How to be an Effective Caseworker

Dates to be confirmed

September 23, 2021

9:30

16:30

Online event

Audience:

MPs' caseworkers

Councillors

About the course

Being a Councillor or MP’s caseworker can be one of the most impactful and rewarding jobs in politics, but there is little formal training available to help you help constituents. That’s where we come in.

Councillors and caseworkers are on the front line, often acting as the first point of contact for constituents facing serious problems, some of whom can be in distress: asylum seekers who need urgent advice on finding somewhere to live; vulnerable people whose benefits have been stopped or delayed for no apparent reason; or council tenants living in homes that are in need of urgent repair. Above all else, caseworkers and councillors are the face and voice of local politics, whether that's as a powerful advocate for the people they represent or for the MP they work for. The training course will run across two mornings.

This course will cover

• How to manage casework: what to prioritise and why

• What your MP is responsible for – and what they are not

• How to work with government agencies and other stakeholders to get results for constituents

• Dealing with constituents in distress

• Liaising with the police, local councils, the charitable sector and other NGOs

• Raising cases with government ministers using the ‘usual channels’

• Highlighting cases in the local media

• How to manage stress levels and personal well being

The training was very informative and the trainer had an excellent understanding of the job and provided some really useful advice and guidance. The resources provided and talked about were also really helpful!

This course is open to councillors or staff employed by MPs, from any political party, and we anticipate a politically mixed audience. It will cover parliamentary work only. No advice will be given on political campaigning.

The Scheme of MPs's Business Costs and Expenses recognises courses for parliamentary staff that concentrate on parliamentary work as a 'claimable cost' which can be reclaimed from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

Our expert trainer(s)

Who this course is for

To be the first to know when the next course is taking place, or to organise a bespoke version of this for your organisation, email us at contact@westminsterskillscentre.com and we will be in touch.

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