Author: W4MP Editor

The Benefits of Group Supervision for MP’s Staff

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Virtual meeting from the Wellness Working Group

Speaker: Sue Hampson
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Date: Thursday 7th November 2024

Sue has been a practising counsellor, supervisor and trainer for over 20 years. She was the Beyond Trauma National Training Officer at Health in Mind from 2004 – 2006.

Group Supervision will enable staff to safely and confidently respond to and work with disclosures of traumatic experiences by constituents. It helps to build staff capacity and the quality of response that we as MPs staff are able to offer, as well as providing us with a safe space in which to talk about the impact of those disclosures on ourselves.

The cost of Group Supervision is claimable through the Wellbeing Budget (part of the Staffing Budget) that IPSA provides to MP’s Offices.

To receive a link to this session, please email [email protected]

The Civil Service Football Club is recruiting

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The Civil Service Football Club (CSFC) is recruiting players for the 2024/25 season from across Government.

CSFC run eleven teams competing in games across London, with the home ground being in Chiswick.

This includes eight eleven-a-side men’s teams, two women’s teams and one veteran’s team (40+).

If you fancy finding out more, please see this page: https://w4mp.org/w4mp-guides/groups-which-staff-can-join/sports-and-social-groups/civil-service-football-club/

Caseworker Discussion Forum – Finding data about your constituency

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Time: 14:30 – 15:30
Date: Thursday 7 November 2024
Location: Virtual via Microsoft Teams

The November 2024 forum will focus on finding data about your constituency.

Get an introduction to the constituency statistics provided by the Library, and how we can help you find data about postcodes and locations of services in your constituency.

We will be joined by Carl Baker and Cassie Barton from the Library’s Social & General Statistics team.

To book, please go here: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/signup.php?s=17907

Calling all runners – Three Bridges Race

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Are you a runner? How do you fancy having a go at the Three Bridges Race in your lunchtime?

The monthly Three Bridges Race from Westminster Bridge to Vauxhall Bridge, via Lambeth Bridge (the Three Bridges) has been going for nearly fifty years. It’s 2.3 miles, starting at 12.30pm on a Wednesday (ok, not great for PMQs).

For more information please see https://www.threebridgesrace.uk/

Money and Pension Service  – Talk Money Week Event

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What: Talk Money Week parliamentary-drop in for MPs and staff
When: Tuesday, 5 November, any time between 11am and 1pm
Where: Room R, Portcullis House
Who: Meet representatives from the Money and Pensions Services’ debt advice, pensions, and national partnerships teams

Why attend?

  • Support constituents: Learn how you can encourage them to ‘Do One Thing’ to boost their financial wellbeing.
  • Unlock new resources: Discover how MoneyHelper, the consumer service from MaPS, can help with better conversations about money.
  • Stay informed: Explore how MaPS is transforming the guidance landscape, from developing pensions dashboards to evolving debt advice.
  • Show your support: MPs can have their photo taken at the Talk Money Week stand to highlight their commitment to improving financial wellbeing.

MaPS is an arms length body, sponsored by the DWP, responsible for the delivery of free and impartial financial guidance across the UK. This year’s Talk Money Week theme is Do One Thing, encouraging everyone to take one simple step to improve their financial wellbeing.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP to [email protected]. 

‘How to be a Select Committee Member’ – Training Events

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There are two “How to be a Select Committee Member” events taking place this week. If your Member has recently been elected to a Select Committee, they are strongly encouraged to attend. 

Wednesday 23 October 2024, 10am – 10.50am (Macmillan Room, Portcullis House). 

Tuesday 29 October 2024, 10 – 10.50am (Macmillan Room, Portcullis House).

The sessions will cover:

  • practical aspects of committee work, such as the inquiry process and how committees make decisions;
  • meeting procedure and etiquette;
  • and information about the support from specialist teams available.

Members can register to attend these events, by completing this short online form. 

There are also two events for staff coming up: “How to support your Member with select committee work”. These will be really useful if your Member has recently been appointed to a Select Committee. 

  • Wednesday 30 October 2pm to 2.45pm 
  • Tuesday 5 November 11.30am-12.15pm 

These 40-minute sessions will cover:

  • What are select committees and how do they work?
  • How to support a Member who is serving on a select committee?
  • Q&A – ask us anything! 

    To sign up, book via Act.  

Where to find lists of MPs and Peers

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One question we are asked frequently is where can people download lists of contact details for MPs and Peers.

There is a publicly-available list of MPs and their basic contact details on the UK Parliament website here: https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/freedom-of-information/information-we-already-publish/house-of-commons-publication-scheme/members-and-members-staff/parliamentary-contact-details-for-mps/ This list is updated every three months.

It is also possible to view and download up-to-date comprehensive contact details for MPs and Peers from Dods People, accessible via the House of Commons Library. Please note that this is only available to those who have a parliamentary network account and is not in the free public domain. https://commonslibrary.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=185072

There is an A-Z list of all of the resources available from the House of Commons library here.

Select Committee training session

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Are you going to be supporting a Member serving on a select committee? Or, do you simply want to understand more about how select committees work?

The Select Committee Team is offering training for Members’ staff on ‘how to support your Member with select committee work’. This is a virtual event, which will be held on Microsoft Teams, and is open to all Members’ staff, whether you are based in Westminster or in the constituency. 

This 40-minute session will consist of a short presentation from committee staff with the remaining time left for questions. We will cover:

•       What are select committees and how do they work?

•       How to support a Member who is serving on a select committee?

•       Q&A – ask us anything!

There are currently two dates available:

•       Wednesday 30 October 2pm to 2.45pm

•       Tuesday 5 November 11.30am-12.15pm

Sign-up via Act – Course: How To Support Your Member With Select Committee Work (learningpool.com)

More dates will be added if there is sufficient demand, please use the waitlist function to indicate your interest if you are unable to attend either of the two dates advertised. 

Whistleblowing Training for MPs and MPs’ Staff

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This training session will be delivered by Protect, a UK independent whistleblowing charity and legal advice centre.

Members of Parliament are designated in the law as people to whom whistleblowers can disclose information about wrongdoing, risks and malpractice. This training aims to help MPs and their staff who may receive concerns understand their role in the process, the protections available and the risks to whistleblowers who may have taken a big step in speaking up.

Time: 10:00
Date: Wednesday 30 October 2024
Location: Online via Teams
Booking and further information: https://parliament.learningpool.com/enrol/index.php?id=2290

October Benefits Newscast

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The Benefits Training Company produces a monthly newscast which features three of their benefits experts discussing the latest benefits news stories including changes to legislation, DWP announcements, relevant case law and guidance. There are links to the sources of the items discussed, and some that aren’t discussed if they think they might help.

In this month’s Benefits Newscast, David, Will and Sarah discuss extrapolating from non-PIP activities; Means-testing winter fuel payments; UC managed migration & passporting; UC managed migration current issues & resources; Carer’s allowance & averaging earnings.

You can also access previous newscasts on their website: https://www.benefitstraining.co.uk/benefits-newscast/