification.
CCCS are also able to offer a coach to
support you during your studies; they
have experienced trainers with extensive
money and debt advice knowledge.
For more information about the ICM
Diploma and the coaching package please
go to their website www.cccs.co.uk
Institute of Money Advisers –
Certificate in Money Advice Practice
The new IMA qualification ‘Certificate
in Money Advice Practice’ represents
the culmination of many years work to
develop a qualification specifically for
money advisers. Studying and passing
the IMA Certificate in Money Advice
Practice will provide a benchmark for
service standards and ensure highquality advice that will meet the needs
of clients.
It costs £300 and MBNA, a Bank of
America company, are providing funds
to cover up to £200 towards the cost of
the qualification, per person.
The qualification is available to
individuals engaged in money advice, or
with an interest in related areas such
as trainers, benevolent fund officers,
housing, and policy officers.
Further details and the full application
process are detailed on the IMA website
www.i-m-a.org.uk
NVQ in Legal Advice
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
are qualifications that judge a person’s
ability to do a job/task/activity. You gain an
NVQ by proving that you can perform your
job/ task/activity against set standards.
The NVQ in legal advice covers generic
advice units but also includes optional
units including money advice. For more
details please visit the qualifications
section of www.adviceuk.org.uk
Adviser Support Directory 25
Consultancy, conferences, local groups and forums
community
If you come across a difficult
case, the chance is that
there is a money adviser
out there who has shared
this experience and has
found a solution. As well as
contacting experts through
the Specialist Support
Consultancy, advisers can
benefit through connecting
with their peers and sharing
knowledge and tips.
Read more in this section
about how you can join the
money advice community.
26 Adviser Support Directory
Citizens Advice Specialist Support
Citizens Advice Specialist Support provides a free
telephone and online consultancy service to all money
advisers in Money Advice Trust partner agencies. They
advise on all issues relating to debt such as bankruptcy,
consumer credit, Debt Relief Orders, mortgages and
secured loans and County Court issues.
• This is available to advisers only. Please do not give
the contact details to members of the public
• Advisers should use the service where their own
information resources have failed to provide the
required solution.
Online consultancy
If your supervisor does not already
have the username and password to
access the service, if you are new to
using the consultancy service, or you
need any other help, email the customer
service team on specialistsupport@
citizensadvice.org.uk or call 0845 120
3744 .
Once you have your log-in details, go to
http://rdwebsso.cablink.org.uk
Telephone consultancy
Money advice
(England and Wales)
080 8808 2575
Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm
Conferences
Conferences hosted by Citizens
Advice, AdviceUK and Institute of
Money Advisers (IMA) provide money
advisers with an opportunity to meet
each other and discuss the major
developments in the sector, network
and catch up with old friends. They also
bring together people from outside of
the free-to-client advice sector such
as representatives from government
bodies and commercial organisations
and promote working together. Go to
their main websites to find out when the
next conference is happening and what
is on the agenda.
Money advice
(Wales only)
0800 138 6068
Tues, Weds and Fri, 10am - 4pm
Adviser Support Directory 27
community
Money Advice Groups (MAGs)
There are many groups of money
advisers meeting across the UK, some
of which are funded by the Money Advice
Trust and coordinated by Citizens Advice
Specialist Support. They provide an
excellent local forum for information
exchange between advisers and for
continuing professional development.
Consultancy, conferences, local groups and forums
Groups are organised by different
individuals and organisations, and there
are different factors that influence
the activities within the groups.
The meetings usually comprise a
combination of:
• S
peakers (usually creditors, local /
central government policy makers
or membership organisation reps)
• Subject learning i.e. training or short
presentations on an aspect of money
advice such as DROs or charging
orders
28 Adviser Support Directory
• A section on Institute of Money
Advisers (IMA) matters
• Social policy issues
• Updates on money advice
developments such as CASHflow
or the Common Financial Statement
(CFS)
• Open forum for case discussion or
new areas of law.
An updated list of MAGs is attached to
every Arian newsletter which can also
be found on the wiseradviser website.
Wiseradviser community
The wiseradviser website forums give
advisers a place to ask fellow money
advisers for advice or assistance, share
ideas and network with others in the
sector. In this section of the website
there are also a variety of money advice
related blogs and podcasts. Some
money advisers do not work as part of a
large money advice team, therefore the
wiseradviser website can be a valuable
platform offering this vital peer support.
Log on to www.wiseradviser.org to
connect with others in the sector. For
help on posting in the discussion forum
go to the Website Help tab.
Adviser Support Directory 29
Advice tools, services and further resources
services
This section covers some
more tools and services
which support money
advisers in their roles.
New initiatives are
continually emerging as a
result of the advice sector
joining forces and working
in partnership with creditors
and government to bring
about positive change for all.
Read on to find out how
money advisers on the
frontline can use experience
to influence policy makers.
30 Adviser Support Directory
AdviceUK Money Advice Consultancy
and Support
Common Financial Statement
(CFS)
Competent Authorities for Debt
Relief Orders (DROs)
AdviceUK’s National Money Advice Co-ordinator
provides a money advice social policy and development
consultancy and support service to members of the
AdviceUK network. This service is available by telephone
and email.
The CFS is a budgeting tool that can
be used by advice agencies and other
third party organisations to make
debt repayment offers to creditors
on behalf of clients. It provides a
detailed budgeting format enabling an
accurate overview of a client’s income,
expenditure, assets and liabilities to be
produced.
In contrast to other forms of debt relief,
DROs are delivered in partnership
with debt advisers or ‘Approved
Intermediaries’. For an adviser to
become an Approved Intermediary they
must apply to a ‘Competent Authority’ to
act as such. The following organisations
are Competent Authorities for Approved
Intermediaries.
Go to the CFS website for information
on how to access the CFS, FAQs and
resources.
AdviceUK
Baines and Ernst Ltd*
Citizens Advice*
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
(CCCS)*
Insolvency Practitioners Association
Institute of Money Advisers (IMA)*
National Debtline*
Payplan*
Shelter
Go to their website for more information
www.adviceuk.org.uk
CASHflow
CASHflow is an assisted self-help debt advice resource.
It works by supporting clients to make repayment
offers directly to their creditors with assistance from a
money advice agency. CASHflow clients will be asked
to complete a budget sheet that is consistent with the
Common Financial Statement (CFS) as part of this
process with a money adviser.
The CFS website is hosted
by the Money Advice Trust
www.cfs.moneyadvicetrust.org
For more information go to www.moneyadvicetrust.org
* will only consider intermediary applications
from staff within their organisations.
Adviser Support Directory 31
services
Advice tools, services and further resources
Information Hub
Online Evidence Survey
The Money Advice Trust Information
Hub is an online library that provides
free access to a wide range of statistical
and other research for anyone with an
interest in debt, credit, debt advice and
debt remedies.
Thanks to funding from the Royal
Bank of Scotland, IMA and AdviceUK
members can now work in partnership
with Citizens Advice to influence best
practice in the financial services
industry.
The hub warehouses information from
a broad range of contributors, including
free-to-client advice organisations,
government departments, creditor
trade associations, academic research
faculties and national data archives.
This survey is designed to provide you
with a quick and easy way of submitting
evidence of good and bad practice in
all aspects of the financial services
industry. This includes banks, credit
providers, debt collectors, bailiffs,
utility companies and debt purchase
companies. The evidence will be used to
support the influencing work carried out
on behalf of the free-to-client money
advice sector.
Go to
www.infohub.moneyadvicetrust.org
Feedback will be via Arian, CAB Money,
IMA News and AdviceUK’s Money Advice
Update. A link to add a piece of evidence
can be found on the wiseradviser
website welcome page.
32 Adviser Support Directoy
Adviser Support Directory 33
Thank you!
Finally, we would like to use this publication to
thank you and your fellow money advisers for
working so hard. We hope that by supporting
you we are making a valuable contribution to
our shared goal of empowering clients and
enabling them to find solutions to reduce debt.
Here are some quotes from clients that have
been helped by money advisers:
“Thank you so very much for being
sympathetic & informative. I was in
a dreadful state when I contacted
you & you helped me calm down &
listen. I followed your advice. Your
literature was very helpful. You have
the grateful thanks of an old lady!”
“Thank you for your advice this
morning. I will be acting on it
immediately; it was so good to talk to
someone who didn’t talk down to me.
Thanks.”
34 Adviser Support Directoy
“May I take this opportunity to
thank all of the advisers we have
dealt with, for the help and advice
you have offered and the support you
have provided throughout this most
difficult time for me and my family.
You have conducted yourselves at
all times with such friendliness and
professionalism – always so calm, so
considered in the midst of such panic
and confusion. On behalf of myself,
my wife and our 11 year old daughter,
I thank you for it.”
“Many, many thanks for all your help
with our DRO application... You have
helped to lift a very large load off our
minds.”
Adviser Support Directory 35
Do you know of support available for money advisers
that is not included in this directory?
Please contact the Adviser Support team at the Money Advice Trust.
Would you like more copies of this directory?
An electronic version is available at www.wiseradviser.org
or contact the Adviser Support Team at the Money Advice Trust
to request printed copies.
Tel: 020 7489 7790
Fax: 020 7489 7704
Email: [email protected]
www.wiseradviser.org
The Money Advice Trust is a charity formed in 1991 to increase the quality and availability
of free, independent money advice in the UK. Registered Charity Number 1099506.
A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales Number 4741583.
The Money Advice Trust is extremely grateful to The Royal Bank of Scotland Group
for their generous support which has allowed us to produce this directory.
Design: www.hrsgraphics.com
Adviser Support Team
Money Advice Trust
21 Garlick Hill
London EC4V 2AU