Research with the Parliamentary Digital Service

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User researchers in PDS are currently planning research on several topics in the coming months to better understand the needs of Members and their staff. This research will ultimately inform new digital services and improvements to existing services, including how amendments to bills are tabled and supported, how Hansard is used, and how interests are submitted by Members and staff.

As well as Members and others, we are particularly keen to conduct research with Members’ staff, crucial users of our digital services. We hope that this will be an interesting opportunity for Members’ staff to shape the design of digital services in Parliament and potentially test prototypes of new or improved products and services.

The exact requirements for each research project will differ but we expect that most would require around 30-45 minutes of your time and involve an open, informal interview about your experiences and preferences or testing out new prototypes. All participation would be on a confidential basis and sessions would be scheduled at a time that suits you, either in-person or online.

You can express your interest in participating in user research in the coming months by completing this form. If you express an interest, we may contact you in the coming weeks to try and schedule a research session. By completing the form, you are not committing to take part in any specific research initiative and we would try to ensure that no-one takes part in more than one research session every quarter.

We would like to hear from a wide range of Members’ staff. If you have any colleagues who may be interested in taking part in the research, please do share this message with them.

Online book talk and Q&A with Jess Phillips MP

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The Labour Women’s Parliamentary Staff Network is hosting an online book talk and Q&A with Jess Phillips MP.

Time: 12:30 – 13:30
Date: Thursday 21 November 2024

To receive an invitation to this online event, please email [email protected]

For further information about the LWPSN, please see here: https://w4mp.org/w4mp-guides/groups-which-staff-can-join/representation/labour-womens-parliamentary-staff-network/

November Benefits Newscast

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In the November Benefits Newscast, David, Will and Kate discussed:

  • Budget announcements including changes to debt deductions from UC and changes to the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit;
  • Delays with WCAs for claimants who are in the LCW group, hoping to be moved into the LCWRA group;
  • Termination of the practice to issue UC managed migration cancellation / deferral letters;
  • Preventing transitional SDP from eroding when claimants move from temporary / supported housing to mainstream accommodation;
  • PIP review delays / multiple extensions.

To listen to this episode, please visit their website https://www.benefitstraining.co.uk/benefits-newscast/

Wednesday – Royal British Legion in PCH

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RBL will be in Portcullis House Atrium between 8am and 6pm, we invite you to come over and find us for a chat about our new Caseworker guide and how we can work together. The Poppyride challenge for MPs and Peers is happening at the same time, so why not pop along and while you MP is taking part in the ride, you can chat with us.

The Royal British Legion have recently published and re-launched their Caseworker Guide, specifically designed for MPs and their caseworker staff. RBL has always had great engagement and collaboration on a cross-party basis with MPs and their support staff. This caseworker guide is a practical tool to help MPs to better support and understand their constituents from the Armed Forces community. It is packed with key information, helpful points of contact and advice on how they can better help and support their constituents, including veterans, currently serving personnel, regulars, reservists and all their families.

RBL has an extensive amount of welfare support available to those who fall into that broad category of ‘the Armed Forces community’ and we support thousands of people every year. We cannot do that on our own and collaborate closely with other service charities, local government and national government agencies. It’s important that MPs are aware of the wide range of support that is available to their constituents and where they can refer constituents for help.

RBL does not shy away from the many challenges that the Armed Forces community face, many of which are unique to those who serve and the incredible support provided by their families. We also seek to dispel myths and share the most recent information and data about what it means to be a member of the Armed Forces community in 2024. Please encourage your MPs and colleagues who work for them to download the RBL MP Caseworker guide and join the partnership of support. 

You will find the link to the Royal British Legion MP Caseworker guide on the w4mp resources for caseworkers page on Parlinet.

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]