Specialist Benefits Advice Support Worker
| Posting date: | 01 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £31,000 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 31 May 2024 |
| Location: | CB22 3HJ - Sawston, Cambridgeshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | John Huntingdon's Charity |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 0 |
Summary
Specific accountabilities:
1. To provide a ‘first port of call’ for Sawston residents and residents of surrounding villages, who need help with benefit, debt, housing and disability related issues.
2. To provide an initial financial assessment, assist with budgeting and refer to specialist Citizens Advice Debt Advisors, as necessary.
3. To help to increase client’s income and reduce their expenditure.
4. To carry out benefit checks, advise on entitlement, assist with claiming benefits/tax credits and form filling. This may involve home visits.
5. To help clients with completion of benefits forms (e.g. Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Pension Credit etc.).
6. To accompany and support clients at Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance Medicals, when appropriate.
7. To support and represent clients with Mandatory Reconsiderations and Appeals, when appropriate.
8. To act as an advocate on behalf of vulnerable clients in Sawston.
9. To authorise the award of small grants for residents of Sawston or seek alternative grants if not a Sawston resident.
10. To provide initial housing advice, referring on to other support workers or the appropriate local authority as necessary.
11. To support vulnerable clients to ensure that necessary Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) actions are followed up.
12. To liaise with specialist staff of relevant agencies such as Citizens Advice, Health Centre, Social Workers, Schools, P3, SCDC, etc as necessary.
13. To keep up to date with welfare reform and benefit issues and share information with other JHC staff.
14. To carry out own administration using IT /paper systems
15. To encourage and support client empowerment and retraining as necessary.
16. To keep up to date with developments in all areas of advice
17. To participate in supervision and reflective practice.
General accountabilities:
1. To maintain client confidentiality at all times.
2. To undertake training, as appropriate.
3. To assist with the day-to-day administration functions of the main Charity, as necessary.
4. To adhere to stated policies & procedures relating to Health & safety & quality management.
5. To comply with JHC policies relating to professional standards in dealing with vulnerable clients.
6. To carry out any other reasonable tasks as required by the Line Manager.