Advisory bodies and professional advisers
Giving advisory bodies and other professional advisers accurate and detailed information from the Child Maintenance Service.
Visits to advisory groups
The outreach Service was launched in October 2005 to promote awareness of the Northern Ireland Child Maintenance Service, improve relationships and communications with the service's stakeholder groups, improve service to clients and ultimately get money to more children.
Promotion
To promote and introduce the service, the outreach team initially visited Citizens Advice Bureau, Gingerbread, Homestart, Women’s Aid, Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities and many other community based advice groups. The service was extended to MP constituency offices and to MLA offices.
Outreach
The outreach team has delivered a range of services including client surgeries – interviews with clients and liaison between CMS staff and MP/MLA offices.
Information seminars / informal presentations have been delivered to a range of organisations including:
- The Forces Welfare Services
- Women’s Aid
- Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
- Love for Life
- Citizen Advice Bureaux
- twenty six Housing Executive offices
- MP constituency offices
To date, outreach staff have been involved in over 2,200 CMS cases and have provided guidance and information to prospective CMS clients.
Feedback from stakeholders has been excellent, resulting in an increase in requests for the outreach service. MP/MLA offices in particular appreciate CMS staff coming to see their constituents.
There are two outreach Officers and you can e-mail the service at belfast.nichl@cms.gsi.gov.uk
Ethnic liaison officers
Ethnic liaison activity is undertaken in the Northern Ireland Child Maintenance Service by outreach officers. This role includes helping to improve service delivery and future policy for our ethnic minority clients.
Our outreach officers would be happy to come out to give talks to ethnic groups and organisations. You can e-mail the service at belfast.nichl@cms.gsi.gov.uk
Through research and consultation we are constantly developing the level of service advisers and professionals can expect from us. This allows us to focus our resources in the most efficient way to get the best results for our clients.
Our aims are to:
- use the information from your feedback to improve the service the agency supplies to you
- create an organisation that understands its business and the business of advisers' to help us achieve the best for those who need our help the most
- provide pro-active and co-ordinated information to advisers to ensure you have relevant and up to date information
Child Support Scheme - ending liability in existing cases
New child maintenance rules have now been introduced for all new applications since November 2013. All child maintenance cases are to be governed by the new rules. This will be achieved by ending liability for cases on the 1993 and 2003 schemes and inviting interested parties to consider making their own family-based arrangements or to apply to the new child maintenance scheme.
Child Support Scheme for timing and related matters in relation to ending liability in existing cases
The ending liability scheme sets out how and in which order cases will be selected to bring an existing case to an end and provides information for those who wish to apply to the new child maintenance scheme.
Annual reports
Decision Making Annual Reports - Child Maintenance Service
- Child Maintenance Service Annual Report on Decision Making 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015
- Child Maintenance Service Annual Report on Decision Making 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014
- Child Maintenance Service Annual Report on Decision Making 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013
Leaflets
If you require a copy of any of our leaflets please contact Child Maintenance Service.
2012 Child Maintenance Scheme leaflets
| Leaflet number | Leaflet name |
|---|---|
| CMSB001NI | About the Child Maintenance Service |
| CMSB003NI | Getting someone to manage your child maintenance case |
| CMSB004NI | Changes you need to tell us about |
| CMSB005NI | What happens if you don’t pay child maintenance? |
| CMSB006NI | What happens if a paying parent doesn’t pay child maintenance? |
| CMSB007NI | How we work out child maintenance |
| CMSB008NI | The Annual Review - how it works |
| CMSB009NI | Paying child maintenance |
| CMSB010NI | What happens if someone denies they are the parent of a child? |
| CMSB011NI | What to do if you're unhappy with the Child Maintenance Service |
| CMSB013NI | Receiving child maintenance |
| CMSB042NI | Understanding your child maintenance statement - a guide for paying parents |
| CMSB043NI | Understanding your child maintenance statement - a guide for receiving parents |
| CMSB050NI | Choosing a new child maintenance arrangement |
2003 Child Maintenance Scheme leaflets
| Leaflet number | Leaflet name |
|---|---|
| CSL301(NI) | What is Child Maintenance and how does it affect me? |
| CSL303(NI) | How is Child Maintenance worked out? |
| CSL304(NI) | What happens if someone denies they are the parent of a child? |
| CSL305(NI) | How do I pay child maintenance? |
| CSL306(NI) | What action can the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division take if parents don't pay? |
| CSL307(NI) | How can I appeal against a child maintenance decision? |
| CSL308(NI) | How do I complain about the service i get from the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division? |
| CSL310(NI) | My case is moving to the child maintenance scheme introduced in 2003 - what will change? |
| CSL311(NI) | How does the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division use and store information? |
| CSL314(NI) | How will I receive child maintenance? |
1993 Child Maintenance Scheme leaflets
| Leaflet number | Leaflet name |
|---|---|
| CSA2001(NI) | For parents who live apart |
| CSA2006A(NI) | How to Appeal |
| CSA2024(NI) | Your child maintenance assessment and help in meeting exceptional circumstances |
| CSA2034(NI) | Paying child maintenance direct from your earnings |
| CSA2095(NI) | Notes for non-resident parents who are self employed |