Public Sector Consultants works with Local Authorities, and other organisations involved in Benefits and Revenues advice or service provision. We will work with you to maximise staff performance, increase speed, accuracy, decisiveness and provide excellent customer service
Our courses:
Here are details of some of our most popular courses:
| Course Title | Content | Duration | level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive introduction to the Local Housing Allowance |
A one day comprehensive introduction to the Local Housing Allowance Aimed at: Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit staff and Managers. - An overview and background to LHA - Objectives - LHA pilots and feedback Operating LHA - Establishing the maximum rent - Calculation - Length of award - Backdating - Changes of circumstances - Anniversary dates - Service Charges/board and lodge - Size criteria - Joint tenants/shared accommodation - Discretionary Housing Payments - Supported accommodation/Transitional HB - Rent arrears - Payment of LHA - Identifying vulnerable tenants - Identifying people who are unlikely to pay their rent - Protection rules - Appeal rights Implementation - Timetable - Effect of changes on landlords and customers - Publicity - The claim form |
1 Day | Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit staff and Managers |
| Overview of Local Housing Allowance |
A half day course aimed at those working in areas where a basic understanding of
Local Housing Allowance is required. - Background and overview of LHA - LHA pilots and evaluation of the scheme to date - Establishing the maximum rent - Paying Local Housing Allowance - Identifying vulnerable tenants - Identifying people who are unlikely to pay their rent - Protection rules - Appeals and redeterminations - Implementation timetable - Effect of changes on landlords and customers |
Half Day | |
| Local Housing Allowance and landlords |
A half day course that looks at the LHA from the landlord's perspective.
This course can be run for landlords, or landlord forums jointly with the Local Authority - Background and overview of LHA - Effect of changes on landlords - LHA pilots and evaluation of the scheme - Paying Local Housing Allowance - Identifying vulnerable tenants - Rent arrears - Protection rules - Landlords' appeal rights - Implementation timetable - Frequently asked questions |
Half Day | |
| Introduction to Housing and Council Tax Benefit |
A comprehensive introduction to Benefits legislation, with an assessment
of understanding on day 6 - Overview of the welfare system - How to claim - Eligibility - Date of claim - Backdating - Applicable amounts - Income and Capital - Council Tax overview - Liability and rent - Calculation of benefit - Payment of benefit - Changes and overpayments - Standards of evidence This course is in a modular format so can be tailored to meet your requirements. |
6 Days | 1 |
| Introduction to Benefit assessment using Academy, SX3 or Pericles | Can be combined with the course above, and can include system searches, viewing screens, new claims, claim suspension, termination and changes. | 2-10 Days | 1/2 |
| Overview of Housing and Council Tax Benefit | A short, high level course for those who need a more general understanding of
Housing and Council Tax Benefit. Looks at all the main elements: - How to claim - Eligibility and Liability - Housing costs - The Benefit calculation - Brief look at changes and overpayments - Disputes |
1 Day | 1 |
| Benefit Claim Assessment | A course for Benefit staff currently working outside the Assessment
area who are moving into claim assessment. Includes: - Effective dates, - Income and Capital, - Liability, - Housing costs, - Changes in circumstance and - Manual calculations. |
3 Days | 2 |
| Introduction to Welfare Benefits | This one day course provides a basic understanding of benefits available, the qualifying criteria and interaction with HB/CTB | 1 Day | 1/2/3 |
| Income and Capital | Treatment of Income and Capital for Pensioner and Working Age customers | 2/3 | |
| Changes in Circumstance and Overpayments of Benefit | - Changes in entitlement - Extended payments - Underlying entitlement - Calculating the net debt - Debt recovery process and options |
2/3 | |
| Liability and Rent | - Eligibility - Occupation and absence - Liability to pay - Calculating Rent - Rent Restrictions - Discretionary Housing Payments |
2/3 | |
| Getting the dates right | A very popular course that covers the rules for calculating key dates used in new claim, change in circumstance and overpayment assessment | 1 Day | 2/3 |
| Assessment of claims from the self employed | Can be run as a half day legislation or full day workshop.
Plenty of opportunity to ask questions or bring along some of your own claims: - Evidence of self-employed income - The assessment period - Expenses - Tax and N.I.deductions - Worked examples |
½ - 1 Day | 2/3 |
| Assessment of claims from students | Can be run as a half day legislation or full day workshop. - Student Income - Assessment and calculation - Period over which to apportion the loan - Which week to count from - Students that abandon their course - Worked examples |
½ - 1 Day | 2/3 |
| Persons from Abroad | A well-received course that includes latest guidance and relevant case law and covers: - Decision making process - Immigration Status Test - Asylum Seekers - Habitual Residency Test - The Right to Reside Test - Habitual Residency Test |
½ - 1 Day | 1/2/3 |
| Disputes and Appeals | Decision making and disputes process for Assessment and Customer Services staff | ½ Day | 1/2/3 |
| Letter writing skills | A brief reminder of basic principles of grammar and punctuation, followed by a session of letter writing using the Plain English approach. | 1/2/3 | |
| Customer Care | For course delegates to: - Understand who their customers are - Realise the importance of providing good service - Handle complaints effectively - Resolve conflict |
1/2/3 | |
| Performance Management | - Why Performance Management is important, - how to introduce a framework for measuring performance - mechanisms to help poor performers |
3/Section Managers | |
| Coaching for Peak Performance | Average turnaround times can be affected by poor performance on the part of a few staff and sometimes a training course isn't the solution. One to one, or group, coaching is more effective for those whose technical knowledge is good but where lack of confidence, indecisiveness or approach may be an issue. |
If this isn't quite what you're looking for, call us and we'll build you a course that is.