Various locations across Liverpool
About the Role
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Work with a team of welfare benefit advisers to ensure effective support, supervision and appraisal
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Maintain effective admin systems and records, work cooperatively with colleagues, encourage good teamwork and clear lines of communication.
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Provide specialist welfare benefits advice in person and via digital channels to a small number of clients to support the team target and continuous development.
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Make home/outreach visits as necessary inc Torus Foundation and Citizens Advice buildings.
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Act for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters, negotiating with third parties as appropriate.
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Prepare and present welfare benefits cases to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals and courts as appropriate, up to and including level 2 tribunal.
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Provide advice and assistance to colleagues across the whole range of welfare issues.
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Maintain detailed case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring, and report preparation.
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Carry out Quality of Advice Assessments and file reviews in accordance with agreed Advice quality standards and procedures
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Assist with social policy, providing information to inform CAL Senior Leadership Team
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Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to welfare and undertake appropriate training.
General
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Create a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are well managed, dignity at work is upheld and staff perform optimally.
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Ensure that all work meets quality standards and the requirements of the funder
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Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
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Assist with initiatives for the improvement of services.
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Keep up to date with Citizens Advice Aims, policies and procedures and ensure these are followed.
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Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for your own health and safety and that of colleagues.
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Identify own learning and development needs and take steps to address these with your Line Manager
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Key holder responsibility, opening and closing the building where necessary.
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Carry out any other tasks within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.
Requirements
1. Minimum of two years experience in welfare rights advice work
2. Extensive knowledge and experience of welfare benefits legislation.
3. Effective oral communication skills with particular emphasis on negotiating and representing.
4. Effective writing skills with particular emphasis on negotiating, representing and preparing reviews, reports and correspondence.
5. Ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow and develop agreed procedures.
6. Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage caseload.
7. Ability to use ICT in the provision of advice and the preparation of reports and submissions.
8. Ability to motivate and line manage staff
9. Ability to monitor and maintain own standards.
10. Demonstrate understanding of social policy trends and their implications for clients and service provision.
11. Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equal opportunities policies.
About us
Citizens Advice Liverpool in partnership with Citizens Advice St Helens and Citizens Advice Warrington are delivering a Welfare Benefits, Debt and Budgeting Advisory Service to Torus Housing tenants.
The Project Supervisor is responsible for supervising and overseeing the delivery of a Welfare Benefits Advisory Service. The supervisor will provide guidance, support, and leadership to a team of Welfare Benefits Caseworkers, ensuring the provision of high-quality welfare benefits advice to individuals and families in need. The role requires strong supervisory, communication, and organisational skills to effectively support the management of the project, monitor caseworkers' performance and adviser consultancy. The project supervisor will also be required to take on some casework for clients who require specialist advice regarding the review/appeals process, prepare clients for appeals tribunals and to represent at hearings where appropriate.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Reports to: Refuge Services Manager
Hours of work: full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Location: Slough (on-site)
Salary: Band 5, £28,000 – £30,000 per annum dependent upon experience.
Contract: Permanent
Holidays: 25 days + Bank Holidays + 1 day for birthday
Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on receipt on a rolling basis. Please apply as soon as possible.
Requirements: Relevant experience, living in close proximity to Slough, must have valid driving license to drive people carrier
Benefits:
· 25 days annual leave per annum (+ bank holidays), plus up to 5 days additional leave for length of service.
· Birthday off + 1 ‘charity day’ day agreed by the trustees for all staff (usually last working day before 25 December)
· Christmas closure days given as additional leave (subject to annual Board agreement)
· Fully-funded IDVA training
· Access to benefit platform for a wide range of discounts on everyday spends plus gym discounts.
· Access to private healthcare scheme
· Holiday buyback scheme
Overview
The Dash Charity is looking for a Refuge IDVA to join its dedicated refuge services team.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a local domestic abuse charity with a huge influence and reach. For almost 50 years The Dash Charity has been supporting individuals and families experiencing domestic abuse, empowering women, men and children to recognise the tactics of abuse, break the cycle, and take back control of their lives.
We were one of the first charities in the UK to be awarded Leading Lights status for our Advocacy and Outreach Services by SafeLives, and pioneered healthy relationships workshops in schools over a decade ago.
We run three refuges that offer a sanctuary to women and children escaping violence and abuse, offering specialist children’s support and one to one support for women.
Key responsibilities:
• Identify and assess the risks and support needs of refuge clients using an evidence-based risk identification checklist.
• Manage a caseload of clients ensuring each client receives a quality and consistent service and support individual to their needs and risks.
• Support the empowerment of the client and assist them in recognising the features and dynamics of domestic abuse present in their situation, and help them regain control of their lives.
• To ensure that information is shared within data protection guidelines to ensure a co-ordinated approach is taken to understand client need/risk and support appropriately.
• To work in accordance with the Refuge Services Case Management Policy ensuring that all client records and casework are to the required audited standard as per the case management policy.
• To maintain accurate, professional and confidential case management records and databases and ensure all monitoring and evaluation records/tools are completed in a timely and accurate manner.
• To understand any grant, funder or contractual requirements pertaining to the funding of the individual post, ensuring data and outcomes are gathered to inform periodic reporting as and when required. To contribute to the preparation of any grant/contract reporting as required.
• Support colleagues and partner agencies, through awareness raising and institutional advocacy, in order to provide the best possible service for victims of domestic abuse.
• To fully keep up to date with relevant legislation and sector updates.
• To work with a strong multi agency focus liaising with other agencies and professionals both internally and externally to ensure client’s needs are met.
• Support clients through the criminal justice system.
• Support clients with options of civil remedies and child contact options.
• Ensure intake paperwork is completed and individual support plan in place, including advising women on terms of occupation of safe house.
• Role model, mentor and support students and volunteers assisting with intervention of clients to support the Refuge IDVA role.
• Ensure that meaningful involvement of clients is central to all activities, applying equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policies and ensuring rights to privacy and confidentiality.
• Ensure clients are clear about their rights and obligations whilst receiving our service.
• Complete 2 weekly keyworking sessions to identify individual client support needs and create an individual support plan for all refuge clients.
• To support clients in accessing medical treatment, legal, housing and debt advice. Attend appointments with clients as required.
• Ensure the Safelives RIC is reviewed 6 weeks after intake to refuge or immediately if an incident occurs.
• To complete a Housing Benefit application for all new clients and submit to SBC within 48 hours of intake.
• To update DAIU when a client arrives and leaves refuge.
• Ensure client rents are collected weekly, rent card completed and the Finance team are updated.
• To facilitate monthly resident meetings, complete meeting minutes and any actions arising from the meeting.
• To complete weekly H&S checks and update RST manager accordingly.
General duties:
· To operate within clear professional and confidentiality boundaries and to work within The Dash Charity code of conduct.
· Ensure clients are clear about their rights and obligations whilst receiving support.
· Check email daily and respond to urgent requests
· Review workload daily and prioritise accordingly
· Ensure that meaningful involvement of clients is central to all activities, applying equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policies and ensuring rights to privacy and confidentiality.
· Contribute to the development and review of The Dash Charity policies and procedures.
· Remain up-to-date and compliant with all organisational procedures policies and professional codes of conduct and uphold standards of best practice.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you methodical, highly organised, great at juggling ten plates and glasses at the same time whilst still solving a problem that hasn’t even arisen yet? Then come and join us at the Mary Ward Settlement as our Access to Services Manager!
You are a proactive, people-focused manager with a passion for delivering exceptional service. You will lead a high-performing team that ensures a welcoming, inclusive, helpful and efficient experience for all students, staff, and visitors.
In this pivotal role, you will oversee a dynamic advice and guidance team, ensuring that every interaction is informed, supportive and aligned with our commitment to excellence. You will be a ‘go-to’ person who ensures that activity runs smoothly with the right resources and support in place all whilst demonstrating a calm and professional approach.
You will be joining an organisation who is genuinely warm and welcoming, who thrives on nurturing people and their growth. You will work closely with staff who are skilled and passionate people who are a pleasure to work with.
We are a multi service charity who offer adult learning, access to free legal advice and community services that work with the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to build stronger communities. Based over three sites in Stratford, Southwark and Holborn.
This is a wonderful opportunity for an individual who wants to immerse themselves in a successful, interesting and inspiring organisation.
We very actively encourage applications that are representative of the diverse communities that we serve.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.