Scottish National Standards

Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers have been developed by the Scottish Government in consultation with the advice sector. They are designed to set a standard for delivering effective information and advice services.

My organisation is seeking accreditation. What training would help?

Organisations using these standards need to make sure staff have the knowledge to meet the needs of service users. Our training courses help you do this by covering knowledge requirements in the Competences for Advisers.

A suggested package of courses for agencies seeking accreditation or working to the standards is:

This package of courses will help you meet the Foundation Knowledge in Competences 3.1 to 3.5 and help you meet the core specialist advice areas in Competences 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.8, 4.9 and 4.13.

For Type II advisers (Casework), and Type III advisers (Advocacy, Representation and Mediation at Tribunal or Court Action Level),add on the following courses:

For Type III advisers (Advocacy, Representation and Mediation at Tribunal or Court Action Level), add on the following courses:

To add on other specialist areas, there is a course to suit most requirements. And you can keep up-to-date with our update course :

Benefits and tax credits law

How do I know which training course is relevant for a particular competence in the national standards?

In the table below, we list each of the Generic Competences and Money and Welfare Benefits Related Advice Competences for which there is a relevant training course. Some courses are relevant to more than one competence.

We also say which courses are relevant for advisers of Type I (Active Information, Sign-posting and Explanation) Type II (Casework) and Type III (Advocacy, Representation and Mediation at Tribunal or Court Action Level). Note that advisers at Type II are expected to be skilled at Type I level as well. Similarly, Type III advisers are expected to be skilled at Types I and II levels as well.

Scottish National Standards	CPAG in Scotland course	Type I, II or III
1.1	Getting the benefit – timing it right Benefits overview Introduction to welfare rights	I I II
1.4	Using legislation and caselaw	II
2.3	Housing benefit and rent arrears	I
3.1	Benefits overview Introduction to welfare rights Representing at the First-tier Tribunal Tribunal representation – practice and tactics	I I III III
3.2	Benefits overview Introduction to welfare rights	I II
3.3	AA/DLA – effective claiming Getting the benefit – timing it right	II I
3.4	Appeals to the Upper Tribunal Representing at the First-tier Tribunal Tribunal representation – practice and tactics Using evidence	III III III III
3.5	Housing benefit overpayments Tax credits – appeals, overpayments and complaints Overpayments of DWP benefits	II II II
4.1	Help with mortgage and other payments Income maximisation for older people Introduction to welfare rights	II II II
4.2	Housing benefit problem areas Introduction to welfare rights	II II
4.3	Introduction to welfare rights Tax credits – appeals, overpayments and complaints Tax credits – calculating awards Tax credits – caselaw and tactics Tax credits – the essentials	II II III I II
4.5	In-work benefits for for lone parents and disabled people	II
4.6	Benefits for kinship carers Benefits for young people Looked-after children – benefits for carers and families	II II II
4.7	Benefit support on bereavement	II
4.8	AA/DLA – an introduction AA/DLA – effective claiming AA/DLA – challenging decisions Benefits for disabled children and their families DLA – caselaw and tactics DLA for children Mental health and benefits	II II II II II III I
4.9	Benefits for ill or disabled people ESA – an introduction ESA – transfers and appeals Mental health and benefits	II II II II
4.12	Benefits for carers	II
4.13	Introduction to welfare rights Jobseeker’s allowance – jobseeking conditions	II
4.14	Family finances: benefits, tax credits and other help	II
4.15	Benefit support on bereavement	II
4.16	Benefits for kinship carers Benefits for young people leaving care Looked-after children – benefits for carers and families	II II II
4.17	Benefits for disabled students Introduction to benefits for student advisers Students and benefits – eligibility Students and benefits – treatment of income Students and benefits – an update	II II II II II
4.18	Benefits for people from abroad	II
4.29	Housing benefit and rent arrears	I

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