General Help
- About the General Help Standard
- What's happening with the Quality Mark?
- How to apply
- For more information
About the General Help Standard
These organisations provide advice and/or outline options to members of the public. General Help has two levels and you would apply at either one.
1) General Help Standard
This is for organisations providing a service that incorporates:
- diagnosing client’s problems
- giving information and explaining options
- identifying further action that the client can take
- basic assistance in form-filling
- contacting third parties to seek information.
2) General Help with Casework Standard
This level is for organisations providing a service that incorporates:
- taking action on behalf of clients by negotiating/advocacy
- follow-up work (where relevant).
The current 14 casework categories are in the table.
| Subject based | Client based |
|---|---|
| Consumer/general contract | Asylum seekers and refugees casework |
| Debt | Disability casework |
| Employment | Older people casework |
| Health and community care | Racial discrimination and racial harassment casework |
| Housing | Students casework |
| Immigration/nationality | Women casework |
| Welfare benefits | Young people casework |
What's happening with the Quality Mark?
We are reviewing our application and assessment process. Please contact your LSC regional office to check the local position before beginning an application.
How to apply
The General Help Standard application pack contains:
- General Help Standard Workbook: lists all requirements the applicant must demonstrate (NB: you don't have to complete it but must attach evidence of meeting all requirements)
- CASE-1 Forms: list the 14 casework categories and their individual requirements - you can only apply at the casework level where at least one person in your organisation works a minimum 12-hours/per week on the relevant category
- QM1 Application Form
- Quality Mark Standard Book: provides further guidance on the requirements.
Complete and send all forms and supporting evidence to your local regional office.
Application materials
All materials are under the Documents panel. You will need the full version of Adobe Acrobat (not just Acrobat reader) to save any changes made to the forms.
You can request hard copies from your local regional office. We also cater for applicants with any special needs/disabilities.
For more information
See Documents for:
- step-by-step guide to the Quality Mark
- all the application materials.
Read more about how we're reviewing the application and assessment process.
Contact your local regional office for other queries.
Last updated: 16 May 2008