Good Practice Guide
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Money Advice Scotland Good Practice Guide
 
This Guide has been developed to provide a structure for Money Advisers to work to and will be the basis of ongoing work by Money Advice Scotland to continue to 'Raise Standards in Money Advice'.

Money Advice Scotland identified the need for this Guide, primarily to assist candidates who were working towards their Scottish Vocational Qualification in Advice & Guidance. In parallel Money Advice Scotland's Research, 'Good, bad or indifferent? The Quality of Money Advice in Scotland' (October 2002) highlighted that a number of key factors were found to be associated with the quality of money advice casework:
  1. Levels and patterns of staffing
  2. Caseload and pressure of work
  3. Training, skills and experience
  4. Having an infrastructure that supports money advice
  5. Case review and case recording
The Good Practice Guide will assist in addressing some of the above points, particularly case review, and, case recording.
 
Seven Key Areas Requiring Guidelines
 
Money Advice Scotland in conjunction with SVQ Assessors identified 7 key areas that required guidelines:
  1. Statement of Good Practice for Money Advisers
  2. Client's personal and financial details
  3. Client Autonomy
  4. Client authorisation/agreement in relation to Data Protection
  5. Client case recording/tracking of information
  6. Creditor information and tracking of information
  7. Standard letters and forms
The use of these documents will allow advisers to cut down on duplication for example in case recording, and will also help advisers meet their statutory obligations e.g. in the area of Data Protection issues.

The forms included in this Guide can be adapted for each individual organisation's own use, and Money Advice Scotland would be grateful for any feedback on the contents or any additional examples of good practice in the field.

PLEASE NOTE: The financial statement in this guide is for case recording purposes, also available as a negotiating tool is Money Advice Trust/BBA Common Financial Statement. .
 
With grateful thanks...
 
Money Advice Scotland would like to thank in particular Aberdeen City Council, Fife Council, Highland Council and South Ayrshire Council for the contribution and support from Assessors
 
Email us for a copy now. Copies cost £15.
 

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