Now Harpenden residents have easy access to advice and information from a range of local services

Harpenden residents are now able to access advice, guidance and information on a range of services provided by Oaklands College, St Albans District Citizens Advice Bureau, St Albans City and District Council and the Centre for Voluntary Service from a single location.

 

This is a first for Hertfordshire and is an innovative model of joint working which has received Transformation Funding from Improvement East to support its development.

 

The new advice and information centre is located at the Civic Centre in St Peter's Street and means that customers can now get help from any of these four organisations all in the one place.

                                                                                                                     

Over the last six months, the Council have been working with its partners to develop the concept of a local services centre.  Their aim was to widen the type of information and advice services available to customers through a single visit to the Civic Centre.

 

The move follows an analysis of customer enquiries and requested services at the Council's offices.  This showed that customers would welcome the chance to access services from a variety of organisations at a single location. This is especially the case for those who are most vulnerable and who often have complex needs which need support from several organisations.

Councillor Julian Daly said: "We listened to what our residents want and decided to work together with our partners in the voluntary and community sector, to make it easier for residents to access a broad range of services."

The services available at the centre are as follows:

• Oaklands College

Drop-in sessions and free guidance interviews on Mondays (9am-3pm) and Wednesdays (9am-5pm).  It will also be possible to pre-book extended support on additional week days to meet individual needs.

 

Trained Oaklands College staff will be equipped to talk to people on a wide range of matters including: careers advice, financial support, education courses (full and part-time), travel to and from college, plus bursaries and employability skills.

 

• Volunteer Centre (part of Centre for Voluntary Service)

Drop-in sessions and volunteer advice appointments on Wednesdays (9am to 5pm).

 

• Citizens Advice Bureau

Drop-in sessions on Monday and Wednesday mornings (10am to 1pm).

 

These sessions at the Civic Centre are in addition to the services offered by the above organisations at their existing locations.

 

The District Council will continue to provide information and advice on its own services as follows:

•        Mondays to Thursdays from 8.45am to 5pm

•        Fridays from 8.45am to 4.30pm.

 

Customer and partner feedback will be collected over the first few months of operation to ensure that the services offered meet customers' needs. All customers will be asked to complete a short comment card about their experience when they visit the centre and that feedback will inform plans for a further roll out later next year.