Sheffield CAB Debt Support Unit

PLEASE CONTACT THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT ON: 0114 280 3920 FOR ALL TRAINING ENQUIRIES

This course is for new advice workers, and for other professionals requiring a thorough grounding in welfare entitlements. It covers both skills - such as interviewing - and knowledge - from the full range of benefits to housing, debt, and employment

This is a 10-week programme and works alongside the practical support and guidance that all new advice workers are given in the advice centre they work in.

We run a further short programme of more in-depth training on benefits and tax credits  as an optional follow-on after each course - the Intermediate Benefits Course.  This is for trainees requiring a more detailed knowledge for their advice work.

Course days

The full course programme is available here.  We give priority in bookings for this course to those who are able to attend all 10 days, but will also accept bookings for individual days if spaces are available.

Fees
There is a fee for each trainee from a Sheffield advice centre and voluntary organisation who undertake the whole course. Additional modest accreditation fees will also need to be paid depending on how many units a trainee applies to have accredited.

See our bookings and fees page for details.

Alternatively, trainees can attend individual modules (please see the pricing structure) if space is available

Other basic training, delivered in one-off short courses can be found in our specialist training section.

AWS Course Information for Organisations

A booklet is available for organisations who send trainees on the course, outlining the requirements of the course and how you can support trainees.

  Download AWS Course Information Booklet for Managers, Coordinators & Training Support Workers.

Accreditation

The course is accredited by the National Open College Network.

Course Schedule

The next AWS  Course is D013 running on Tuesday each week starting on 3rd June.

Downloads

• AWS booking Form (MS Word Document 124Kb) or Booking form (PDF 406Kb).
• Charges Bands

Course Information for Trainees

Topics covered are those which advice centres agree are the basic minimum to become an advice worker.

The course allows you to network with workers from other advice and information agencies. We ask your centre to give you experience of observing advice work to ensure you know what is involved.

We understand that trainees have varied experience of life, work and learning. In all of the sessions we will be starting from basics and not expecting you to know anything already about the topics covered. The course runs parallel to any practical experience you may gain from attending your centre.

We employ teaching methods which make learning interesting and give you a chance to share your views, ideas and attitudes. These include working in small groups, in pairs, discussion and looking at case studies. There are no exams and no 'pass or fail'. However, if you are seeking OCN credits, your portfolio of work will have to reach the required standard.

Trainees must take responsibility for joining in, attendance and asking for help if you are having problems. The final decision about whether or not you are ready to begin advising clients is decided between you and your agency.

Course Information for Trainees - other topics

• Course Structure and Accreditation
• Learning Assessments
• Help and Support
• Course Outline
• Booking policy