Client Affairs

Types of support

Corporate Appointee

When the Council is appointed as a Corporate Appointee, the Client Affairs Team can support by:

  • Ensuring you receive the benefits you are entitled to

  • Assisting with the day-to-day management of your finances, including utility bills, personal expenses, and care fees

  • Protecting you from financial abuse or exploitation

  • Providing access to your funds through a prepaid card or Post Office voucher, enabling you to manage personal spending such as shopping and entertainment.

Corporate Appointees are authorised to manage your benefits only and cannot access your personal bank accounts.

As a Corporate Appointee, how will my money be managed by the Client Affairs Team?

When we become a Corporate Appointee we will open up a new bank account on your behalf where your benefits will be paid into. We will notify your regular payment providers - including utility companies, landlords, and others, about your new bank details. We will also ensure you are receiving the correct benefit entitlements.

Our goal is to help you maintain financial stability and independence wherever possible.

Court of Protection Deputy for Property & Affairs

If you have savings, property or investments, the Council may apply to the Court of Protection for authority to act on your behalf.
If the court agrees, it will appoint a Court of Protection Deputy for Property and Affairs, usually the Council’s Client Affairs Manager, to manage these responsibilities, all future correspondence and decisions.

As a Deputy for Property and Affairs how will my money be managed by the Client Affairs Team?

Once appointed as your Deputy for Property and Affairs, we will manage your finances, including any income, savings, assets or property.
We will report annually to the Office of the Public Guardian, the government body that oversees deputies and ensures people who lack mental capacity are protected. These reports provide transparency and accountability in how your money is managed.

How the process works

  1. Referral - Your social worker refers your case to the Client Affairs team
  2. Financial Setup - Once approved, the team open a dedicated bank account on your behalf
  3. Application - The Client Affairs team apply to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to manage your benefits.
  4. Ongoing Support - You will be allocated a dedicated Client Affairs Officer who will support you with all of your finances. A financial plan will be agreed with you and your social worker.
  5. Court Oversight - If appointed as your Deputy, we report annually to the Office of the Public Guardian, who ensures your finances are managed responsibly.

How will I be kept informed?
We will keep you and your family or representatives informed at every stage.

If a court application is needed, you and your loved ones will receive official documents, giving you the chance to raise any concerns or suggest someone else to manage your affairs.

Formal Approval
Once a judge has approved the application, the courts will issue an order appointing the council as your Deputy for Property and Affairs.

Client Affairs Team

Email: client.affairs@newham.gov.uk

Phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm

Telephone: 0203 373 1452 or 0203 373 9346