Welfare Rights Training

Thanks for all the feed back so quick. I will have a look at the OU I think I can qualify for some grants at least.

Will have to make sure I dont breach any DWP rules but as you say they are quite good about it as ill only be volunteering I hope I can get some good help from the local agencies.

Hopefully Ill be able to use my skills to help the less fortunate.

Dave

Hi All,

As a former Principal Welfare Rights Officer in local government, to the best of my knowledge and I'm sure the site owner, Steve Donnison will back me up on this, there is no specific qualification to become a Welfare Rights Officer.

Most including myself started off in a voluntary capacity, and undertook short courses to become familiar with some aspects of welfare rights and undertake casework.

It is possible to study for the Diploma in Social Security Law via Leicester University, and to become a member of the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers and/or a member of the Social Security Law Practitioners Association, both of whom run short courses; but really it's down to experience which usually takes many years to achieve.

As well as running this site, Steve Donnison is an experienced trainer and regularly runs courses on certain benefits and appeals including IB, ESA and DLA throughout the UK.

It's also possible, if applicants have a first degree, or sufficient work experience to do a Masters degree in Social Welfare Law by distance learning, but this only teaches you the legal aspects, not the practical side of welfare rights representation.

Over the years up until I was of pensionable age, I personally sat all the qualifications above, but all they did was to teach me the theory. The best way to become a good WRO is to practically deal with cases, and attend short courses be it in the voluntary sector, or those offered by B & W and other organisations, and to represent clients at Social Security Tribunals.

Hope this helps.

Feel free to ask more if necessary.

Good luck.

Jim

Thanks for the advice Jim I thought it would be the case as I couldnt find any relavant courses only the ones you have high lighted I think that I will go the short course route and try to get expieriance with my local charities.
Like I said earlier I have a lot to give just need to focus it in the right place, I did a welfare course while I was in the Army but that was in the 90s and as well as being out of date it was for a different situation but at least I have some experience of helping people thanks again .

Dave

Hi Dave,

Good luck, I wish you every success, especially as so many voluntary organisations and local authorities are cutting back on providing welfare rights services due to the Government's cut backs.

Best wishes.

Jim

Leaving aside qualifications relating to the law, if you want to do any sort of job advising on benefits, but you don't have a background in advising, you might want to look for a workplace that offers NVQs in advice and guidance. Obviously, being NVQs, they are qualifications you do on the job. You can do A&G NVQs up to level 4 (degree equivalent). They don't teach you anything about the law, but are useful if you don't have advice experience. An employer that offered A&G NVQs might well be the sort of employer that is committed to training and would send you on courses on the legal/technical side of things.

Dear Dave

I would advise you to look into voluntary work very carefully from what I have read the dwp want to know in detail exactly what you will be doing and why do you think that is? I can just imagine when you say for example answering the phone they will tell you that you are fit enough to work in a call centre
this may sound extreme but knowing the way things are I wouldn't be at all surprised.