Appointee and Additional Services
We are a Corporate Appointee Service, approved by the Department for Work and Pensions, we provide an Appointee Service for anyone receiving benefit who is unable to manage their money appropriately and for whom there is no-one else deemed more suitable to take on the role.
We pay bills and debts where possible and provide people with a personal allowance. Referrals can be made by social workers from Adult Health and Community Services who may agree to fund the role. Alternatively, the service can be purchased by other organisations or by the client directly
We can offer a similar service to people who do not receive benefits but are have capacity to give instruction to us.
Making a Difference
In the last 12 months we have provided an appointee service to over 300 clients. These clients are in nursing/ residential homes or in the community
Additional services
In addition to our appointee service we also tailor make packages to fit user specifications.
Some examples of this are:
Offer short term help whilst in hospital, maintaining bill payments etc
Purchasing shopping cards to facilitate carers to do shopping, removing the need to handle cash
Auditing of shopping accounts
Accessing funds and delivering cash to clients when needed
Individual specific shopping requests eg: At Christmas/special events, one off shopping requests
We Also : Offer Prepaid Funeral Plans and Bonds
Supply and Fit electronic digital safes and Keysafes
Provide Certificate Providers for Lasting Power of Attorney
Have trained “Appropriate Adults”
Work with solicitors to access Wills or Court of Protection
For further information or to see if we can help you, please contact us.Appointee Manager Julie Earls on 02476 697443 ext 236 or Appointee Admin on Extension 206
Appointee Service
Our Primary Level Appointee Service is a unique low cost Corporate Appointee Service. The Service can be tailor made to incorporate more services in addition to the primary level. The Appointee Service is available throughout England and has been developed to provide assistance to vulnerable clients who need help to manage their financial affairs and other money related matters.
Our Appointee Service takes the responsibility for claiming and receiving the correct amount of benefits and or other income for vulnerable clients. We ensure customers receive their maximum entitlement to welfare benefits.
Independent Advocacy is registered with The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as a corporate appointee. We offer a specialist service to clients across the whole range of DWP benefits and can also help clients manage their household budget.
The Appointee team is centrally located in Stoneleigh Park in the heart of Warwickshire. The team has many years combined experience in the Benefits / Care environment helping to ensure that our customers undergo a benefit check to ensure that they obtain all the benefits they are entitled to.
We also advocate for clients and are backed by our team of fully qualified specialist advocates.
For more information on our services and how we can assist you or your client(s) please contact:
Julie Earls – Team Manager
Tel: 02476 697443 Ext 236
Email: julie.earls@independentadvocacy.org or appointeeadmin@independentadvocacy.org
What is the service?
The Appointee package can be customised to the individual client and has been developed to be flexible in order to reflect the needs of that individual.
We offer the appropriate level of assistance and intervention as required, whilst promoting as much independence as possible. We can simply help with money management or with general bill paying or become a formal appointee with all of the responsibility in conjunction with care providers local authorities and other organisations.
To learn more about our services and how we can assist please contact:
The Appointee Team Manager Julie Earls on 02476 697443 ext 236
What help can we provide?
Our service can be used to assist individuals with the everyday management of their financial affairs. The service is personal and our aim is to simply fit in as part of the care team.
Our role is to receive and monitor an individual’s money, pay bills such as utility bills, rent and invoices etc within a secure, confidential, friendly and professional environment.
The team ensures that individuals are receiving all of the welfare benefits they are entitled to. Benefit entitlement is reviewed on a regular basis to allow for changes in customers circumstances or changes to the benefits system itself. Regular financial assessments are completed.
Our staff looks to maximise income on behalf of the client. This may include negotiating the charges clients are paying for gas and electricity supplies etc or challenging financial organisations if new clients have received penalty charges/court demands etc for late or non payment or mismanagement of bills in the past.
The team fully understands the issues and difficulties associated with managing the financial affairs of a vulnerable person. The needs of each individual are always different. Our role is to assess and agree the most appropriate strategy in conjunction with other involved professionals and family as required.
To learn more about our services and how we can assist individuals please contact:
Julie Earls Appointee Team Manager on 02476 697443 ext 236
How is our service delivered?
The Appointee Team can be contacted by an individual, a care provider, local authority, Primary Care Trust or other organisation to discuss the needs of an individual needing the service.
Will meet with the client and other professionals/family to assess how the service will be best tailored to meet the needs of the client. We look at the individual’s personal circumstances and the level of assistance that is likely to be required. We can offer different levels of service from Primary level Appointee Service upwards as required.
It is important to recognise that whilst individuals may need help with daily money management tasks, the service provided does not override the individual’s rights. Where possible clients have the right to access their money and decide how they wish to spend it.
Our role is to support and not control, so it is very important that individuals or their family are properly consulted and are in full agreement with the suggestions offered.
To learn more about our services and how we can assist please contact:
Julie Earls Appointee Manager on 02476697443 ext 236
What does it cost?
Because the service is tailored to the individual, so is the cost.
In order to give you a price we will complete an individual assessment.
Not all of our services are chargeable at point of delivery. Sometimes they are funded.
For more information please contact:
Julie Earls Appointee Manager on 02476697443 ext 236
Our Other Services
As an organisation committed to providing a quality service to our vulnerable clients we are always looking at ways we can extend our products to provide additional services to meet the needs of our clients.
Some of the services we have been asked to provide have been:
· Purchase of one off items such as a new Television, clothes etc
· Source reputable tradesmen and arrange estimates/quotes arrange and oversee work (Such as decorators/electricians/plumbers etc)
· Sourcing and setting up regular packages for instance cleaning/hairdressing
· Christmas (or any event) shopping and wrapping presents/writing cards
· Discussing and preparing End of Life Plans/ Prepaid funeral plans
· Provision of electronic safes (With Installation if required)
· Provision of Key Safes – a variety of models (Installation if required)
· Provide a Trained “Appropriate Adult Service”
· Support with access to “Quality Solicitors” Services for Wills Lasting Power of Attorney, Court of Protection etc
· Purchasing shopping cards to facilitate shopping for carers – removing the need for cash handling
· Sourcing a carer for a day trip or to accompany someone on holiday
· Sourcing suitable holidays with facilities to meet clients needs
· Support in finding alternative accommodation
We continue to provide an advocacy service provided by one of our fully qualified professional advocates
This list is not exhaustive. If you have a requirement we may be able to help you with please contact us.
Julie Earls Appointee Team Manager on 02476 697333 ext 236 or Appointee Admin on extension 206.
My Story
I was discharged from hospital and didn’t know how I was going to manage.
I was referred to Independent Advocacy who applied to become my appointee.
They liaised with my Carer and made possible for her to access money to do my weekly shopping, pay my milkman, hairdresser etc. They arranged to pay my bills for me and addressing the arrears that had accrued when I was in hospital.
Together we looked at things that needed doing in my house and my Appointee helped me access tradesmen and get quotes for the work I needed to have done. They then supported me in choosing the tradesmen and getting the work organised. They were there when the workmen arrived so I knew who they were. Independent Advocacy oversaw the work.
When the work was completed they ensured it was to my satisfaction and paid the workmen.
I have had my house completely redecorated, I have had new carpets, a new kitchen, rewiring completed and new doors and windows. I have all new colour co-ordinated curtains and bedding. I am so happy in my “new” house and am so happy with the roles Independent Advocacy support me with.
Without them and my Carer I would not be as independent.
