Training for groups

This short webinar considers the pandemic in the context of poor housing and homelessness, and identifies the legislative changes in the Coronavirus Act 2020. The standard session covers: The Coronavirus Act 2020; government guidance for tenants; government guidance for landlords; government guidance for local authorities; the homelessness response; legal aid and other issues. Content can be tailored on request.

After attending, delegates will be able to: apply the new law concerning Notices; understand the provisions for possession proceedings; and identify when and to whom the guidance applies.

This webinar explores the causes of homelessness and looks at housing options available. Designed for people working for a housing organisation who have limited contact with housing work such as administrators or fundraisers, it is ideal as part of an induction process. Delegates will receive an overview of the housing system, look at the main duties owed to homeless people by local authorities including those brought in by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. N.B. This webinar is not suitable for those required to give housing advice as part of their role.

Delivered as four three-hour webinar sessions, this adapted version of our long-running popular training course provides an introduction to the most important aspects of housing aid and advice work.

Delegates gain the legal knowledge and practical skills required to determine housing status and become familiar with the principles, processes and duties inherent in the homelessness legislation. They also examine the changes introduced under the Homelessness Reduction Act.

The first two sessions cover: housing status, Housing Act legislation, tenancies and licences, notice rules and possession. The second two sessions examine homelessness including: the legislation and Code of Guidance, the duty to make enquiries, housing options and the prevention of homelessness, the Homelessness Reduction Act, eligibility (a brief overview only), intentionality, priority need and local connection.

This webinar provides basic information about the Care Act 2014. It is aimed primarily at local authority staff working in housing services. After attending participants will have gained awareness of the following: well-being and the importance of suitable living accommodation; housing as part of an integrated care, support and health service; the housing provider's duty of co-operation; clearer obligations towards carers, including safeguarding; and Human Rights Act 1998 and Equality Act 2010 rights.

This short webinar explains the emergency measures introduced during the pandemic and how they impact on individuals. It puts the measures into the context of the wider welfare state in order that advisors can guide clients to their most appropriate means of help.

The session covers: the contents of the emergency legislation and its application; how welfare benefits interact with the furloughed workers and self - employed income support scheme; the relaxed criteria for “a limited capability for work” under the Employment and Support Allowance; Universal Credit (the basic qualifying conditions, increased allowances and elements, the “minimum income floor”, the relaxation of work search requirements and other administrative easements); consequential changes to Job Seekers Allowance, Housing Benefit, Carers Allowance, Working Tax Credit, and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme; and the inter-relation between the means of support.

This webinar is for advisors who are new to the subject, or non-specialist advisors who require an update. It provides an overview of the system of various benefits that fit together to provide financial support in the UK.

Areas covered include: the distinction between contributory, means-tested and health-tested benefits; the distinction between the working age and pension age systems; an overview of the principal benefits and their qualifying condition; the relationship between Universal Credit and the other benefits.

This short webinar for advisors with limited experience and knowledge of Universal Credit explains how the benefit is supporting people in financial need during the pandemic.

It covers: the basic principles of Universal Credit, the primary qualifying conditions, the application process, how it relates to other Welfare Benefits, and the basics of its calculation and payment. All the special measures introduced in response to the pandemic are included.

One of the most complex aspects of Universal Credit is the assessment and calculation of the Housing Costs Element. This short ninety-minute webinar explains the rules relating to the payment and calculation of this element.

Suitable for advice workers and housing officers that assist and advise tenants with the Housing Cost Element, it covers: payments of rent, service charges, the liability conditions, the occupancy conditions, the ‘extended benefit unit’ and the size criteria, ‘additional bedrooms’, non-dependants and housing cost contributions, local housing allowances, the under-occupancy deduction.

This webinar for experienced benefits advisors and specialists details which classes of accommodation are still eligible for Housing Benefit, rather than Universal Credit, and details the assessment process that local authorities undertake.

Areas covered include: distinctions between supported, specified and exempt accommodation; the criteria for exempt accommodation; the “unreasonably high rent” criteria; local authority rent restrictions; service charge eligibility; the local authority subsidy position; revisions and appeals.

This short webinar explores the impact of economic abuse and outlines the welfare benefit available to support victims to leave domestic abuse situations. Participants will gain clarity about the impact of economic abuse and how it can be used to control victims and reduce their ability to escape domestic abuse.

The session covers the following in the context of Domestic Abuse situations: Universal Credit; two-child limit; Housing Benefit; Child Tax Credit; property and savings; help with childcare costs for working parents..

Many clients are currently faced with serious financial concerns. This three-hour workshop style webinar identifies how to support clients to plan ahead in order to minimise the impact on their future financial situation.

The session covers: the role relating to prevention and advice regarding financial wellbeing and improving negotiation skills to reduce casework instances once restrictions are lifted; government grants and measures in place to support tenants; support available for rent and council tax during the crisis and strategies to reduce outstanding arrears once the restrictions are lifted; creditor support available for personal debt; emergency support available; advice and guidance regarding childcare costs and access; and supporting clients to create an emergency budget plan to support them through the crisis and reduce the impact on financial wellbeing in the long term.

Run over three short sessions, this webinar series will support participants to recognise and address aggressive and difficult behaviours using a range of strategies developed through psychological theories.

It will support participants to effectively manage difficult conversations and situations and be able to diffuse situation before they escalate. Areas covered include: identifying reasons for anger and the early signs that indicate an escalating situation; techniques for handling potential difficult situations; strategies that can be used to gain control through anger; developing diffusing and de-escalating skills; and distinguishing good working practices for protecting yourself.

Professionalism, codes of conduct and principles of data protection and confidentiality apply equally when working in a home environment as they do when working in an office environment.

This three-hour workshop style webinar will explore the importance of maintaining professional boundaries when working remotely to ensure both staff and customers are protected during these extraordinary times.

The impact of taking a distressed call at home rather than in the office will be considered. The workshop will provide some useful strategies to support staff to separate out work from personal responsibilities.

The recent social distancing and isolation regulations have created a perfect environment for domestic abuse to escalate and presents additional challenges for those who need support to escape their situation.

This three-hour workshop style webinar looks at the definition of domestic abuse, the Care Act 2015 guidance, plus any additional guidance regarding the current situation. It also covers: common signs and symptoms of domestic abuse and how to identify it over the phone; supporting customers to identify an abusive relationship; responding to disclosures and requests for help; and an update on services available to gain support.

This workshop style webinar will provide guidance and support about how to use negotiation skills to positively influence outcomes for service users.

It will discuss research regarding the psychology of negotiation and provide delegates with strategies to get the best outcomes in different situations.

Topics include: the different stages of negotiation and a model for future negotiation with customers; the importance of communication skills in getting the best outcomes; dealing with difficult situations, specifically objections and anger raised during eviction proceedings; reaching workable solutions for dealing with a range of housing issues using objective criteria; and good practice relating to recording behaviour agreements.

The legal requirements for housing providers to train staff in safeguarding and have clear reporting pathways are heightened due to the enforcement of social distancing.

This workshop style webinar will update staff on the importance of remaining vigilant to safeguarding concerns and how to respond appropriately during these extraordinary times.

It covers: legislation regarding safeguarding for housing providers; categories, signs and symptoms of adult and child abuse; identifying possible abuse over the phone; approaches to handling a call of distress; how to respond to disclosures using the internal reporting process; what to do if you are worried about a customer, including guidance for responding to immediate danger; sharing information in line with GDPR, confidentiality and consent; and supporting customers to keep themselves safe.

Building and maintaining strong partnership with clients has always been an essential element of providing the best services but is particularly important in this time of uncertainty and fear.

Many staff and tenants will be feeling isolated and anxious about the impact on their wellbeing whilst they are staying at home so much more than usual.

This workshop style webinar provides a range of strategies to support staff and customers to remain positive and hopeful, including: suitable channels of communication; supporting the most vulnerable tenants; maintaining a professional approach to telephone calls; professional and personal responses in a home environment; how to respond to, and managing personal responses to, a distressed caller.

This short webinar will enable participants to develop and adapt their communication skills to provide effective and empathetic telephone advice.

It covers: using a structured approach when carrying out a telephone interview; using active listening skills in order to help your client explore their situation; showing empathy to your client in order to help them understand their situation; using questioning and summarizing skills in order to profess the interview; giving information clearly within the constraints of a telephone call; understanding and abiding by the service boundaries; and ending a call assertively.

This webinar will help participants appraise and improve their professional writing style to ensure they communicate effectively with customers and colleagues.

It covers the 5 Cs of effective business writing, including: setting a clear purpose; structuring letters, emails and reports to ensure clarity and coherence; writing in a consistent professional voice; avoiding common mistakes in grammar, punctuation and language; proofreading to ensure consistency and consideration.

These two half-day sessions will enable participants to learn and implement the four elements of Motivational Interviewing so that they can empower others to facilitate change and take future action. Particularly suitable for workers who offer interviewing or coaching services to clients, but also relevant to others wishing to develop and enhance their client working skills.

Areas covered include: the definition of Motivational Interviewing - its 4 elements; engaging with clients by avoiding traps and roadblocks to communication; following the OARS structure for listening, questioning and feedback; focusing on issues that clients want/need to change by: recognising and evoking change talk, recognising sustain talk and understanding how confident and willing the person is to change; planning and implementing the change with the client by: understanding the 5 stages of the change process, knowing what to do with clients in each stage, and assisting the person if they fail to take action.

This session aims to support staff to understand and adapt to the changes that have occurred to working practices and help them implement change for personal growth.

Areas covered include: appreciating that change will happen whether it is planned for or not; understanding the cycle of change and reflect on personal barriers to change; strategies to manage personal change in future; and being clear about the importance of motivation and have some practical techniques to remain positive.

This short webinar will focus on managing remote working and using available time effectively for maximum productivity and efficiency.

Areas covered include: identifying personal barriers to effective time management; how to plan work tasks and prioritise them efficiently; managing your workload effectively; and managing deadlines for minimal stress.