| In emergencies, health and social
care workers might act on a client’s behalf whilst they are waiting
to be assigned a money adviser. (e.g. in emergency situations
like fuel disconnection or imminent eviction, or even
contacting creditors to let them know the situation is now
being dealt with).
The worker can help establish a basic picture
of the debt problem and collect all the relevant correspondence.
(e.g. root causes of debt: low
income/budgeting/loans/overdrafts/linked to mental health
problems).
The health or social care worker can also
consider what might be included in the client’s care-plan or
strategy to help.
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Before advice sessions
Help the adviser establish a trusting
relationship with the client. (e.g. the user has the familiar,
reassuring presence of their worker and the expert input of the
adviser).
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Provide supportive letters or evidence about
the client’s health. (e.g. to support creditor negotiations, or
arrangements with DWP/local authority for the direct payment of
fuel/rent).
Provide budgeting advice to client. (nb:
this may extend into suggestions about diet or other aspects of
daily living).
When the adviser establishes acceptable
arrangements with creditors, the health or social care worker
should periodically check how well the client feels they are
sticking to repayments.
Throughout the process, the worker should
inform the adviser of any changes in circumstances. (e.g.
hospital admission or discharge can affect benefi t
entitlement/repayments)
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