Aim:
To enable participants to signpost people most in need of information and/or advice to appropriate benefits and services.
Overview:
When someone is struggling with money worries, housing or life challenges, they might not know where to start, but they might start with you. This course gives you the confidence and skills to recognise when someone needs advice, and to signpost them quickly and effectively to the right support.
We’ll cover practical tools and techniques to make those short but powerful conversations count, helping you build trust and point people in the right direction without needing to know every answer yourself.
You will learn how to:
- Recognise early signs that someone needs advice, even if they don’t ask for it directly
- Understand what “signposting” is and how it differs from giving advice
- Use a client-centred approach to make people feel heard and respected
- Apply basic principles of confidentiality and non-judgemental practice
- Improve your listening and questioning skills to uncover real needs
- Direct people to trusted, relevant sources of help and information
Who should attend?
Perfect for anyone in a public-facing support role in voluntary organisations, housing associations, parish/town councils, social prescribing, local authorities, or community services, especially if you regularly meet people who may be struggling but don’t always know where to turn.
Tutor Biography:
Vincent Wilson - Vincent has worked for the Citizens Advice service in Devon since 1985. As an experienced trainer, he has provided benefits training for many years to voluntary and statutory sector staff, covering all aspects of the benefits system from introductory courses to Tribunal Representation. He has been a benefits caseworker for most of his working life, having taken cases to the Upper Tribunal level. He has been involved with national Health Education England in the design of an e-learning module on social welfare legal support and money guidance for social prescribers and has provided training locally on the financial support available to people worst affected by the rise in the cost of living. He is Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Teignbridge.
Cost for this course
- DCT Members & Citizens Advice Employees £44.04*
- Charities/Community Groups, Parish/Town Council £54.88
- Private Sector Organisations and Local Authorities £81.69
Please note, there is a 10% early bird discount available if you book at least 4 weeks before the course date. The discount will be shown automatically at the Eventbrite checkout. The cost indicated above includes the Eventbrite booking fee.
*The heavily discounted membership price on many of our training courses is one of a number of benefits provided to members of Devon Communities Together. With annual membership starting from just £24 for individuals and small organisations and up to £50 for larger organisations, taking out a membership can be a great way to save money on your training needs.