Example of Local Social Policy Work

Havering Citizens Advice Bureau undertook a client survey at the start of 2011 to gather feedback from our clients on their experiences of the Housing Options service in Havering. The Housing Options service is provided by London Borough of Havering to help and advise people on housing and homelessness issues.

The attached report summarises the findings of the survey and has recently been presented to the local authority, and we hope to discuss the findings and recommendations in more detail with the local authority over the coming months.

Thank you to all of our clients who participated in the survey, and shared their experiences with us, thus enabling us to collate their opinions and produce some key recommendations which will hopefully benefit all users of the Housing Options service.

Thank you also to the local authority for their cooperation and for giving us the opportunity to meet with them, and to discuss the recommendations in more detail.

Click this link to download the report as a word document.

Housing Options in Havering - the customer experience Report dated 26th September 2011

For any comments or suggestion on the survey please reply to sarah@haveringcab.org.uk

Campaigning for You

Campaigning for change development of social policies and services citizens advice campaigns for change to local and national policies and services by:

Collecting evidence of problems faced by people across the UK

• Analysing that evidence and proposing solutions
• Involving policy and decision makers, regulators and service providers
• Lobbying MP's and local Councillors
• Contributing to public debate
• Informing legislation
• Responding to media requests
• Success stories include
• Tax credit system review
• More free-to-use cash machines
• Regulation of bailiffs (Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill)
• Tenancy deposit protection scheme

In Havering both our generalist and specialist advisors contribute to this body of evidence by identifying social policy issues presented by people living in the Borough. Locally, Havering CAB has an on-going dialogue with the Department of Works and Pensions and with the Homeless Persons Unit to improve the effectiveness of their services for the benefit of their users.

If you are aware of bad or unfair practices by service providers/public departments/employers, etc and wish to bring this to the attention of Citizens Advice, then please visit your nearby Havering CAB advice desk and discuss your concerns with one of our advisers. More information on Citizens Advice social policy activity and details of current campaigns can be found on the national website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/campaigns.html