Casework Assistance Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Casework assistance in relation to any matter arising from a Voice member's employment, is granted in accordance with these terms and conditions.

• Casework assistance is provided by indemnified caseworkers who may be Field Officers or paid Professional or Regional Officers of Voice.  The type of case and its complexity will determine whether the case is dealt with by a Field Officer or paid officer.
   
• Voice caseworkers can offer a wide variety of help, support and advice to members. However, they are not trained counsellors and in some circumstances it would be appropriate for members to consider contacting specialist counselling services.
   
• Casework assistance cannot be provided to those new members who join with issues which pre-date membership.  Members who are in arrears with their subscriptions at the time the issue arose are not entitled to casework representation, and cannot establish entitlement to representation by subsequently paying arrears.  Student members are entitled to specified casework assistance providing they were in membership at the time the issue arose.
   
• Voice does not provide dual representation.  If the Member instructs or seeks advice from his/her own legal adviser, alternative representative or any other third party in connection with the case Voice will withdraw from any further involvement in the case and the Member will be responsible for any costs incurred in the instruction of a legal adviser.
   
• The Member seeking casework assistance must supply to the caseworker dealing with the case all the information which may be required and co-operate fully in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of any case. 
   
• The Member is required to be honest and accurate in the information given to the caseworker and should not act against the caseworker’s advice. 
   
• The Member must not enter into any correspondence with any party whom he/she believes to be associated with the case unless and until he/she has agreed the content of the communication with the caseworker. 
   
• Casework assistance is always granted at the discretion of the General Secretary and the General Secretary retains the right to withdraw casework assistance at any time if the Member is in breach of any of the terms and conditions set out in either 4, 5, 6 above, or in any other circumstances when withdrawal is deemed to be necessary.  The Member has a right to seek a review of the decision. Members should write with their reasons for believing the caseworker’s decision to be unfair to the National Chairman, Voice, 2 St. James’ Court, Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1BT. 
   
• Information provided by the Member is processed in compliance with the Union’s Data Protection Notice.