casework

External Services Fair 2025

Standard

The House of Commons Administration is pleased to announce the first-ever External Services Fair.

Time: 10:00 – 17:00
Date: 18 November 2025
Location: House of Commons

The House of Commons Administration is pleased to announce the first-ever External Services Fair. This event is designed to give Members and Members’ staff the opportunity to engage directly with a range of external bodies that support you in your casework. This is a unique opportunity to engage directly with representatives from a range of Government Departments and External Organisations, all gathered in one place. They will be hosting stalls where you can drop in, ask questions, and learn more about how they can assist you in your work.

For full details, please see Parlinet here: https://parlinet.parliament.uk/events/2025/november/external-services-fair-2025/

Caseworker Discussion Forum: Disability Services (DWP)

Standard

Time: 14:30 – 15:30
Date: Thursday 7 August 2025
Location: Online via MS Teams

The Caseworker Discussion Forum takes place each month via MS Teams.

This month’s forum will focus on a Disability Services benefits overview and handling constituent correspondence, with staff from DWP.

Book your place on Act.

The forum is complemented by a dedicated Teams chat which enables you to share ideas and best practice, with support being on hand from the Library should specialist knowledge be required.

You do not have to be a caseworker to attend these sessions – they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework.

Caseworker Discussion Forum: Universal credit and DWP correspondence/hotline

Standard

Time: 10:00 – 11:00
Date: Tuesday 15 July 2025
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1953

The topic will be Universal credit and DWP correspondence/hotline and we’ll be joined by DWP staff to discuss how caseworkers can get support for constituents with universal credit issues.

You can submit questions in advance if you wish. It will still be possible to ask questions during the forum meeting.

Meet the Director: Commons Library and POST

Standard

Time: 11:30 – 14:00
Date: Tuesday 10 June
Location: Portcullis House Hub

Members and Members’ staff are invited to drop-in to monthly ‘Meet the Director’ sessions in the Portcullis House Hub.

Directors from key House Administration teams that provide services to Members will be available to answer your questions, listen to your feedback, or talk to you more about how their teams can support you in carrying out your parliamentary duties.

This month’s drop-in focuses on the House of Commons Library and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST).

Meet:

  • Grant Hill-Cawthorne, Managing Director of Research and Information
  • Anna Dickson, Director of Research
  • Bryn Morgan, Director of Data Services.

Library Talk: Tackling violence against women and girls

Standard

Presented by the National Audit Office and the House of Commons Library.

Time: 10:30-11:30
Date: Thursday 5 June 2025
Location: Online via Teams

Over one in four women are estimated to be victims of sexual assault or attempted assault in their lifetime, and one in 12 women are victims of VAWG each year, although the actual number is likely to be much higher. The National Police Chiefs’ Council reported that, in 2022-23, 20% of all police-recorded crime was related to violence against women and girls. Violence against women and girls can have long-term impacts on victims, affecting them physically, mentally, socially and financially. The new government has committed to halve the prevalence of VAWG within a decade as part of its ‘mission’ to make streets safer. The Home Office will lead this mission and is developing a new VAWG strategy. 

In this report, the NAO has examined the Home Office’s leadership of the 2021 “Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls” Strategy (the VAWG Strategy) and the 2022 “Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan” (the Domestic Abuse Plan), to identify lessons to support the delivery of the government’s ambition to halve violence against women and girls. This report looks at how successful the Home Office has been in leading an effective cross-government response to the issue in order to achieve this aim.

To register, please visit this page on the intranet: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=7608

Caseworker Discussion Forum: Ombudsman schemes (UK wide)

Standard

Time: 14:30-15:30
Date: 4 June 2025
Location: Teams

With Donal Galligan (Chief Executive of the Ombudsman Association) and Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) staff, as well as Library specialists covering different ombudsman schemes
Also: Digital Services staff will give a quick update on the Register of Interests for Members Staff service

To register, please visit https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1953

Casework discussion forum moves to a channel

Standard

The casework discussion forum chat will move to a Teams channel to accommodate more caseworkers from Monday 2 June 2025. 

If you’re already a member of the casework discussion forum, you should have been automatically added to the new channel already. 

Login to your parliamentary account to find more information on ParliNet, including guidance and FAQs.

New Forums for Members’ Staff 

Standard

The MMSST is pleased to announce the launch of two new forums for Members’ Staff, one for Parliamentary Assistants and Researchers and one for staff in Communication and Administration roles.  

There are now four dedicated Forums for Members’ staff, each tailored to specific job roles. The forums serve as a space for you to connect with colleagues, ask questions, share best practices, and stay informed about services, training opportunities, and upcoming events.