Richmond Advice and Information on Disability (Richmond AID) are looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking and highly motivated person to join our team.

Send your CV and a Cover Letter telling us how you meet the Experience needed on the Job Description.

Advice and Information Navigation Officer

Salary:  Pro rata of £22,065 to £27,800 incl OLW depending on experience.

Closing Date: 10am on Tuesday 27th October 2020

Contract: Part time, 21 hours per week

Contract length: This contact will be for one year initially and is subject to finding further funding. 

The role will involve working within our experienced advice and information team. The Advice Service provides people with long term health conditions, disabled people and carers with one-to-one confidential advice and support on a range of areas including health and social care, housing, benefits, debt, grants, transport and mobility, aids and adaptations, education and work related issues and more. You will also support people to access services, activities and opportunities in their community. This role involves working across Richmond and Hounslow boroughs.

You will need to have experience of advice work, be a team player and have the ability to work from your own initiative. Training can be provided and our priority will be to get the right skills and approach. You can receive some on the job training and one to one support from our team and we can provide comprehensive training courses for you to develop your skills.

Our clients are often in very difficult and challenging circumstances. This role requires someone who is resilient, empathetic, organised and has attention to detail. You will enjoy empowering people and making people aware of their rights and entitlements, particularly those for disabled people and carers. You will have a background in advice giving. The work can be stressful at times with pressure and deadlines, but it can also be very rewarding.

Richmond AID offer 25 days annual leave plus eight bank holidays (pro rata for part-time). Normal office hours are 9am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 5pm on Fridays. You will be based at our offices in the Disability Action and Advice Centre, 4 Waldegrave Road, Teddington, TW11 8HT but may need to work from other locations as needed.

Citizens Advice Maidenhead and Windsor provide independent and impartial advice and information to help people resolve their benefit, debt and housing issues. They provide increasingly vital advice and assistance for those in the greatest need, improving beneficiary's wellbeing and financial situations, as well as their confidence to deal with their own problems. They are now recruiting for an experienced Advice Services Manager to lead a team of staff and volunteers in delivering high quality, tailored advice to a variety of beneficiaries.

Reporting to the CEO, you will lead a team of staff and volunteers to deliver high quality, tailored advice to a variety of beneficiaries. You will monitor the quality of advice and will agree actions for improving the delivery of the service, organising and planning feedback sessions to ensure that advice team members have regular support. You will identify and organise training and development activities designed to meet increased demand, and will liaise with the Training Manager to ensure effective mentoring for new recruits. You will represent the organisation as appropriate at Citizens Advice and other statutory, voluntary and commercial organisations, professional bodies and institutions.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape a high quality advice service. To apply for this role, you must be an experienced manager with significant experience of delivering tailored specialist advice, ideally within a Citizens Advice context. You must have extensive experience of managing people, including the ability to recruit, develop and motivate staff and volunteers. You will have a proven ability to monitor and maintain casework systems and procedures, service delivery against agreed targets and analyse and interpret complex information for reporting purposes.

Please initially apply with a word formatted version of your CV (suitable candidates will then be contacted). Applications will be reviewed and interview scheduled with the client on an ongoing basis.

Please note this initially a fixed term contract until March 2021.

Given the unprecedented volume of interest in our roles, consultants are unable to support with general job search advice or specific enquiries before application. Instead please do either register your CV on our website or submit your CV for any roles that interest you to ensure that your application is reviewed in line with the position. Should you be successfully longlisted or we are able to assist in your job search we will be in contact to discuss next steps.

Independent Age wants to make the UK a better place to grow old for everyone. What we do is very simple and effective. We understand the issues faced as we grow older, campaign for change, and provide support services people can rely on – from award winning information guides, telephone advice and support, and a network of volunteers helping us to beat loneliness and isolation across the UK.

It’s an incredibly exciting time to join Independent Age and help make an impact on the lives of older people. This role provides line management and support to a team of 3 Technical Advisers, topic specialists covering social care, benefits, housing, health and wellbeing issues. This post will ensure Independent Age staff and volunteers receive the guidance and support they need in order to deliver accurate information and advice that enables older people to live well with dignity, choice and purpose. It will also support IA’s communications, marketing, policy and influencing activity, representing IA externally when required.

Experienced in managing a team, you will have substantial knowledge of legislative frameworks and issues affecting older people, and the ability to deliver complex advice and information in an understandable format in line with Advice Quality Standard or other quality frameworks.  With proven organisational skills, including ability to prioritise and balance a large number of concurrent tasks you will have the ability to manage projects and meet targets.

Lancashire wide

Closing date: 4th November 2020 at 11.30pm.

Are you a collaborative, compassionate and proactive individual who thrives in a fast-paced and challenging environment? Do you have extensive experience of providing advice and support to others? If so, join Shelter's growing bank of Offender Advice, Support and Guidance Workers and you could play a key role in turning around often chaotic lives.

Shelter deliver a Through the Gate and Community Integration Service across Lancashire, working closely with referred offenders, both in custody and in the community and a range of other agencies. This holistic service assesses each individual's needs so that Service Users are fully supported up to and following release and reoffending rates are reduced.

About the role
Based at one of the CRC offices within the area, but with an expectation to work across the contract package area, our Offender Advice, Support and Guidance Workers will be required to deliver a professional, impartial, pragmatic and outcome-focused resettlement service to referred offenders.

This will see you complete initial needs assessments for each offender as well as agreed housing, finance and debt interventions. You will also ensure the effective coordination of employment and 'other pathway' interventions by managing referrals to appropriate providers, while also ensuring case details are entered onto the agreed Case Management systems (such as OASys, CRC systems and Shelter recording tool) accurately and punctually.

About you
A resilient, calm and engaging individual, you will have a proven record of providing effective advice and support and a sound understanding of the main issues affecting offenders and homelessness. You will also have experience of providing advocacy on behalf of clients to other agencies and authorities and working within a safeguarding framework, while a background working in a criminal justice system setting is desirable.

Strong interpersonal, problem-solving and IT skills, including case management systems and MS Office applications, are essential, and it is preferable for candidates to have a full driving licence and access to a vehicle, as some locations are difficult to reach with the use of public transport.

You will be covering annual leave, sickness and gaps in recruitment. In return, you can expect to be included in full team meetings and mandatory training to ensure ongoing development and communication.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We're here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities),gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We also encourage applications from people, who have been homeless or have been at risk of homelessness. We are facing diverse problems, so need diverse people to tackle them.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Crawley, Horsham or Mid Sussex with flexible and homeworking options, travel required

 We have an exciting opportunity for an excellent Service Delivery Manager to ensure the delivery of our advice programmes and projects.You will manage and lead advice teams including the Debt caseworkers, ensuring quality is at  its highest as well as meeting our contract and performance targets.You will work with stakeholders including funders, develop and negotiate business cases and produce high quality reports.

The ideal candidate will have experience of delivering advice and casework in an area of social welfare law and knowledge of external advice quality standards and of managing or leading a team.  Debt knowledge would be an advantage. 

Benefits:

• Paid annual leave (+ bank holidays)
• Company Sick Pay (Qualifying period required)
• Company pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible employer sensitive to the needs of today’s workforce
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Working for a locally focused charity dedicated to assisting and empowering the community, and helping influence changes to government policy

How to Apply

For more information please take a look at the Role Description within the Job Pack, available on our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9am on 10 November 2020

Interview date: 11 November 2020

Citizens Advice in West Sussex reserve the right to close early or extend this vacancy.

The Candidate

Essential knowledge and experience

•  Experience of delivering advice and casework in an area of social welfare law.
• Knowledge of external advice quality standards and experience of delivering services against them including quality checks, audits and following advice frameworks.
• Recent experience of leading and managing a team to successfully deliver contract targets and continuously improving services.
• Experience of working with external stakeholders including partners and funders to deliver services and identify new opportunities to work together.
• Experience of using IT and Client Relationship Management Systems to record data, run reports and monitor performance.

The Charity

Citizens Advice in West Sussex (North, South, East) (CAWS) is a registered charity and part of the national Citizens Advice Network. We operate with the twin aims of the Citizens Advice service; providing advice people need for the problems they face and working to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.  The service we provide is free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities.  We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.

Reset Outreach and Referral Service – Manager

Salary: Salary: £31,000

Duration: Full Time 35 hrs per week. Occasional unsociable hours\ Permanent contract

Do you have passion for your work, a commitment to excellence and a desire to support some of the most vulnerable and excluded people in our communities? Could you support us to make positive lasting changes in people’s lives?

Providence Row works with more than a thousand homeless and vulnerably housed people a year in East London, offering an integrated service of crisis support, advice, substance use & alcohol support and employment and training advice.  Our aim is to ensure that people who are so often excluded from mainstream services gain the support and opportunities they need to create a safe, healthy and sustainable life away from the streets. Central to our work are our core values of Compassion, Respect, Inclusiveness, Empowerment and Justice.  These inform the content, style and delivery of all our services.

Reset Outreach and Referral Service

Providence Row holds the Reset Outreach & Referral Service contract.  Having successfully delivered the contract for 3 years Providence Row is now building on its success with engagement and minimising harms through outreach and community based work in the vibrant yet complex Borough of Tower Hamlets.

The Service is based at the central hub delivered by Providence Row and is commissioned by Tower Hamlets Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT).  The service works seamlessly with Reset Treatment and Reset Recovery Support Services providing residents of Tower Hamlets with the drug and alcohol support they need.

The Outreach team includes a needle exchange provision and onsite support at the hub.  The team works alongside other Outreach provisions within the Borough and partnership work is key.

The service is delivered through a “strengths based” approach.  This means that all staff involved in the delivery of the service must work with, rather than for clients to address their situation.  The service will engage clients in the development, delivery and evaluation of the work, working with a team of peer mentors with lived experience of substance misuse.

The ideal candidate

You will be passionate and have experience providing a quality Outreach Service and community engagement. You will have experience working with people actively using drugs and alcohol and be understanding of their circumstance.  You will have the drive to work with some of the most vulnerable and excluded people living in Tower Hamlets.

You will be an excellent communicator, have the ability to lead a small team, able to coordinate partnership working and create positive working relationships with a wide range of people.  You are creative, innovative and well organised.

You will have experience managing a small team and an understanding of outreach work. 

*Providence Row is a Covid-19 safe organisation and works actively with Tower Hamlets Public Health & Public Health England, to keep staff and clients safe. 

For an application pack, please visit our website

The deadline for applications is midnight 26th October 2020

Interviews will take place on the Week commencing 2nd November 2020

Providence Row is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales; company number 07452798 registered charity number 1140192.

1 year fixed term

Flexible location within West Sussex, travel required

We are looking for someone to help us expand and transform our client advice services by developing and improving our operational procedures as we go through a period of rapid growth.  You will work with our service delivery teams to ensure we have the right resources and processes in place to deliver to increase our capacity and reach more people through digital and face to face services. 

You will be a problem solver who works well with people, excellent planning skills and able to implement them, able to set and work to KPIs and a commitment to delivering value for client services. 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an innovative and thriving organisation who can quickly make a big impact in our service delivery. 

Benefits:

• Paid annual leave (+ bank holidays)
• Company Sick Pay (Qualifying period required)
• Company pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible employer sensitive to the needs of today’s workforce
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Working for a locally focused charity dedicated to assisting and empowering the community, and helping influence changes to government policy

How to Apply

For more information please take a look at the Role Description within the Job Pack, available on our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9am on 9 November 2020

Interview date: 10 November 2020

Citizens Advice in West Sussex reserve the right to close early or extend this vacancy.

The Candidate

Essential knowledge and experience

•  Knowledge of the diverse communities in Crawley, Mid Sussex and other areas in West Sussex
• Knowledge and experience of project planning in a work or other role
• Experience of working with or lived experience of the needs of diverse communities and people of different backgrounds, and the barriers they face
• Experience of engagement with people to gain insight including one to one interviews, focus groups, surveys and activities
•  Experience in researching and recording information, including evaluating data, feedback and presenting it back to different people.

The Charity

Citizens Advice in West Sussex (North, South, East) (CAWS) is a registered charity and part of the national Citizens Advice Network. We operate with the twin aims of the Citizens Advice service; providing advice people need for the problems they face, and working to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.  The service we provide is free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities.  We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.

About us: We are the leading organisation in Wales, promoting equality for and fostering good relations towards asylum seekers and refugees. With over 30 years’ experience we are proud of what we stand for, and we look forward to working with you.

Background of the post: With Welsh Government funding, a consortium of organisations led by the Welsh Refugee Council are working together to deliver an Asylum Rights Programme which will improve access to support services and advice for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants across Wales.

Purpose of the post

• This specific post is funded by the National Emergencies Trust (NET) and will assist in delivering the WRC provision under the Asylum Rights Programme funded by Welsh Government. This is done by providing effective advice and support to WRC clients and, as appropriate and within the remit of their professional qualification, to advocate on their behalf
• To support the work of the casework team to provide advice, guidance and signposting to people seeking asylum and people with refugee status on a daily drop-in basis
• To work across the casework team to provide a high level of admin and practical support
• To provide support to a caseload of people seeking asylum on a one-to-one basis
• To work alongside the caseworkers and partner agencies to improve access to mainstream services and improve integration outcomes
• To support and contribute towards the development of the WRC’s advice service as a whole.

Major duties and responsibilities

Client responsibilities

• To ensure that, always, clients are aware of what options are available to them and that they are empowered to pursue their chosen options, and provided with the necessary assistance to access resources
• To help clients with the completion of forms

Caseworker support

To support the caseworkers by:

• Negotiating with agencies, government departments, local authorities, immigration services, solicitors, and other bodies to secure client’s entitlements and/or access to services
• Arranging interpretation as necessary (either directly or by arranging

interpretation through others who are competent and able to meet agreed standards)

• To support the caseworkers to work in partnership with service providers and key stakeholders to provide a holistic approach to meet clients’ needs
• Undertaking administrative tasks in relation to the above ensuring the capture of all client information and statistics
• The management of basic office systems, e.g. client database,
• Recording all activities and contribute to qualitative and quantitative reports on a regular basis and as required for monitoring and evaluation

Development

• To participate in staff training, development, and appraisal, as agreed with the line manager
• To prepare for and actively engage in the support/supervision and appraisal process provided by the Programme and Partnership Manager
• To attend external and internal meetings relevant to the service, as agreed with the Programme and Partnership Manager (these meetings will usually be in the locale, but may be held in other parts of Wales or the UK)

Good governance

• To carry out all duties in accordance with the principles of the WRC’s Confidentiality Policy and within agreed norms of impartiality and boundaries
• To abide by and to work to WRC’s Equal Opportunities Policy at all times

Flexibility

To deliver the service, a degree of flexibility is needed, and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Therefore, the post holder is required to be flexible and co-operative in carrying out other reasonable duties and responsibilities. This job specification will be subject to periodic review with the post holder to ensure that it accurately reflects the duties of the job.

Equal opportunities

WRC is committed to equality of opportunity in recruitment, the workplace and service delivery. The post holder is expected to follow WRC’s Equal Opportunities Policy.

Please view Job Description attached to view and refer to Person Specification when applying for this role.

CV's alone will not be accepted.

Due to the number of applications, we will unfortunately be unable to get back to unsuccessful applicants.

Debt Free South West (previously known as Money Advice West) is the South West’s leading independent free debt advice partnership.  Our skilled advisers help over 6,000 people facing debt and poverty issues each year since 2006. 

The roles are employed by Talking Money, the lead organisation within the partnership. Talking Money is a Bristol-based money advice charity providing free, independent, specialist debt and benefits advice, and general money guidance, information, and support to local citizens.  We have a strong track record of providing training and consultancy to local voluntary, statutory and private sector organisations.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we anticipate a large increase in demand for debt advice, so we are recruiting 2 new FTE Technical Supervisors to support our partnership across the South West of England.  This is a great opportunity for you to progress your career in an industry where you can make a real and positive difference to people’s lives.

The role would start on 4 January 2021 and for an initial fixed term to 30 November 2021.

These new and challenging roles are home based, working with advisers, clients and multiple agencies within our partnership with some travel to agencies in Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, Weston-super-Mare and Yeovil to advise and support clients on how to resolve all of their debt issues. Applicants should have a minimum of 2 years current or recent experience of providing debt advice.

Technical Supervisors will:

• Ensure delivery partners meet the service and delivery requirements as set out by the funder (MaPS)
• Provide day-to-day support to advisers and trainees as they provide debt advice to over-indebted clients that is accurate, effective and tailored to the client’s individual circumstances, in accordance with FCA regulations and guidance.
• Support and regularly audit delivery partner organisations, ensuring they are prepared for external reviews of their service in line with the quality requirements of the funder (MaPS)
• Undertake debt advice file reviews, interview observations and provide regular 1:1 supervision for feedback and training
• Support line managers in the development of advisers and the debt advice service
• Work with the Quality Manager and funder to monitor and improve the quality of debt advice within the partnership

Technical Supervisors will be expected to contribute to the team by:

• Working to an agreed work-plan
• Manage your own caseload whilst supporting advisers to manage theirs
• Being an active member of the partnership
• Complying with policies and procedures of Talking Money

CVs and covering letters are not accepted so please contact us for an application pack.

Closing date for applications is 11.59pm on 8th November 2020.

Interviews are planned for the week beginning 16th November 2020 and applicants should be available for a start date of 4th January 2021.

“Providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice”

Citizens Advice Southwark has a track record of delivering high-quality services from its offices in Peckham and Bermondsey and outreach locations across Southwark and South East London. We sort out problems together, for good, by providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice across all areas of social welfare law, and through using the experience of our clients to bring about positive change through research and campaigns. 

The post is suitable for an experienced Advice Session Supervisor (ASS) or as a development opportunity for a Certificated Generalist Advisor to train to become an ASS within six months of starting in post. If applying without existing experience of supervising volunteers and of undertaking the role of Advice Session Supervisor the starting salary will be Scale 6 - £28,413 whilst undertaking training.

The post holder will be required to work across all of our offices and outreaches in Southwark according to operational needs.

The role includes:

• Providing advice to the public and undertaking casework on social welfare law issues
• Supervising advice and gateway assessment sessions
• Supporting and supervising volunteers

To be successful you will need:

• Have achieved the Generalist Advisor Certificate and have experience of Generalist Advice Casework
• Either experience of supervising volunteers and undertaking the role of Advice Session Supervisor or be able to demonstrate the ability to undertake this role with training provided within 6 months of starting

• To understand, empathise with and be committed to the Service’s aims, principles and equal opportunities policies

Full-time or part-time (minimum 28 hours per week)

Closing date: 9.00 a.m. Monday 26th October 2020  

Interviews will take place on: Friday 30th October 2020

For further information and an application pack please visit our website.

This post is funded by Southwark Council. 

We offer a range of employee benefits, including generous annual leave, an employer matched pension contribution up to 10% salary, and training and development opportunities to continue your professional development.

Citizens Advice Southwark is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all applicants who meet the person specification irrespective of sex, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, age, or disability.

A Christian-based charity working with homeless families in the London Borough of Haringey seeks the following team member with experience of working in a multi-cultural setting and who could be considered a self-starter:

OUTREACH ADVICE WORKER

28 hour post (4 days per week)

NJC scale 24: £30,648 pro rata (includes OLW £1,976)

Purpose of the role: To provide wide-ranging general advice, support and advocacy to homeless families. 

Applicants must have significant experience of working with clients with complex needs.

The ideal person will have:

• Excellent working knowledge of housing law, welfare benefits, asylum and immigration and legislation relating to EEA Nationals. 
• Excellent communication and representation skills
• Experience of managing contracts and quality standards
• Experience of monitoring and service development 
• Ability to speak a community language is desirable
• OISC Level 1

You must be highly motivated and committed to providing a first class service and be able to organise your own workload to deliver advice and support to the highest standards.

Closing date for applications is 5pm Thursday 12th November 2020.

This post is subject to a DBS Check.

Previous applicants need not apply.

We are seeking a motivated and energetic person to work as part of a team of talented paid staff and volunteers, whose role will be central to the development of a high-quality service to (unpaid) Carers and their families. Whilst helping people to develop their own support networks, independent of statutory or public services, you will be assisting Carers and their families to maximise their income by encouraging full benefit checks, supporting Carers to complete benefit forms, and where and when necessary, assisting them to access individual grants and other funding streams.

Closing Date for applications:  We intend to keep applications open until Monday 30th November. However, we will close the applications early, if an appointable candidate applies before this date. 

Date of Interviews: We will be interviewing suitable candidates as applications are received with plans to appoint as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. 

Due to an increasing demand on our service, an exciting opportunity has arisen to work at the heart of our service.

You will be working in our office, supporting our team of volunteer & paid advisers to deliver high quality advice to the people of Watford.  

Hours: 14-21 hours per week ( One year fixed term).

The successful candidate will have:

• Recent and on-going experience of advice work.

• The ability to supervise, support and train volunteers.

• Good IT skills.

• The ability to work as part of a team.

• Good interpersonal skills to offer support to advisers.

• An understanding and commitment to the aims, principles and policies of the service.

Head of Information and Advice

Independent Age (Older People's charity)

£54,450-£57,525

London (flexible working)

Full-time, permanent

Independent Age is a national charity founded over 150 years ago with a clear mission to ensure that as we grow older, we all have the opportunity to live well with dignity, choice and purpose.

We are independent so others can be.

We achieve this by providing free impartial information and advice on the issues that matter most as we grow older, and work within communities to connect people, places and services to reduce isolation and loneliness.  We also act as a catalyst for positive policy change by challenging the underlying causes of discrimination and inequality. 

The charity has undergone a significant period of organisational change and our service-transformation will continue over the next few years so that we can deliver on our commitments to the people who depend on our services and the organisations who we partner with.

The Head of National Services is a new role and brings together our functions of information, advice and the digital delivery and is crucial in driving forward the change we need.

You will play a critical role in delivering a range of impactful national services for older people and transform our existing information and advice offer creating a brilliant service that reaches those who need us most.

Going forward, there will be a focus on the development of new, exciting and accessible digital and telephone services that reach a diverse range of people. Our aim is to create forums, groups and platforms that enable people to connect, offer advice and share their stories, fostering a sense of community and peer support.

You will lead and inspire your teams to provide person-centred services that deliver real impact through clear strategic direction, operational support and integrating services and projects across the organisation. In the coming years we will need to be an ever increasing focus on digital service offerings.

How to apply

Application is by way of a CV and a Supporting Statement.

Closing date: Monday 9th November

There is a two stage selection process.

First Interviews: W/B 16th November

Second interviews: Monday 23rd November

The format of the interviews will be determined by the COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions that apply at the time.