Locality Based First Tier (Casework) Welfare Rights

Tender for the Provision ofLocality Based First Tier Welfare RightsCasework

Sunderland City Council is inviting tenders from providers who can deliver Locality Based First Tier (Casework) Welfare Rightswithin the Sunderland City Council boundary.

There are 5 First Tier Welfare Rights contracts available:

Lot 1 - Washington West, Washington North, Washington South, Washington Central, Washington East.

Lot 2 - Redhill, Castle Southwick, Fulwell, St Peters.

Lot 3 - St Annes, Pallion, Sandhill, Barnes, St Chads, Silksworth.

Lot 4 - Millfield, Hendon, St Michaels, Doxford, Ryhope.

Lot 5 - Shiney Row, Houghton, Copt Hill, Hetton.

The successful provider(s) for Lots 1-5 will deliver locality based First Tier Welfare Rightsin relation to the social welfare law issues ofwelfare benefits, and debt with a clear link to the importance this advice plays in preventing homelessness.

Included is the requirement to deliver an effective gateway assessment at the point of contact to identify specific welfare rights needs to ensure only appropriate queries are moved through to the benefits and debts casework service; and which identifies where a referral into other appropriate support (welfare rights ,specialists services and/or wider support provision) is necessary.

In relation to the provision of debt support, successful providers will be responsible for improving customer resilience and driving down appropriate repeat enquiries