Advice worker jobs

Responsible to: Operations Manager 

Role purpose: To supports people in the local community through the provision of holistic Money, Debt and Budgeting Advice 

Salary Scale:2.1 – 2.4.  £27,495 - £29,400 FTE. P/T hours will be considered

Key work areas and tasks 

Provision of advice and casework 

• Provide money advice and casework covering the full range of debt advice topics including priority and non-priority debt and money advice issues 

• Identify urgent situations and ensure any possible action is taken immediately 

• Assist clients with related issues integral to their debt case such as welfare benefits advice, housing, other financial matters and income maximisation (incorporates applications for grants and other welfare schemes) 

• Work with the client to draw up an agreed financial statement incorporating the Standard Financial Statement 

• Enable clients to identify and explore various options they may have in addressing their situation explaining the consequences and limitations of each option 

• Assist clients in the calculation of offers to priority and non-priority creditors with reference to their Financial Statement.  

• Where appropriate undertake negotiations with clients’ creditors and other relevant bodies and/or act for the client by drafting or writing letters and telephoning and negotiating with third parties as necessary 

• Prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies and courts as required including DRO, Breathing Space and bankruptcy applications 

• Maintain timely, accurate and detailed case records and adhere to administration systems 

• Maintain statistical information and other required documents and undertake client feedback surveys and facilitate client evaluation 

• Manage an agreed caseload of debt and money advice cases 

• Ensure all work casework conforms to Operational Policy including meeting the requirements of the Advice Quality Standard, FCA and MAPS 

• Provide basic welfare benefits advice to clients, to include assessing eligibility for benefits, better-off calculations and other income maximisation advice 

• Assist clients with other problems, referring to other advisers and/or agencies as appropriate 

• Provide representation for clients at county or magistrates courts when appropriate 

• Provide support, guidance and supervision to the money advice trainee caseworker/caseworker’s assistant and other less experienced staff and volunteers 

Research and Campaigns (social policy work) 

• Assist with social policy work by providing information about clients' circumstances through the appropriate channel.

• Research and campaigns, monitoring and relationship building.  

• Assist with the development and implementation, in conjunction with the Operations Manager and in consultation with other charity workers, the Charity’s Research and Campaigns Plan.  

• Assist with research and campaigns work by providing information about clients' circumstances through the appropriate channel.   

Administration 

• Maintain and monitor effective and efficient administrative systems.

• Monitor health and safety policy with regard to staff, equipment and premises within statutory requirements.

• Ensure complaints are brought to the Manager’s attention as soon as is practicable. 

Training and Development 

• Identify and implement own training and development needs (in consultation with the Operations Manager).   

• Identify the training needs of charity workers through support and supervision and contribute towards the charity’s training and development plans. 

• Contribute to organising training activities in conjunction, as appropriate, with the Operations Manager. 

Other Duties and Responsibilities 

• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.   

• Abide by data security and information assurance guidelines.  

• Ensure that work undertaken reflects and supports the Citizens Advice service’s equality and diversity strategy   

• Any other relevant tasks or duties required to ensure the effective running of the charity and our services. 

• To contribute to the induction and on-going training of charity workers within the team.  

Person specification  

Essential criteria 

• Qualified and competent money advice and debt caseworker holding the relevant accredited quality standard and other competencies set down by Advice Quality Standard, Money and Pension Service, FCA and/or Institute of Money Advisers 

• Demonstrable and thorough understanding of the application of the debt process in a busy advice organisation and of doing so in a client- centred and efficient way including through working on a Money Advice Service or MAPS funded programme 

• A positive approach to quality of advice audit (including peer review and external audit) and a commitment to constructive feedback as part of the quality assurance and learning process (as a recipient and 

• as a supervisor) 

• The ability to sift through large amounts of information and gather essential details during a client interview 

• Excellent negotiation skills with experience of conducting negotiations with a range of agencies and creditors 

• Proven ability to plan and prioritise your workload, meet deadlines and work calmly and with focus within a busy and fast paced environment 

• Experience of using a casework recording and quality assurance system and IT platforms 

• Experience of providing effective guidance and support to peers and junior colleagues and the ability to plan and co-ordinate the workload of others 

• Experience of working effectively within a team including paid and volunteer staff 

• Excellent communication skills (spoken and written) and the ability to develop and maintain positive, professional, working relationships with clients, funders, stakeholders, colleagues, volunteers, creditors and other agencies 

• Proven IT skills including very confident and competent use of Word, Excel, databases, cloud-based systems etc to maintain effective records, administrative and reporting systems 

• A commitment to travelling to various locations as required 

• Understanding of the issues affecting society and their implications for clients and service provision 

• Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the CA service and its equal opportunities policies 

Desirable criteria 

•   Hold a current registration as a DRO intermediary 

• Experience of working within a Citizens Advice charity   

• Experience of working with the public in an advisory capacity  

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

The Senior Advice Worker – SEND will be the specialist and subject expert in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and kinship care. You’ll provide 1:1 advice directly to kinship carers on all issues that impact on their caring role.

You will often be supporting kinship carers in high crisis. It will be part of your job to calm a situation quickly and support people to communicate what they need so you can provide personalised in-depth advice.

You’ll provide advice by phone, video calls and email, but you’ll also need to be able to respond to text, WhatsApp and online chat and other channels as we develop the service.

You’ll specialise in providing advice and information to enable kinship carers to support children with SEND needs, including speech, language and communication difficulties, social, emotional and mental health challenges, specific learning difficulties, and autism.

This will include advice and casework to support kinship carers to navigate the education system, understand Education, Health and Care Plan processes and access support from schools, children’s services and CAMHS.

As subject expert, you’ll provide expert input to the development of written information and resources and the development and delivery of specialist training for kinship carers.

Key responsibilities include:

• Respond to enquiries through a range of incoming channels. This includes taking calls on our advice line, as well as responding to enquiries submitted through our website, via internal referral or other channels.
• Provide high quality advice and information to kinship carers on their rights, entitlements and responsibilities in relation to welfare benefits, local authority allowances, support from children’s services, relevant legal orders, sources of educational, parenting and legal support and other issues that may be required.
• Assess vulnerability and risk to prioritise and respond to kinship carers’ issues in a timely manner.
• Research individual cases and identify possible courses of action.
• Address all safeguarding concerns in line with policy.
• Facilitate access to our advice service for people with diverse needs, e.g. by using appropriate translation services or assistive technology.
• Adapt communication style to respond appropriately to differing needs.
• Provide advice in a format that is manageable and understandable for the individual kinship carer.
• Apply agreed Kinship models of practice as appropriate, e.g. taking a trauma-informed approach.
• Provide specialist advice and casework on SEND-related issues. This may involve:
  • providing additional advice or support to enable a client to take action
  • undertaking follow-up action on behalf of the client to move the case on, e.g. negotiating with third parties
  • taking on complex casework to pursue significant outcomes for the client or strategic impact for all kinship carers

• Proactively update colleagues across Kinship on relevant updates in the SEND landscape, providing guidance to teams.

• Work closely with training colleagues to develop, create and occasionally lead training sessions to support kinship carers to navigate the SEND system.

Essential requirements include:

• Minimum of 2 years’ recent experience of delivering in-depth advice work on complex social welfare legal issues (e.g. benefits, housing, education or social care) to members of the public.

• Experience of giving both telephone and written advice.

• Either significant knowledge of and expertise in the SEND system and SEND-related issues, with the ability to develop expertise in kinship care advice; or, Significant knowledge of and expertise in kinship care advice, with substantial knowledge of SEND-related advice issues and the ability to become an expert in SEND advice for kinship carers.

• A demonstrable knowledge of relevant sources of advice and information. 

• Knowledge and evidence of good understanding of safeguarding issues and good practice.

• Proven understanding of the importance of confidentiality and a non-judgmental approach.

• Experience and confidence in development of resources

• Experience of effective management and supervision of staff, projects and/or services.

• Experience using Case Management Systems and/or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms.

What we offer you:

• Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
• ​30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
• Charity Worker Discounts.

Key dates:

• Application deadline: Monday 20 April 2026, 12pm
• First interview: w/c 4 May 2026 (online)
• Second interview: w/c 11 May 2026 (if required)

How to apply:

Please apply for the role of Senior Advice Worker - SEND by sending a CV and answering the questions below. The deadline is 12pm on Monday 20 April 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Please ensure you have read the application timelines.

Please provide a cover letter answering the following 4 questions (up to 250 words per answer):

1. Give an overview of how your experience, qualifications and training equip you for the role of Senior Advice Worker - SEND.
2. Explain why you want to work for Kinship.
3. What are the key skills and personal attributes that you would bring to the role?
4. What do you see as the most significant advice issues confronting kinship families navigating the SEND system?

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work.   We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

The Helpline is open 7 days per week with a rolling rota consisting of shifts from 9am to 5pm and 3pm to 11pm, including weekends. Please note that this is an on-site role at the specified location. Remote working is not available for this position.

We are a leading provider of mental health services in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

As a Helpline Worker, you will be providing support for those experiencing mental health difficulties through Birmingham Mind’s helpline service. The helpline supports people living in the Birmingham and Solihull area.

The support offered will include (but is not exclusive to), receiving calls, emails and webchat from people who may be experiencing crisis, people looking for more general assistance and information about services, carers looking for advice and services, and other community support services. You will provide appropriate referrals and signposting information about Birmingham Mind services and external partner agencies.

You will be working in a community focused way to ensure that statutory and local organisations are aware of the provision, ensuring that you retain close and effective links with them as well as keeping up to date with any pertinent changes to local provision.

The helpline is a 7 day a week service open 9am -11pm. Under the direction of the service manager, you will support the running of the service in line with contractual requirements, Birmingham Minds Vision and Values, its operating Policy and Procedures, and any relevant legal requirements.

You will have at least 6 months’ experience in the mental health field, with experience of supporting people to be in control of their lives. You will also be able to demonstrate the ability to work with strong values and work within a recovery approach. Please see the Job Description for full details required for this role. If you feel that you meet the requirements of this position, we would like to hear from you.

Benefits include an attractive defined contribution pension scheme, PayCare which offers employees affordable cover for a range of healthcare treatments, an Employee Assistance Programme which includes free counselling and a comprehensive training programme.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK for a minimum of 12 months. We are not a registered sponsor and therefore are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Our people are key to the success of the organisation, and we are recognised as both a Mindful Employer as well as achieving Gold standard success in Investors in People. We welcome applications from people who have experienced mental health difficulties.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 21st April 2026

Interviews will take place on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th May 2026