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.

The standards are divided into a number of areas, one of which is ‘Competences for Advisers and Agencies’. In each case, the competences are set out against the ‘Type’ of information or advice work the adviser is undertaking. An adviser may undertake Type I, Type II or Type III work. CPAG in Scotland training courses cover skills and knowledge required to meet the competences for welfare benefits-related advice.

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 indicate whether the course is suitable for an adviser undertaking Type I, II or III advice or information. Requirements for Type II advice work also include Type I activities. Requirements for Type III advice work also include Type I and II activities. In the table below, we give the main activity Type first, and indicate in brackets where the course is also relevant at a higher level.

All these terms are explained, and the detailed content of each competence set out in the document, Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers: A Quality Assurance Framework, 2006.

You can also book most of these courses in-house for your organisation at a date and venue to suit you.

Scottish National Standards	CPAG in Scotland course	Type I, II or III
1.1	Interviewing skills	I (II and III)
1.4	Finding your way around the law	II (and III)
1.7	Negotiation skills	II (and III)
1.8	Role of the appeals representative	II (and III)
1.10	An introduction to welfare rights	II (and III)
2.3	Housing benefit and rent arrears Housing benefit and council tax benefit Housing benefit problem areas Local housing allowance	I II (and III) II (and III) II (and III)
3.1	An introduction to welfare rights Benefits overview Compensation for maladministration	I (II and III) I (II and III) II (and III)
3.2	An introduction to welfare rights Benefits overview	I (II and III) I (II and III)
3.3	Getting the most for your client	I (II and III)
3.4	Representing at appeal tribunals Appeals to the commissioners	III III
3.5	Housing benefit overpayments Tax credits – overpayments and challenging decisions Overpayments and recovery of benefit Overpayments of benefit – a legal update	II (and III) II (and III) II (and III) II (and III)
4.1	An introduction to welfare rights Income support and jobseeker's allowance Pension credit	I (II and III) I (II and III) I (II and III)
4.2	An introduction to welfare rights Housing benefit and council tax benefit Housing benefit problem areas Local housing allowance	II (and III) II (and III) II (and III) II (and III)
4.3	Tax credits - the basics An introduction to welfare rights Tax credits Tax credits – calculating awards Tax credits – case law and tactics	I I (II and III) I (II and III) I (II and III) III
4.4	Taking on the social fund	I (II and III)
4.5	Moving into work – disabled people Moving into work – lone parents	II (and III) II (and III)
4.6	Benefits for young people Benefits for children living away from home	II (and III) II (and III)
4.7	Benefit support on bereavement	II (and III)
4.8	Benefits for ill or disabled people AA/DLA – challenging decisions DLA for children Mental health – incapacity benefits and DLA DLA appeals – case law and tactics	II (and III) II (and III) II (and III) II (and III) III
4.9	Benefits for ill or disabled people Employment and support allowance Mental health – incapacity benefits and DLA Revised PCA test for employment and support allowance Incapacity for work appeals – caselaw and tactics	II (and III) II (and III) II (and III) II (and III) III
4.10	Industrial injuries benefits	II (and III)
4.12	Benefits for carers	II (and III)
4.13	Introduction to welfare rights Income support and jobseeker's allowance	II (and III) II (and III)
4.14	Birth –- employment rights and benefits	II (and III)
4.15	Benefit support on bereavement	II (and III)
4.16	Benefits for children living away from home Paying for care	II (and III) II (and III)
4.17	Introduction to benefits for student advisers Students and benefits – eligibility Students and benefits – treatment of income Students and benefits – an update	I (II and III) II (and III) II (and III) II (and III)
4.18	Benefits for people from abroad Benefits for people from Europe	II (and III) II (and III)

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