Debt advisor jobs in dudley, west midlands

Role profile

Job Title: Advice Services Manager

Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer

Immediate reports: Welfare Benefits Team Lead, Training Lead, Supervision Lead, Debt

Caseworkers, Energy Advisor.

Hours: Full time – 36 hours

Salary:  £26,994 – £28,922 dependent on experience

Main Purpose of Job

· To be responsible for the delivery of all aspects of our advice services via telephone, email/web, in person and at outreach venues.

· To line manage team leads, debt caseworkers and the energy adviser and support them in achieving high standards of accessible advice services.

· To oversee the use of our volunteer adviser resources to cover each of our advice channels in the most effective way.

· To liaise with the training lead to ensure we have sufficient, well trained volunteer advice resources to deliver our service.

· To ensure cover for Advice Session Supervisors when needed

· To provide training, guidance and support on client records, telephone channel and quality standards

· To design and implement improvements to our advice processes based on best practice, leading and gaining buy-in from team members as necessary.

· To be overall responsible for the quality of our advice in line with our Quality of Advice framework and IFR’s to drive the organisation towards excellence in quality.

· To be responsible for Debt technical supervision and carry out continuous professional development activities and duties within the organisation.

· In maintaining quality, you will need to inspire and motivate your team and provide focussed individual support where necessary to achieve internal and external quality and KPI standards

· To drive a culture of continuous workforce development where a rigorous but supportive approach is adopted

· You will identify the best quality tools and execute investigations/analysis to improve workforce competency and quality across the organisation, and support our brand reputation

· Monitor and track performance progress of the service and of individuals against targets, achievement of deadlines and support staff as appropriate

· To undertake regular team meetings in line with the organisation’s quality expectations

· To undertake regular formal supervisions and review meetings

· Create a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are well managed, dignity at work is upheld and staff can do their best

· Encourage good teamwork and lines of communication between all staff and volunteers

· Ensure the core contracts are appropriately staffed at all times to achieve the expected standards and targets.

Debt Advice giving

· Interview clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills in order to allow clients to explain their problem(s) and empower them to set their own priorities.

· Use appropriate resources to find, interpret and communicate the relevant information to clients.

· Research and explore options and implications so that clients can make informed decisions.

· Act for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters and telephoning.

· Negotiate with third parties such as statutory and non-statutory bodies as appropriate.

· Ensure that all work conforms to the organisation’s office manual and the Advice Quality standard / other funding requirements, as appropriate.

· Ensure that work reflects and supports the Citizens Advice service’s equality and diversity strategy.

· Maintain detailed case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.

· Take ownership for monitoring own workload e.g. proactively reviewing progress on current cases, outcome of completed cases and quality control.

· Be a DRO approved intermediary.

Research and Campaigns

· To ensure the advice team contribute to the development of social policy in line with our business plan

· To assist with social policy work as required by the organisation

Management duties

· You will be accountable and responsible for delivering the service delivery related objectives and outcomes from the organisation’s Business Plan and service-related KPIs.

· Prepare and issue reports as required for the CEO, funders and partners, attending meetings as required to present findings and recommendations 

Learning and professional development  

· Keep up to date with legislation relevant to the role, trends, ideas and thinking

· Attend and actively participate in regular support and supervision sessions and appraisals with the Chief Executive Officer

· Identify own learning and development needs and plan to meet them.

Administration  

· Ensure that detailed records for the purposes of information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation are maintained and developed

· Produce comprehensive, analytical and developmental oral and written reports on the work of the service as required.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

· Undertake advice work as required, including supporting contracts and projects outside of the generalist service.

· Support with the efficient and effective use of Casebook, gathering, storing and analysing data and contributing to the reporting processes for services, projects and contracts.

· Keep up to date with Citizens Advice aims, policies and procedures and ensure these are followed.

· Ensure that work reflects and supports the Citizens Advice service's equity, diversity and inclusion strategy.

· Develop and maintain effective admin systems and records relevant to the role.

· Act as key holder and open or close the building when necessary.

· Attend regular internal and external meetings relevant to the role and to services at outreach locations.

· Work cooperatively with colleagues and encourage good teamwork, clear lines of communication and common practices within the  team.

· Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own health and safety and that of colleagues; taking particular account of this at outreach and shared locations.

· Identify own learning and development needs and take steps to address these.

· Carry out any other tasks within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.

· Ensure all data protection and GDPR requirements are adhered to in all work for which the post is responsible.

· Demonstrate commitment to the aims and policies of the Citizens Advice service

· Encourage staff to understand the importance of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, implement the strategy, and act as a role model for EDI, including challenging any inappropriate comments or attitudes.

· Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with your line manager.

· Take personal responsibility for your own actions and for sorting out issues or problems that arise.

· Review and make recommendations for improvements to the service.

· Comply with all Citizens Advice information assurance guidelines.

· Work cooperatively with colleagues and encourage good teamwork, clear lines of communication and common practices within the team.

· As directed by the CEO, carry out other duties within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery of the service