Size: 11 - 20
About us
Who we are
Homemaker Southwest is a not-for-profit money advice agency that works across Devon. Our mission is to enable people, especially those who are vulnerable, to set up, maintain and sustain their homes, and thus prevent homelessness. We believe that everyone has the right to a safe, secure, and affordable home; everyone has the right to be treated with respect, whatever their circumstances.
We receive funding from local authorities, housing associations, and The Money and Pensions Service, and provide a service that is free to all those with whom we work.
We offer a personalised money advice service, delivered by telephone, or face-to-face, according to the client’s needs. We work alongside other expert support services, where they are involved, to provide specialist support and help to manage debts and improve clients’ financial independence.
Support we provide is dependent on the client’s needs; but can include
- debt solutions that are available and appropriate to the client’s situation
- money advice
- assisting the client to apply for any benefits for which they may be eligible,
- income maximisation
- charitable grant applications for essential items
- back-to-work calculations
- negotiating with landlords and creditors
- assistance with developing a budget plan to help clients take control of their personal finances,
- support to sustain accommodation if that is at risk.
We know that providing a holistic service is necessary to address the ‘root’ of why people get into debt. Rather than having debt and income maximisation treated as two separate issues, our experience shows that the two are intrinsically linked.
Our culture and values
Homemaker's services are funded either by grants and/or Service Level Agreements with commissioners; all our services are free at the point of delivery, helping us to access clients in hard-to-reach groups who might not engage if they could not afford to pay.
Homemaker operates for the public benefit, particularly in the following areas:
- preventing and relieving poverty
- relieving those in need, because of ill-health, disability, financial or other disadvantage
- preventing homelessness and promoting independence
Our caseworkers provide free, face-to-face or telephone advice that is impartial, expert, non-judgmental and tailored to individuals’ circumstances. Helping clients to better manage for themselves reduces the need for future support. The work we do is dependent on the client’s needs but includes debt solutions, money advice and financial capability support, assisting the client to apply any benefits to which they may be eligible, helping with the PIP and ESA appeal process (including Mandatory Reconsideration and Tribunal) negotiating with landlords, and other agencies, assisting clients to develop a budget plan to help them take control of their personal finances.
Equality, diversity and inclusion policy
Homemaker believes that all persons should have equal rights to recognition of their human dignity, and to have equal opportunities to be educated, to work, receive services and to participate in society.
Our staff work in an open and non-discriminatory way with all clients and seeks to ensure that our services are delivered in such a way that they are accessible to all groups of people without discrimination. Where we can, we tailor our communications to the clients’ needs - whether a ‘smiley face’ on the back of the envelope to indicate it’s from us, large print, coloured font/paper, if necessary, to ensure that our help is accessible. Appointments are delivered in a manner best suited to the clients’ needs – telephone, video-call or face to face (either a home visit or at a suitable alternative location).
Homemaker is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities through the way we manage the organisation and provide services to the community.
To express this commitment, we develop, promote and maintain policies that will be conducive to the principles of fairness and equality in the workplace.
