Wellbeing – looking after yourself and others

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Caseworker Discussion Forum hosted by the Commons Library

The Library, in conjunction with the Members’ Services Team, is pleased to invite you to the Casework Discussion Forum which will take place virtually each month.

The next session is taking place on Thursday 18 August, 9:30-10:30am and will be on the topic of Wellbeing – looking after yourself and others. It will be chaired by Wendy Wilson from the Library.

The Forum will be complemented by a dedicated Teams chat which will allow you to share ideas and best practice, as well as support being on hand from the Library should specialist knowledge be required.

(Please note, you do not have to be a Caseworker to attend these sessions, they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework.) 

If you have any questions, please contact MST@parliament.uk

What do MPs actually do for you?

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Listen to this podcast from PoliticsHome to find out:

How Westminster Works: What do MPs actually do for you?

https://podfollow.com/1205139782/episode/ca275f254a01662c3ecfedf7aaa79fa70320a185/view

“Every year MPs and their staff receive thousands of requests for help from the people they are elected to represent – ranging from everyday problems about bin collections and parking spaces, to highly sensitive pleas about immigration, medical care and crime. Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron and dedicated caseworkers speak to PoliticsHome about the vital work their staff in offices across the length and breadth of the country do.”

Accessing Health Records – Commons Library Constituency Casework Briefing

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Information for anyone attempting to gain access their own, or somebody else’s, medical records.

Accessing health records is now always as simple as putting in a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act 2018. Sometimes, other legislation also comes into play depending upon the circumstances.

Read the Commons Library Constituency Casework Briefing to find out more: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/accessing-health-records/

Housing Casework Forum – 21 July 2022

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The Library, in conjunction with the Members’ Services Team, is pleased to invite you to the Casework Discussion Forum which will take place virtually each month.

The next session is taking place on Thursday 21 July, 2-3pm and will be a Q&A session on the topic of Housing. It will be led by Wendy Wilson from the Library.

The Forum will be complemented by a dedicated Teams chat which will allow you to share ideas and best practice, as well as support being on hand from the Library should specialist knowledge be required.

(Please note, you do not have to be a Caseworker to attend these sessions, they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework.)

If you have any questions, please contact MST@parliament.uk

To book, please visit ACT: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=5177

Casework forum

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The Commons Library, in conjunction with the Members’ Services Team, are pleased to announce a new series of talks on research, casework and policy to take place virtually each month.

The talks will cover a different topic each session as decided by Members’ staff, and the first event will be taking place Wednesday 22 June, 9.30 – 10.30am. You can book your place on ACT.

They will also be complemented by a dedicated Teams chat which will allow you to share ideas and best practice, as well as support being on hand from the Library should specialist knowledge be required.

Please note, you do not have to be a Caseworker to attend these sessions, they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework. If you have any questions, please contact MST@parliament.uk

Royal British Legion Caseworker Guide

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(England only)

The Royal British Legion has produced a brand-new caseworker guide, designed to help MP’s staff in the help they provide to their constituents from the Armed Forces community.

This new digital guide has been specifically designed with MP caseworkers in mind. It includes a wealth of information about RBL services and other assistance that is available to constituents.

If you would like a copy of the guide, please email us. Please note that it is for MPs in England only, and is available only to those who have an @parliament.uk email address.

This guide is part of a new and complimentary MP caseworker training package, with a new training opportunity commencing from January 2022. To find out more about the RBL MP Caseworker training sessions and to book your place, please follow this link here.

If you have any questions about the guide or the training sessions starting next year, please do not hesitate to get in touch – publicaffairs@britishlegion.org.uk

Covid-19 and Casework: Ask the Library 25-26 June 2020

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On 25 and 26 June 2020 the House of Commons Library is offering a series of sessions which are aimed at helping Members’ staff deal with casework arising from the coronavirus pandemic. The sessions will also be of wider interest to Members’ staff interested in policy development.

The sessions will be provided online via MS Teams and will be recorded, so if you miss one you can listen later.

The cut-off date for signing up is Midnight on 22 June 2020.

You must have a Parliamentary network account to access this.  See here for more details: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1735

New HMRC Guides for MPs and Staff

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Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have updated their very helpful booklets, explaining how they can help you to help your constituents. The two booklets are:

  • HMRC Casework guide for MPs and Staff
  • HMRC guide for MPs managing their own tax affairs

They are available in the following formats:

  • English
  • Welsh
  • Accessible Version – English only

If you would like a copy of the updated versions, please email us letting us know which version(s) you require.

*** Please note that we are only able to send these documents to current MPs and their staff with intranet email accounts.  It is not available to members of the public.

House of Commons Library Help Hub Community

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Have you visited the House of Commons Library Help Hub Community yet?

The Help Hub Community is a forum where caseworkers can ask each other questions, share experiences and provide advice.  They also run regular ‘ask the expert sessions’ with Library specialists.

MPs’ Staff should have been sent an email inviting them to join the community.  If you haven’t received one, please contact helphub@parliament.uk and they will sign you up and send you a link.

Planning matters

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This very useful Standard Note by Christopher Barclay in the Commons Library provides a short introduction to planning, including the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), mainly to assist with replying to constituency questions.

It is on the public website at: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05378/.

It includes:

  1. The normal planning procedure
  2. Frequently Asked Questions
    1. Third Party right of appeal
    2. The Planning Inspector
    3. Planning Policy and the Green Belt
    4. Paying for infrastructure
    5. Buying planning consent
    6. Housing Targets
    7. Garden Grabbing
    8. Permitted Development Rights
    9. Calling in/ recovered inquiries
    10. Consent given on the basis of false information
    11. Enforcement
  3. The Role of an MP in planning