Member Article

Single Mum Benefitting From Innovative Working Model

A North East charity has adopted an innovative new way of working that has increased a local single mum’s income without increasing her hours.

Citizens Advice Gateshead is taking part in a trail-blazing 4 day week pilot to benefit both its clients with extended hours and services and its staff with an innovative way of working that is believed will positively impact on their wellbeing and performance.

And Aneira , who is an integral part of delivering the Kay Kendal Leukaemia Trust project, is benefiting from taking part in the 4 day week.

Citizens Advice Gateshead is the first one in the national Citizens Advice Network to lead the way with the new model of working which includes the team working 80% of their hours within an extended parameter of delivery hours that will benefit clients who struggle to make appointments between 9 and 5 on weekdays, for 100% of their salary. Aneira is just one of the team to benefit from an increase in salary.

As a social welfare advisor, she also works on the QE Hospital support project and Great North Children’s Hospital project supporting families with children with cancer. She said:

“We handle cases where families going through awful times need real help with benefits, access and many other challenges. They need unwavering support, which as well paid, rested employees we can ensure we give them.”

The new system has allowed Aneira to secure childcare for her six year old daughter, and has refocused her to think about how her workload is planned, and has created seamless handovers as all her colleagues have a more positive dynamic.

Staff have the choice to opt into the programme, which allows services such as the witness support service and the direct hospital access service to be delivered outside of the traditional 9-5 model, on weekdays and over the weekend. This, over time, will enable the charity to better meet the needs of clients at times that suit them.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Toms .