MO Helpline Call Request

Welcome to the Helpline Call Request page.

What we can help with

The AMO Helpline is a resource which is accessible to all AMO members and is staffed by experienced Monitoring Officer Volunteers who are here to support you with advice and guidance on the full spectrum of scenarios that arise throughout the Monitoring Officer life cycle.

The Helpline will provide a safe space for you to talk through or sense check an issue you are dealing with. Whilst our volunteers will not be able to fix the particular issue you may be calling about – you will have the opportunity to air it and obtain helpful guidance and reassurance from practitioners with lived experience of the type of issues the role can entail. The Monitoring Officer and Deputy Monitoring officer role can sometimes feel quite isolated but your fellow MO Helpline volunteers offer a network of support, wise counsel, and candour.

Our volunteers are not just here to help you through the challenges but also to offer their experience on issues such as carer changes, moving into different roles and/or the practical differences between the various tiers of authorities. Please feel free to request a call to discuss these important matters also.

Lastly, as set out below AMO and our volunteers are limited in the extent of support that can be provided. However, they will be able to provide helpful signposting to other forms of support such as LawCare, LLG Monitoring Officer Panel Defence Scheme, and other sources (where applicable).

What we can’t help with

  • Technical Advice on specific issues or to provide a resolution. However, volunteer MOs will provide moral support, an avenue to “talk through issues” and impart experience.
  • Personal employment related legal advice (although we can refer you the LLG Monitoring Officer Defence Scheme or ALACE (where applicable)
  • Medical, counselling, or mental health support advice (although we can signpost to organisations like LawCare or the Solicitors’ Charity (where applicable)).
  • Counselling
  • Support to non-AMO members

How do I submit a MO Helpline call request?

In order to submit a request you will need to complete and submit the online AMO Helpline Enquiry Form below. This form seeks to capture some key information about the nature of your call and is totally confidential. Please note, you do not need to provide your name if you choose not to. You may wish to anonymise your email communication, by creating a temporary email account, or not using a work email address.

Upon receipt and processing of the form we will pass your call request to one of our volunteers who will call you back at a convenient time to have a private and confidential conversation. We aim for calls to be returned within 24 hours of the working day.

AMO Helpline Enquiry Form

AMO HELPLINE ENQUIRY FORM – Fill in form

Additional sources of support

Lawyers in Local Government (LLG)

LLG offer a range of membership services designed to support Monitoring Officers in their roles. This includes: -

  • The Monitoring Officer Panel Defence Scheme. If you find yourself in difficulty and facing potential employment issues due to your role as Monitoring Officer – you can access the LLG MO Defence Scheme which can provide up to 3 hours of advice and preferential rates thereafter. Please email Helen@llg.org.uk in the first instance.
  • The National Lead Group for Monitoring Officers & Governance. You can join this group via the LLG website and receive updates and notifications about meetings and events. The Group meet regularly to receive training and/or discuss the big issues facing local government monitoring officers. All events are listed on the website at https://llg.org.uk/events

LawCare

LawCare offer free, independent and confidential emotional support via their Helpline, online chat and email facilities (please see contact details below).

LawCare services are available to anyone in the UK legal sector, including support staff. This includes non-legally qualified Monitoring Officers and those working in-house within the public sector.

All calls, chats and emails are responded to by trained staff and volunteers who have first-hand experience of working in a legal setting and/or on legal issues. They are able to also signpost those in need of support to other support agencies.

https://lawcare.org.uk/helpline-online-chat-and-email-support-for-anyone-in-the-legal-community/

The LawCare helpline (0800 279 6888) is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays

ALACE

https://alace.org.uk/about-us/

ALACE (the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers) is a registered trade union whose members comprise of the heads of paid service and other senior managers in local authorities throughout the UK, and the chief executives of other agencies associated with local government. ALACE provide individual support for subscribed members dealing with employment related issues.

The Solicitors’ Charity

https://thesolicitorscharity.org/how-we-help/

The Charity is open to all solicitors and their dependants and provides a comprehensive range of emotional, physical, professional, and financial support.