Job Title: Trainee Welfare Benefits Advisor
Location: Kettering (Multiple locations across North Northants & Northampton Town areas)
Salary: £10.90 per hour (£21,255 pa fte)
Job type: Various up to 37.5 hours per week.
The Company:
We are a professional and charitable organisation, with two key areas of focus:
- Supported accommodation for single homeless people in North Northants
- Impartial and life changing housing, debt and benefits advice
We empower individuals to move out of debt, out of hunger, out of poverty and out of homelessness. At Accommodation Concern we believe everyone deserves the right to live their best possible life.
The Role:
- To provide an impartial and outcome focussed advice service for everyone that approaches the charity, ensuring all data is entered accurately on the Accommodation Concern Database.
- Support the office team to function in a professional and efficient way, enabling clients to receive a high standard of service.
- To provide advice/casework related to welfare benefits issues to ensure income maximisation is achieved for people.
- Follow Accommodation Concern’s quality standards, policies, procedures and regulatory requirements. Signpost to other local specialist agencies for expertise when required
Main Responsibilities:
- To be trained so that you can provide a Welfare benefits advice and casework service which conforms to the Advice Quality Standard & FCA
- Advise, assist, and support clients who could benefit from welfare benefit advice in accordance with agreed procedures, policies and good practice
- Provide support and advice with form completion and/or challenging decisions (mandatory reconsideration)
- Advise and assist with applications to increase income from other sources, including charitable trusts, local authority discretionary housing payment schemes, and utility companies
- Agree client needs and identify desired outcomes/actions
- Conduct initial client interviews from different sites
- Be trained to provide advice and case work that can be offered as part of our CMA Debt Centre – This may include money management, budgeting and debt solutions
- General level advocacy and negotiation on behalf of client to other agencies/authorities
- Telephone advice as appropriate
- Initial contact/referral with other agencies to help coordinate services
- To maintain the accurate recording of client contacts and feedback within statistical software packages
- Writing/setting case outcome in line with S.M.A.R.T Principles
- Be trained to work in accordance with the AQS operating model for casework management
- To support your Line Manager to ensure that the Advice Centre remains compliant and meets all regulatory requirements eg. CMA Debt centre & FCA
- To refer clients to other colleagues/services to assist in meeting any identified needs and liaise and negotiate with relevant agencies
- Maintain up to date knowledge of the benefit system, case law and the effects of the welfare reform and forthcoming changes
Education & Qualifications
- A good working level of English & Maths
- A good level of computer experience – confident use of email, electronic calendar, database input and Microsoft office packages
Experience:
- Experience of the benefit system, making claims (personal, friends & family)
- Experience of displaying patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- Experience of having to be thorough and pay attention to detail
Aptitudes and skills
- Ability to understand complex information and convey it in a way that is understandable to clients
- Ability to engage, build and develop relationships with people
- Ability to prioritise tasks, identify and work to deadlines and manage time effectively
- Commitment and understanding of confidentiality
- Have attention to detail with high standards to work
Knowledge and Understanding:
- Knowledge of money advice issues
- Knowledge of local networks and resources in Kettering/North Northants
Personal Attributes
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Exhibit professionalism and integrity
- Commitment to equal opportunities and anti-oppressive practice
- Excellent communication skills
- Professional curiosity with the ability and willingness to learn and apply learning in support delivery
- Ability to challenge the status quo and influence others to change culture
- Ability to work across the area to meet service delivery demands when required
- To have a sense of humour, be personable and accept that things won’t go as you think
Please click on the APPLY button to submit your CV for this role.
Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of: Housing Support Worker, Housing Coordinator, Supported Housing Officer, Resident Support Worker, Housing Advocate, Housing Case Manager, Housing Navigator, Tenancy Sustainment Officer, Homelessness Prevention Worker, Outreach Support Worker, Housing Crisis Interventionist, Shelter Support Specialist, Housing Project Coordinator, Housing Liaison Officer, Independent Living Coordinator may also be considered for this role.
