Benefits Advice Worker Jobs in Central London, Greater London

About Age UK Lambeth

We support older people in Lambeth to live enriched, productive and purposeful lives: challenging the stigma of ageing, reducing social isolation and ensuring they get the right support at the right time. We are kind, person-centred and outcome-focused - finding solutions that work by listening, being flexible and including older people in delivering services. 

What you’ll be doing? 

The Minorities Community Gambling Link Worker will deliver an awareness-raising and personalised, holistic support programme for minority community groups in Lambeth experiencing gambling and gambling addiction-related harm, or those impacted by the gambling of a close family member. You will:

• Deliver an outreach programme by regularly attending community events, visiting local groups/ spaces and organisations frequented by minority community groups in Lambeth.

• Develop partnerships and deliver outreach support to primary and secondary care partners and services across Lambeth.

• Speak with minority community groups in Lambeth, either 1-2-1 or presenting to groups, to discuss the type of support available and promote the work and support of the Primary Care Gambling Service and Age UK Lambeth services. 

• Provide holistic support to patients referred to the Primary Care Gambling Service, helping to address housing, debt, bereavement, loneliness, mental health and other related social issues, that are both a symptom and/or a cause of their gambling.

• Meet clients on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate and allowing clients the time and space to discuss ‘what matters to me’.

What you need to bring

• Able to write compelling communications to advocate for your clients. 

• Able to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders 

• Able to analyse data and create engaging reports 

What you’ll benefit from

• Generous pension provision - 7% employer contribution

• 26 days holiday a year rising to 31 days after 5 years

• A great staff culture with kindness at its heart

Citizens Advice Southwark has a track record of delivering high-quality services from its offices in Peckham and Walworth 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. 

This is an exciting opportunity for a Gateway Assessor or Advice Worker with a minimum of three months experience to be fast tracked through the full Citizens Advice Generalist Adviser training programme. Once having completed an initial four weeks training period you will be allocated to work on one of a range of different projects and services providing direct advice to the public and undertaking casework on social welfare law issues.

• You must be a trained Gateway Assessor with a minimum of three months experience.
• An understanding of the advice needs and issues of the local community in a diverse inner-city area.
• To understand, empathise with and be committed to the Service’s aims, principles and equal opportunities policies.

Closing date: 9.00 am Tuesday 7th May 2024

Interviews will take place on: Thursday 9th May 2024

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.

Registered charity no: 1070263

“Providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice”

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Advice Session Superviser or experienced Generalist Adviser with at least 2 years’ experience looking for a development opportunity to join our dynamic team.

The successful candidate will join our team of Supervisers and contribute to the support and development of our excellent staff and volunteers.

Together with our Senior Management Team and Quality Performance Manager, you will help to ensure that we continue to provide a high quality advice service within the London Borough of Bromley.

If you are a team player, committed to supporting others, and want a job that makes a difference in people’s lives this could be the job for you.

Closing date: Monday 6th May 2024 at Midnight

Interview date: Wednesday 8 th May 2024

Citizens Advice Bromley values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

At Independent Age, we believe that no older person should face financial hardship. That’s why, by 2027, our goal is to have improved the lives of one million older people. Our impact across policy, campaigning, information and advice, grant-making and partnerships improves lives by increasing the financial well-being of older people in financial hardship, enabling greater choice and independence in wider areas of life. We want to find talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

This role is an integral part of the day-to-day delivery of our Advice and Support Service, which has been re-shaped and is due to go live in the summer of 2024. The service is targeted at older people in or facing financial hardship, and provides information, advice and follow up support relating to a range of issues, including Welfare Benefits, Social Care and Housing. 

As a Adviser (Housing and Welfare Benefits) you will be responsible for providing specialist support to older people, their families and carers through our advice service with their enquiries relating to housing and welfare benefits as well as providing generalist level support on a range of issues through our duty service.

You should you should have in depth, specialist level knowledge of Housing or Welfare Benefits (ideally both) as they relate to older people, experience of working within an high volume advice setting and advice supervision framework such as the AQS framework.

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway. 

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9-day fortnight. We also are open to this role being worked on a part-time basis on a minimum of 28 hours per week. 

What it’s like to work at Independent Age:

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working.  

You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age by visiting our website.

Salary information: 

Hybrid working in London: £32,682 per year, increasing to £33,600 after 6 months and £34,493 after 12 months Pro-rata if part-time 

Homebased (with regular travel to London): £29,453 per year, increasing to £30,267 after 6 months and £31,054 after 12 months. Pro-rata if part-time. 

Application Process:

To apply, please sit our website to submit via CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by clicking the Apply Online button below (please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific requirements and need support to apply in an alternative format).

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Therefore, please do not include your name, photo, or information to indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement. Please do not omit dates of employment. Please ensure the title of any uploads does not contain your name. 

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A basic DBS Certificate will be required for this role.

Closing Date: 6th May

Interview Dates:

First Round: 15th or 16th May, Second Round: 22nd May 

We are currently looking for a part-time Social Prescriber / Link Worker
£8,215 pa (for 11 hours per week)

Fixed-term until March 2025-Possible extension

About Age UK Lambeth

We support older people in Lambeth to live enriched, productive and purposeful lives: challenging the stigma of ageing, reducing social isolation and ensuring they get the right support at the right time. We are kind, person-centred and outcome-focused - finding solutions that work by listening, being flexible and including older people in delivering services. 

What you’ll be doing? 

You will be part of the MYcommunity Linkworkers team. Your main role will be to:

• Provide personalised brief intervention and social prescribing support to individuals, their families and carers.

• Meet clients on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate and allowing clients the time and space to discuss ‘what matters to me.

• Provide person-centred support to enable clients to identify their health and wellbeing needs and goals. Co-produce support plans with clients to discuss what’s important, where they would like to be in the future and how we can support them to achieve this. 

• Manage and prioritise a caseload to ensure clients' needs, priorities and urgent support are met.

• MYcommunity Lambeth works in partnership with a large number of statutory and community services and organisations across the borough. You will link clients with appropriate services to meet their needs. It is vital to have a strong understanding of when it is necessary to refer someone back to health care professionals/ agencies when the client’s needs are beyond the scope of the MYcommunity team.

What you need to bring

• Able to write compelling communications to advocate for your clients. 

• Able to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders 

• Able to analyse data and create engaging reports 

What you’ll benefit from

• Generous pension provision - 7% employer contribution

• 26 days holiday a year rising to 31 days after 5 years

• A great staff culture with kindness at its heart

Job closing on 30th April 2024. Interviews will take place on 8th May 2024.

What we’re looking for:

• Do you have demonstrable experience (professionally or voluntary) supporting customers with substance misuse issues?
• Do you have experience supporting customers with mental health needs?
• Do you have knowledge or an understanding of housing support needs and benefits?

If so, this role is perfect for you!

Here at Peabody, we have an opportunity for a Outreach Support Worker on a Permanent basis in Brentwood, Epping & Harlow areas.

A bit about the role:

As a Outreach Support Worker, you will provide a service where planned support and crisis intervention is delivered to vulnerable people with low, medium and high support needs living in independent accommodation with the aim of them maintaining their home.

In conjunction with colleagues and Senior Managers, you will be responsible for the effective operation of the Support Service, in line with its policies and procedures, including encouraging a co-operative and supportive environment within the Service, listening to customers’ views and developing new services to meet these needs.

Some of the key results for the role include: 

• To provide pre tenancy guidance and ongoing support to customers on all tenancy matters, including assistance to furnish and move into properties.
• To enable customers to abide by their tenancy agreements, giving advice and assistance on dealing with police and courts where this relates to housing matters
• To provide basic Welfare Benefits advice, assisting customers in claiming all benefit entitlements and assisting with accessing specialist support. 
• To work with customers to identify the skills required to manage their own tenancy, including assistance to deal with difficult situations.

This role will require an Enhanced DBS check, a UK driver’s licence and access to a vehicle.

A bit about us: 

It started over 160 years ago with one man’s desire to improve the lives of poverty-stricken Londoners.

Today, we have 107,000 homes and 220,000 residents across London and the Home Counties and around 20,000 care and support customers. But the desire remains the same – to create homes and communities where people can flourish. 

We work with councils and communities to promote economic inclusion, tackle inequality and poverty, and prioritise wellbeing.

Here just a few of the benefits for working at Peabody:

• Up to 25 days’ annual holiday plus bank holidays  
• Flexible benefits scheme, including options for Healthcare, Dental care, Critical illness cover, vouchers, technology scheme and access to a discount portal
• 4 x Life Assurance
• Competitive salaries that are benchmarked regularly against current market rates  
• Professional development by access to "paid for" apprenticeship programs and qualifications
• Two additional paid volunteering days each year  
• Family friendly policies
• Up to 10% pension contribution matched 1:1

Are you ready to apply? 

Closing Date: 6 May 2024

Interview dates - Week commencing 13th May.

PLEASE NOTE: As an employer, Peabody does not provide sponsorship as a licenced UK employer.

To be considered for the position of Outreach Support Worker, please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button and submit both your CV and a bit about why we should consider you for the role.  

Peabody reserves the right to close this advert before the advertised closing date, depending on the number of applications received.

Contract type Permanent

Weekly hours Monday - Friday 9-5

Ruils is a user-led charity that supports disabled adults and people with long-term health and/or mental health conditions to live independently, be part of their community and live life to the full. We provide information, advice, practical support, befriending and accessible activities to our clients and families.

We are working with the SWL ICB and local GPs to deliver an exciting new service within Hampton North. The Community Health and Wellbeing Worker will speak to households about health and wellbeing, alongside offering support to connect people to services and activities in their local community. The role aims to empower people to take control of their lives.

It involves working with people who may be experiencing a number of issues, so you will need outstanding listening and communication skills, empathy and enthusiasm. You will need excellent organisational skills, be adept at seeking out information for relevant community services and have the tenacity to help people achieve sustainable improvements in their wellbeing.

Main duties include:

• Managing a caseload of households, providing monthly home visits and providing a continuous point of contact for all members of the household.
• Working with the client to assess their needs, create personalised action plans and locate support within the community.
• Supporting clients to prioritise and address practical, health, social and emotional issues in their lives which affect their wellbeing.
• Engaging with community organisations and specialist services that provide support to ease the pathway for your clients.
• Building and maintaining relationships with primary care networks, GPs, health care professionals and services across the borough.

What we can offer you:

• A vibrant and interesting work environment – every day is different.
• An experienced and supportive leadership team.
• Training and development opportunities.
• Flexible working.
• Kind and caring colleagues who work as a team.
• A cycle-to-work scheme.
• An employee assistance programme (EAP).

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme; we will guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. Please state in a cover letter if you wish us to consider you for this guaranteed interview scheme.

To apply, please email Viv Sage, HR Consultant, via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9th May 2024

Interview date: w/c 13th May 2024

Please note, due to the nature of the service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female and the post is therefore exempt from the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 in terms of Schedule 9, Part 1, and Paragraph 1 of the Act.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We're looking for a Children and Family Worker to join the team in our West London Women's refuge. The service is a refuge accommodation for women and children surviving domestic abuse many of whom are living with trauma. we are looking for someone who really cares about the rights of women and their children.

As a Children and Family worker, you will support in providing a much needed safe and nurturing environment for children and their mother's, providing pathways, support and appropriate interventions to enable resettlement. You will support various teams to co-produce a tailored support plan which is altered to the individual's needs through a recovery model providing trauma informed and enabling environments to achieve this. 

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week, working on a rota which is over 7 days including evenings. You will be based on site within the service.

ABOUT YOU

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate compassion, empathy, empowerment and support to our residents in a trauma informed approach, able to communicate effectively with others and build purposeful relationships. You will be comfortable with the environment in which you will be working, with a passion to support women and their families rebuild confidents, relationships, and work towards their personal goals. You will be comfortable with lone and group working and have a passion to provide high quality care and support to others.

Benefits, including Non-Contractual Perks

• 25 days annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Medicash includes discount gym memberships, routine optometry care, dental treatments, and physiotherapy treatments
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards

If you have the passion, creativity, and tenacity to make a real difference in people's lives, challenge stigma and make our communities safer, we would love to hear from you!

OVERVIEW OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Children and Family Relationships

• Provide parenting advice to support mothers and their families.
• Provide stimulating play opportunities to encourage children from all backgrounds to develop and express themselves, as well as support the children with their general learning, homework, and literacy.
• Support with early learning development, supporting mothers through advice and activity packs which aid their children’s learning and development.
• Deliver family sessions to support contract orders by social services and other organisations, as well as to help rebuild relationships, life skills, confidence, reliance, self-esteem and manage trauma.
• Offer age-appropriate sessions to children to provide a safe, encouraging, and development led environment which provides meaningful and memorable experiences.
• Work with residents and their keyworkers to understand complex needs to help build children’s and their families lives.

Support Working

• Build and sustain trusting and respectful relationships with our residents, including children.
• Create a safe, stable, psychologically informed environment which is nurturing to children and families.
• Provide support for residents, contributing to the development of support plans, risk assessments, reviews, regular support sessions and other personal development activities.
• Support with reducing barriers to reintegrating into communities, and re-developing confidence, skills, and coping mechanisms to support those with previous trauma.
• Develop and sustain therapeutic relationships with our residents, providing practical and emotional support with a trauma informed approach to ensure they are always treated with respect and dignity. Deal with sensitive information in a professional manner.

Additional Responsibilities

• Attend appointments as and when required in support of residents.
• Undertake shift lead responsibilities on rotation, taking responsibility for ensuring day-to-day support delivery is effective, with staff carrying out their designated responsibilities, alongside ensuring resident and service-specific follow up actions are completed.
• Housing Management responsibilities, ensure residents and staff are safe, and the surroundings are kept clean and well maintained.

Other responsibilities than those described above may be required to be undertaken from time to time and will be expected to be performed to as long as it is within the capability and level of the position. 

KEY CRITERIA

What we are looking for:

• Understanding and/or experience of working with people of complex backgrounds
• Previous experience and/or in-depth knowledge about working with children who have experienced trauma
• IT Proficiency, ability to learn new software programs, basic Microsoft experience
• Understanding of the trauma children and families may go through due to domestic violence and other previous experiences
• Understanding of the social needs and support required for people with multiple and complex needs
• Understanding and/or practical knowledge of the social and societal marginalisation that can be attached to people with various challenging backgrounds, mental health, addiction, exploitation, homelessness, and previous convictions

What we would like, but not essential:

• Previous experience creating co-produced support plans, key working, and care planning, providing appropriate interventions for service users
• Previous experience providing housing support and practical assistance within a residential support role
• Appropriate Professional Qualification in: Social Care, Early years Education, Certificate in Childcare or other relevant
• Understanding and/or practical application of key legislation regarding social care, housing, criminal justice, and mental health
• Ability to Recognise signs of deteriorating mental health and initiate appropriate interventions to prevent crisis

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

WORKING FOR US

ABOUT US

Social Interest Group (SIG) believes good care and support improve lives. Our values of ambition, empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity drive everything we do. Our mission is to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings (including people's own homes), probation settings, and hospitals awaiting discharge. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, and Kent. We believe in the power of well-planned, well-managed services to make a difference. We work with high standards and external and internal regulatory frameworks.

Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change

Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Our Values

Ambition – Eager to succeed and to accomplish as much as possible for our people

Empowerment – Giving staff and the people we support the tools, training, and information they need to achieve their potential

Transparency – Upfront and visible about our actions and open to scrutiny from stakeholders, service users, and staff

Inclusivity – Listening to, understanding, and including all our stakeholders to ensure we make a difference and get things right

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

Join the team at Age UK Waltham Forest’s to deliver an exciting Digital Champion Programme Project including assisting to identify older people who would benefit from support to get online and use technology. You'll play an active role in promoting digital inclusion services across the borough and directly support older people with their digital skills development, in person and remotely.

Location: Haringey

Salary: Salary band  2.1 (Direct)

£27,582.75 - £29,174.06 per anuum ,

£11,033.10 -£11,669.62 pro rata  at 15 hours per week

(Please note, successful candidates are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 15 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term Contract for 2.5 years

Closing Date: 8th May 2024 at 12 noon

Virtual Interview Date: 17th May 2024

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as a Wellbeing & Activities worker at Solace Women's Aid.

We exist to end the harm done through gender-based violence. Our aim is to work to prevent violence and abuse, as well as providing services to meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives, free from abuse.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Ella House is an Accomodation Service that provides support to women who have experience Rough Sleeping, Trauma and Multiple Disadvantage.  The aim of the project is to provide support to women for around 18 months to build skills to be able to live independently. 

The service is a 24 hour service that runs on a shift pattern over the week and has a concierge service covering nights.  Staff will provide holistic support to service users looking at all their needs and putting a robust plan in place.

About the Role

The Activities and Wellbeing worker will provide both 121 and group sessions. Speaking with women to understand their needs and wants and developing appropriate session plans.  These can be wellbeing activities, skills based  or creative depending on what the women require.  There will be a small budget to accommodate activities.

About You

The ideal candidate will be passionate about working with vulnerable people from a strengths based approach.  An understanding of Trauma and how to work in psychologiacally informed environments is essential in this role.  Someone who is motivated and creative and able to build relationships with women and get them to engage in a variety of activities.

We understand that you may not have all the knowledge, experience, and skills mentioned in the Job Profile Document. However, your interpersonal skills, passion to have a positive impact, commitment to our purpose, and ability to learn quickly and collaborate effectively will be equally important. If you wish to learn more about the role or if you are unsure about whether to apply, we encourage you to contact our recruitment team/

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

Please submit your CV and Supporting Statement through the recruitment portal. When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work. If you require any support to apply for this role, please email us.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

Location: Bexley

Salary: (Salary Band 2.1/ 2.2)

Qualified applicants (with an accredited VAWG /domestic abuse qualification): £29,174.06 - £31,826.25 per annum.

Unqualified applicants £27,582.75 – £29,174.06 per annum.  In house training to attain qualified band is available after successful completion of probation period.

(Please note successful applicants are usually appointed at bottom of relevant band).

Hours: 37.5 Hours per Week

Contract: Fixed term contract until September 2024

Closing Date: 6th May at 12 noon

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if the position is filled.

Virtual Interview Date: 13th May 2024

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as Refuge Case Workers at Solace Women's Aid.

We exist to end the harm done through gender-based violence. Our aim is to work to prevent violence and abuse, as well as providing services to meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives, free from abuse.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Our refuges provide emergency accommodation to women and children fleeing domestic abuse and sexual violence, last year nearly 1000 women and children found a safe place to stay in one of our refuges.  Refuge Case workers provide emotional and practical support this can include housing support, legal options, reporting to the police, benefits, financial matters and accessing therapeutic support services.

About the Role

You will be a keyworker for a caseload of (on average 6-10 women) living in or moving on from the refuge.  You will be with them from the start of their journey to the end, welcoming and helping them settle when they arrive to when they are ready to move on to their next home.  This includes carrying out risk and needs assessments and developing support plans.  Your work with service users will ensure their practical needs as well as emotional needs are taken care of. You also provide a vital role in keeping the service a safe and secure environment for the women and children who now call the refuge home. It is a face paced, target driven role.

About You

Key to this role is experience of working/volunteering with anyone who has experienced any form of social disadvantage.  A knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on women and their children is important as well as an ability to build supportive and empowering relationships.  You must be open and willing to learn new skills which will build on your working practice with service users to co-develop and deliver support planning, risk assessment & linking in with other agencies where needed. 

Knowledge and experience of risk assessing, case management and legal remedies, housing and welfare benefits is ideal however not required as we are confident that we can train around these.

As women we know that we don’t always apply for jobs unless we meet all of the criteria. If this applies to you, we ask that you consider using the supporting statement to show us how you believe your experience and skills will enable you to do the role, and how you think we might support you to develop in the role.

We understand that you may not have all the knowledge, experience, and skills mentioned in the Job Profile Document. However, your interpersonal skills, passion to have a positive impact, commitment to our purpose, and ability to learn quickly and collaborate effectively will be equally important. If you wish to learn more about the role or if you are unsure about whether to apply, we encourage you to contact our recruitment team.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

Please submit your CV and Supporting Statement through the recruitment portal. When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work. If you require any support to apply for this role, please email us.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

* Internally the job title will be Crisis Recovery Worker

You’re caring, flexible and creative, thrive under pressure, know how to connect with people at all levels and really enjoy helping others to live as independently as possible. You’d also like to be part of an organisation that counts on the professionalism, insight, expertise, and passion of its staff to inspire individual recovery for the people they work with. Welcome to Richmond Fellowship as a Recovery Worker.

Crisis House is a community-based crisis service, working to a recovery model with the aim to reduce the amount of A&E and Hospital admissions through evidence-based CBT interventions. We provide a range of intervention support and are partnered with the NHS, working alongside the Home Treatment Team who offer clinical governance. Additionally, we offer a range of services for people with mental ill health to become more connected to their local community, building on their social engagement. We signpost to local services and host awareness days that truly reflect the community we support to break down stigma and discrimination. Offering support 24/7 with a staffed service to our residents aged 18 and upwards.

We know that recovery can look and feel very different to every one of us. But we also know that if we provide the right support, at the right time, we can inspire recovery nationwide and that recovery is possible for everyone. That’s where you come in. Responsible for helping and inspiring the people who use our services to maintain their independence in the community, we’ll rely on you to work with them to come up with a personal support plan that will see them achieve their goals and aspirations. Whether it’s developing their domestic and finance management skills or accessing work, leisure, or educational opportunities, one thing’s for sure ‐ you will have every chance to shine.

No relevant experience is required as full training will be provided, although candidates with an understanding of mental health issues and/or lived experience would be welcomed. More important is your caring and compassionate nature and empathy and enthusiasm for helping others. Whatever your background, you’ll need to be happy to work both independently and within a team and willing to be part of a weekly rota system and available for on call duties.

In return for your skills and enthusiasm, this role comes with some great benefits and excellent training and development opportunities.

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37.5 hours per week on shift patterns.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or who are from a BAME background.

To apply, please visit our website and send a CV and covering letter explaining why you feel you are right for the role.

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted.

Richmond Fellowship is part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. From 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship will be merging with the mental health charity Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. In October 2024, Humankind will then be renamed to reflect the new, bigger and better organisation.

The Margins Project, Union Chapel’s Frontline charity, work with people who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness and helps address pertinent social justice issues these communities face.

The charity runs three integrated programmes:

• a community drop-in programme providing access to nutritious hot meals, and limited access to showers & laundry services.

• advice and engagement programme providing one-to-one as well as group advice service on benefits and housing, and onward referrals to pertinent services.

• support employment programme offers a paid catering training to 10 people who have had experience of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill-health, and or imprisonment.

Our range of services are designed to help guests (service users) at varying stages, from having no roof over their head to getting back into employment.

This role offers an opportunity for an experienced adviser to help shape and evolve Margins services. Experiences on the ground at the drop-in programme inform the charity’s strategic direction. The role will involve expanding our partner network to link into pertinent statutory and other charitable organisations that provide services that will help our guests with their housing, substance misuse, recidivism, and mental health challenges.

We work closely with people on an individual case work basis to get guests off the streets, into hostels or temporary accommodation where possible, and work with private and social landlords on a range of issues. We support and represent the people we work with on the phone and in person, including at the council, the doctors, the job centre, and benefits tribunals.

Our drop-ins run on Mondays and Wednesdays 11:00am to 1:00pm where attendance is currently from 65 to 75 guests. The advice and engagement worker works more intensively with smaller numbers of up to 20. The demand for more follow up work and advocacy support has been increasing over the last two years and this in-house advice worker is critical for this demand.

Working collaboratively with the Drop-in Community worker (currently vacant), the head chef, and a small group of dedicated volunteers, you will be responsible for the support of a caseload of guests, some with complex needs, and will undertake key work responsibilities including registering the guests, identifying their housing, benefit and personal needs and conducting all necessary follow ups including occasional advocacy support, where deemed necessary.

Job Title: ADVICE AND ENGAGEMENT WORKER

Responsible to: Head of Margins

Location: Margins Offices at Union Chapel, Islington, London

Salary: £32,500 - £35,000

Terms: Full time 37.5 hours per week with 1 hour unpaid for lunch.

Three-month probation, two months’ notice.

23 days annual leave + bank holidays. Workplace pension scheme (NEST)

Start date: May 2024

Purpose of Job:

• To advise and assist guests (service users) with benefit claims and related issues, e.g., Housing Benefit, DLA, PIP, Income Support, ESA, Universal Credit, and other benefits. In particular, assisting them to claim Housing Benefit and UC to reduce risk of rent arrears.

• To develop significant contact and liaison with comparable housing and benefits advice organisations.

• To encourage guests engage with Margins activities, and where practicable, with the wider Union Chapel activities.

• To develop, facilitate and deliver group advice workshops/training programmes and open discussions forums to engage guests who historically do not engage with Union Chapel.

• To Refer Margins guests to relevant internal and external services.

• In liaison with the head of Margins and the chef to refer potential candidates to Margins’ Supported Employment Programme.

The Advice and Engagement Worker will have an active role in identifying and engaging guests as well as referring potential candidates to the Supported Employment Programme, a programme anticipated to expand beyond its current services in Margins catering.

Responsible For:

• Working with caseload of guests

• With the support of drop-in services community worker (currently vacant) to ensure the smooth running of the drop-in services

• Identifying opportunities to improve services both at a project and organisational level.

• Assist the Head of Margins in ensuring that the Margins Project remains GDPR compliant.

• Represent the organisation effectively internally and externally.

• Working in partnership with statutory and other charities to deliver co-ordinated support to guests.

• Identify relevant training opportunities in capacity building.

• Initial liaison with and acting as the first referral contact for the Supported Employment Programme

Key Duties:

• To encourage and assist guests achieve the maximum income from benefits to which they are entitled to, and to refer to relevant support services such as mental health, social services, community support.

• To advise guests on basic budgeting and where applicable to refer to Tenancy Support Officers or outside agencies for more complex help.

• To liaise closely with local authorities, social, and private landlords to try to achieve the best outcome for our guests.

• To identify if the guest is accessioning the right benefit that will support their long-term wellbeing.

• To support newly arrived refugees with their housing and benefit advice needs.

• To actively assist guests with formal appeals against Local Authority, DWP and HMRC decisions regarding benefit entitlement. Representing at Appeal Tribunals.

• To signpost guests to resources that can assist them in finding work.

• When needed, signposting guests to specialist providers in mental health or drug and alcohol support services.

• To Support guests on paying their rent, including providing advice on benefits and debt management.

• To Address breaches of occupancy agreements and develop strategies that would prevent and avoid eviction.

• To assist guests with backdated claims for Benefit by supporting their applications through to completion.

• To ensure all guests’ files are up-to-date and that data is captured on our management system.

• To provide written reports and statistics as and when requested.

• To attend supervision, training, and meetings as and when required.

• To provide advocacy support to guests as and when required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

• Good knowledge of the benefits system, including Universal Credit.

• Experience of working with homeless and marginalised people and understanding of the issues that face them.

• Experience of working or collaborating with people with mental health issues.

• Experience of working with refugees and their needs.

• Ability to manage challenging behaviours.

• Embrace a strength-based approach.

• A clear understanding of professional boundaries.

• A knowledge of the best practice in Safeguarding Adult procedures.

• Excellent written and oral communication skill.

• Ability to work proactively as part of a team.

• Ability to plan, manage and action follow-ups on time and manage and contain workload.

• Proficient in IT skills and competence in Microsoft Office applications.

• Committed to personal and professional development through ongoing training.

Desirable:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience of providing advice to vulnerable groups

• Experience of delivering provision for the benefit of vulnerable backgrounds

Equal Opportunities:

• Ensure consistent and effective implementation of Union Chapel Equal Opportunities & Diversity policy and procedures.

• Positively promote an environment which respects and values the diversity of staff, volunteers, and Guests.

This is a guide to the nature of the work required of the Advice and Engagement Worker. It is therefore not comprehensive or restrictive and may be reviewed with the postholder and the line manager from time to time. The post holder may undertake any other reasonable duties within the capabilities and scope of the post as specified by their line manager. In such circumstances appropriate training will be provided.

How to apply

Please apply with your CV and a support statement, both no more than two pages, outlining your skills and experiences to meet the criteria of the role, why you want to work for Union Chapel Project and your availability to start with “Advice and Engagement Worker” in the subject line. Please also complete our Equal Opportunities Form.

Closing date: Tuesday 30 April 2024, 8am

Interviews will take place w/c 13 May 2024

At Independent Age, we believe that no older person should face financial hardship. That’s why, by 2027, our goal is to have improved the lives of one million older people. Our impact across policy, campaigning, information and advice, grant-making and partnerships improves lives by increasing the financial well-being of older people in financial hardship, enabling greater choice and independence in wider areas of life. We want to find talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

This role is an integral part of the day-to-day delivery of our Advice and Support Service, which has been re-shaped and is due to go live in the summer of 2024. The service is targeted at older people in or facing financial hardship, and provides information, advice and follow up support relating to a range of issues, including Welfare Benefits, Social Care and Housing. 

As an Adviser (Health Social Care and Housing) you will be responsible for providing specialist support to older people, their families and carers through our advice service with their housing and social care enquiries as well as providing generalist level support on a range of issues through our duty service. 

 You should have in depth, specialist level knowledge of Health and Social Care or Housing (ideally both) as they relate to older people, experience of working within a high volume advice setting and advice supervision framework such as the AQS framework

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway. 

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9-day fortnight. We also are open to this role being worked on a part-time basis on a minimum of 28 hours per week.

What it’s like to work at Independent Age:

 We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. 

You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age by visiting our website.

Salary information:

Hybrid working in London: £32,682 per year, increasing to £33,600 after 6 months and £34,493 after 12 months Pro-rata if part-time

Homebased (with regular travel to London): £29,453 per year, increasing to £30,267 after 6 months and £31,054 after 12 months. Pro-rata if part-time. 

Application Process:

To apply, please visit our website to submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification (please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific requirements and need support to apply in an alternative format).

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Therefore, please do not include your name, photo, or information to indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement. Please do not omit dates of employment. Please ensure the title of any uploads does not contain your name. 

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A basic DBS Certificate will be required for this role.

Closing Date: 6th May

Interview Dates: 

First Round: 15th or 16th or, Second Round: 21st May