About Us
Social Welfare Training is run by Neil Arnott, BA(Hons)Economics, PGCE.
Neil has worked in the advice work sector since 1993. From 2002-2010 he worked at Avon and Bristol Law Centre as a Legal Aid Welfare Benefits Supervisor. The franchise gained the highest score of 'outstanding' on LSC peer review, a score only achieved by around 5% of suppliers nationally. He dealt with complex welfare benefit cases to First Tier Appeal and Upper Tribunal level and provided consultancy to the local advice sector and internally to Law Centre solicitors.
From 1995 - 2002 he worked as a Welfare Rights Take Up Worker for Bristol City Council running citywide take up campaigns including those involving Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, Tax Credits and Carers Allowance. This also involved undertaking benefits casework for clients in social care and housing related support settings. He worked at Manchester Citizens Advice Bureau from 1993 - 1995.
He has designed and delivered training on welfare benefits to many professionals including advice workers, solicitors, social workers and housing workers. He has a passion for both social justice and education. Neil is a trained teacher.
Joe Power LLB— Welfare Benefits
Joe is a practising solicitor at a Law Centre in Yorkshire. He also acts as a Senior Peer Reviewer for the Legal Services Commission where he assesses the quality of work in organisations that hold Legal Aid Franchises in Welfare Benefits. He has taken test cases for clients to the Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal and High Court. Before qualifying as a solicitor he undertook benefits casework in social care and housing related support settings.
Michael O'Sullivan LLB— Debt/ Housing
Michael is a practising solicitor at a Law Centre in the South West. He specialises in housing and debt representing clients in the County Court. He is a supervisor for a Legal Aid Franchise and undertakes Legal Aid certificated work.
Nigel Humphries LLB— Money Advice/ Debt
Nigel has been involved in the money advice world for some fifteen years, working in both local government and the voluntary sector. He regularly trains support workers assisting diverse client groups and is involved in both local and national social policy groups. He also works for a local authority managing a caseload of clients with mulitple debts and rent arrears.