Job Description

Job Title: Welfare Benefits Advisor

Location: Kettering

Salary: \xc2\xa322,500 per year

Job type: Full-time \xe2\x80\x93 Permanent

About us:

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.

About the role:

Deliver a professional, impartial, pragmatic and outcome focussed advice service to beneficiaries whilst working to Accommodation Concern Quality Standards, Policies and Procedures and Regulatory Requirements.

To provide Welfare Benefits advice and/or casework having regard for relevant legislation, meeting the requirements of the Advice Service Alliance Standard for advice case work relating to Debt, Welfare Benefits, and Housing.

To provide advice/case work on Welfare Benefit issues to ensure income maximisation is achieved for beneficiaries. Signposting to other local specialist agencies for expertise when required.

Main responsibilities:

Centre:

• To 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
• Provide representation for clients by preparing and presenting cases at benefit appeal hearings.
• 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.
• Conducting initial client interviews within diverse operational sites.
• Provision of advice and case work. offered as part of our CMA Debt Centre, which 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 inline with S.M.A.R.T Principles.
• 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.

Experience:

Essential

• Experience of working with individuals facing poverty and/or with dysfunctional lifestyles
• Experience of working effectively in partnership with a range of stakeholders
• Experience of giving advice/guidance
• Experience of displaying patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• Experience of having to be thorough and pay attention to detail

Desirable

• Third sector experience
• Experience of the beneift system, making claims & challenges
• Knowledge of undertaking benefit checks and ways of maximising income

Experience within one or more of the following:

• housing or homelessness services
• debt services
• advice services
• anti-poverty services

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

Knowledge and abilities in using Microsoft Office packages

Knowledge and understanding of the issues which affect the lives of disadvantaged adults.

If you are interested, please click on the APPLY button to submit your CV for this role, including a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of: Housing Options Officer, Social Housing Advisor, Homelessness Officer, Housing Needs Officer, Housing Officer, Housing Support Officer, Housing Assistant, Housing Officer, Housing Services, Customer Housing Assistant, Social Housing Assistant, Supported Housing Officer, Social Housing Worker, Housing Administrator, Housing Officer, Debt Advisor, Benefits Officer, Benefits Advice, Welfare Officer, Welfare Assistant, Welfare Advisor, Revenues Officer, Revenues Assistant, Revenues Collection, Revenues Enforcement, Revenues Collection Officer, Revenues Administrator, Revenues Manager, Revenues Recovery Specialist, Finance Assistant, Housing Benefit Officer, Finance Executive, Finance Officer, Accounts Officer, Benefits Advisor, Revenue Advisor, Benefits Officer, Benefits Support Officer, Revenue Officer, Benefits Assessment Officer, Customer Aid, Benefits Adviser, Customer Service Manager, Face to Face Advisor, Customer Support may also be considered for this role.

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