Rochdale & District Mind’s Listening Lounge aims to provide an alternative for people who utilise crisis helplines, access emergency departments for mental health support or need a listening ear outside of core mental health hours. This service aims to improve individuals’ experience and reduce pressure on crisis, hospital and urgent care services.

We are looking to recruit an individual to staff the Listening Lounge sessions, to listen to and support those individuals who attend in crisis. The Listening Lounge sessions take place on evenings and weekends in Rochdale and Middleton, providing out of hours sessions in a comfortable environment, offering a range of support and informal interventions in order to prevent escalation.

Main duties:

• Providing mental health & wellbeing assessments, reviews, support groups and one to one support.
• Specialising in one or more of the following: substance, self-harm, suicide risk, managing difficult emotions, domestic abuse, housing, debt and benefits or similar.
• Implementing wellbeing based outcome tools such as the WEMWBS, PHQ & GAD or others as required.
• Providing help and advice about additional services so that individuals have a full appreciation of the services available within the borough.
• Supporting individuals in developing their own Wellbeing plan by identifying and accessing services to meet their needs.

Closing date for applications day 16th February 2022 at Midnight.
Shortlisting 17th February 2022.
Interviews to be held 22nd / 23rd February 2022.
Start Date 1st April 2022.

“Providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice”

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

We are looking to recruit an experienced Money Advice Caseworker to supervise and support the money advice team and assist clients with complex debt problems and advise on income maximisation.

The role includes to:

• Assist in providing and developing a high quality money advice service
• Undertake specialist level money advice casework
• Lead in ensuring financial capability is integrated into the debt advice process
• Provide support and supervision project staff and volunteers

To be successful you will need:

• Experience of providing support and supervision to colleagues to aid their development
• Significant recent experience as a money advice caseworker in a target driven environment
• Hold an accredited qualification in debt advice
• A commitment and understanding of the Service’s aims, principles and equal opportunities policies

Closing date: 9.00am Tuesday 1st February 2022

Interviews: Friday 4th February

For further information and an application pack please visit our website via the Apply button.

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.

New roles with flexible working!

Here at Railway Benefit Fund (RBF), we thrive on making a difference to the lives of people in rail. We are expanding, creating new roles with flexible, part time and full time options and are now looking to recruit enthusiastic, talented individuals to join our dedicated team.

About us

Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) is a national benevolent charity supporting railway workers and their families. We offer a range of grants and services to all those who turn to us and are here for anyone working in rail who is facing tough times.

The RBF Caseworker will work in the Services Team to provide an effective welfare and benefits service to our beneficiaries. This will involve supporting beneficiaries with grant applications, grant administration, handling initial enquires for support by phone, email and post, and referrals and signposting to RBF partnerships and external agencies.

This is an exciting time to join the RBF Services team as Caseworker; as you will be supporting the development of our strategic direction and future services to meet the changing needs of our beneficiaries.

About you:

As RBF Caseworker you will ideally have:

• The ability to provide a non-judgmental, practical and supportive welfare service to beneficiaries of the charity.

• An understanding of how to manage caseloads and knowledge of welfare benefits, including those related to disability and hardship.

• The skills required to be the first point of contact for all grant and support enquiries via telephone, post, or digital.

We are a national charity with a head office in Crewe and you would be expected to be in the office at least once a week.  The role is advertised for part-time hours, and flexible working around school hours and childcare and we support remote working.

Citizens Advice values diversity, promotes, equality and challenges discrimination.  We value applications from people of all backgrounds.  We are an equal opportunities employer.

The Citizens Advice service in Esher is seeking an experienced money advice worker to work alongside its Advice Session Supervisor team, focusing on its debt advice work and developing its team of volunteer specialist debt advisers. 

This new role will take responsibility for the day-to-day supervision of all client debt work in our office, supporting debt team members to perform within a quality-based advice framework.  It will also involve direct casework and provide some cover for supervision of general advice sessions.

To be successful in this role you will have experience of providing free, impartial and confidential advice, tailored to the individual’s circumstances.  You will have a sound understanding of debt management options (including bankruptcy, insolvency, Debt Relief Orders), be able to maintain the technical supervisory standards required and have a willingness to drive continuous improvement in debt team processes.

You will thrive in a pressured environment and have excellent client-facing and people management skills, together with the ability to manage your own caseload.  You will have a professional and supportive manner and be able to work as part of a diverse, largely volunteer team.

At a time when we’re experiencing a large increase in demand for debt advice, this is a great opportunity to make a real and positive difference to many people’s lives.

To apply, please visit our website via the Apply button to download the job pack and application form

Closing date: Midnight Friday 28th January 2022

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Citizens Advice Southampton & Maggie’s Centre

Caseworker (Specialist Welfare Benefits & General Advice)

Part-time, 2 days (15 hours per week)

Fixed-term contract, expected to be one year from commencement

Citizens Advice Southampton is a local charity providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to over 7,000 people in Southampton every year on any problems they might face.  We work as part of a network of around 300 local Citizens Advice members across England and Wales.

Maggie’s provides free support to people with cancer and their families and friends at our centres across the UK and abroad. “Maggie’s want to be there for everyone with cancer and their families and friends, by providing a warm welcoming place close to home and the hospital and free, expert support that will help them find their way through cancer."

Maggie’s is a charity entirely funded by the kindness of our donors and gifts in wills

The Role:

Citizens Advice Southampton are delivering a service working in partnership with Maggie’s – a charity providing free cancer support and information from its centre at University Hospital Southampton.  Working on site as part of the Maggie’s Centre team, our specialist Citizens Advice caseworkers provide in-person advice and in-depth support to Maggie’s service users.

We are seeking to appoint an experienced part-time welfare Caseworker to work alongside our existing Caseworker, to provide a holistic welfare benefits, employment, housing, debt and general advice service for people affected by cancer, within the aims, policies and principles of the Citizens Advice service covering quick and in-depth enquiries.

Caseworkers manage their own workload and need to be experienced in benefit advice work, have excellent communication skills, self-motivation and IT capability.

Closing date: Wednesday 26th January at 9am

Interviews expected to be held 1st February.

Please note all successful applicants will be subject to a DBS check.

We  are looking for someone who can meet our clients where they are and help them manage their money, budgets and when needed advise them on the correct debt solution for their personal circumstances.

Job Share/ Part Time and Hybrid/home working options available for the right candidate.

You may be new to the area or an experienced money/ debt advisor who is passionate about making a difference to peoples lives alongside delivering a professional, impartial and outcome focussed  service; whilst working to our Quality Standards, Policies and Procedures and Regulatory Requirements.

You will be able to provide debt advice and/or casework having regard for relevant legislation, meeting the requirements of the Advice Service Alliance Standard for advice case work relating to Debt, Welfare Benefits, and Housing.

Alongside this you will support in advice/case work on Welfare Benefit issues to ensure income maximisation is achieved for beneficiaries, whilst working with our wider team of Housing, Debt and benefit advisors

This role is being advertised as a  Money & Debt Adviser but on appointment your job title will be  Debt & Welfare Benefits Advisor

Citizens Advice Camden is the leading provider of voluntary sector advice services in Camden, with over 80 years’ experience of delivering free, confidential and impartial information, advice, and casework to those most in need.

We are looking for a specialist housing adviser to join our team based at Great Ormond Street Hospital. As well as working with families you will provide support and supervision on housing matters to advice team members and to GOSH staff who also support families.

Our service is closely integrated within the Hospital and you will have honorary GOSH staff status.

You will have –

• a good knowledge of housing law, statute and case law, including Housing Act Part VI and VII and relevant case law.
• excellent negotiation and advocacy skills.
• the ability to identify and progress options for legal challenge within the limits of your role.
• the ability to work within multi-disciplinary teams which include family support officers, social workers and GOSH medical professionals.
• the ability to produce and deliver training materials to both GOSH and CAC staff.
• an understanding of the issues that GOSH families face and be able to show how your work is relevant within a health inequalities framework.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our mutually supportive Team at Great Ormond Street Hospital which supports families of children treated there on a range of social welfare issues, including benefits, debt, and housing. This service is integrated into existing GOSH family services.

To apply complete our application form and online application process via the Apply button.

Closing deadline for applications is: 10.00am on Monday, 7 February

CVs are not accepted.

Interview date: tbc

Interviews will be held on Zoom.

Start Date: As soon as possible

All candidates invited to interview will be required to provide documentary evidence of their right to work in the UK in order to comply with the statutory requirements.

The successful candidate will be required to complete the GOSH honorary status process which includes an enhanced DBS check. You will be required to maintain honorary status and meet any additional NHS or GOSH requirements during your employment in this role, including being fully Covid-19 vaccinated. This role does not require direct contact with hospital patients.

Citizens Advice Camden is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from all sections of the community.

I am excited to be working with an amazing membership organisation for an experienced and dedicated Grants Case Worker. Your role will be to provide an effective casework service by maintaining an individual caseload at the required level and standard to ensure the delivery of a responsive, consistent and high-quality service.

Your key responsibilities:
Consistently manage a demanding caseload in a timely, efficient and effective manner ensuring a quality service and in line with targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Review and assess grant applications analysing information against criteria, interprets financial information, collaborates with welfare volunteers and other professionals and, reaching recommendations on financial assistance.
Ensure members receive the highest level of service to include:
Advice on income maximisation
Advice on any additional support which may be available
Assisting members in accessing this support or their contact with authorities, welfare providers and other organizations.
Advocating and negotiating in consideration of individual circumstances and vulnerability.
Co-ordinating applications to other grant giving charities and organizations
Provide advice and guidance to volunteer branch welfare officers in relation to their role and cases they are dealing with.
Ensure all communications are personalized, reflective - always demonstrating empathy and understanding of individual circumstances.
Authorise the payment of crisis and other grants within levels of delegated authority.
Draw on all available resources to inform the support offered to members.
Produce clear assessment summaries for internal review or, reports for Trustee decision making meetings.
Maintain detailed and accurate case and financial records (paper and electronic) recording data received and actions taken in line with current policies and procedures so that we hold a solid picture of the work we do.
Maintain confidentiality in all areas of the role in line with procedures and, Data Protection regulations.
Support the Team Leader in identifying trends and ongoing development of grant making policy and casework procedures.
Share in team related tasks including daily case prioritization, first line assessment, emergency applications and payments and, bank transactions.
Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of all areas relevant to the role and develop specialist knowledge related to the role as directed.
Proactively keep abreast of developments within the wider organization and issues affecting members.
Contribute to the Volunteer Training, Development and information Programme through:
Delivering the welfare officer induction training and, the planning or delivery of other presentations, training as directed.
Advising welfare volunteers and others in the organisation on issues such as debt/money management, benefit entitlement, policy as it affects casework and alternative sources of help.
Drafting materials such as factsheets and bulletins.
Identify potentially suitable beneficiary cases that could be used to encourage support and understanding of the charity's work or wider organization campaigns.
Collaborate with colleagues to foster a co-operative, flexible and team- working environment
Attend meetings, contribute to projects, the development of annual work plans etc as required
Participate in training as required to maintain and improve the relevant level of knowledge and skills needed to deliver a quality service.
Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and relevant to key tasks and responsibilities of this post.

SPECIALIST & TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE:
Substantial experience of working in a welfare related environment - possibly gained in the voluntary sector ideally working as a charity grants officer or, as a specialist or generalist advisor.
Must have up to date knowledge of and, the ability to explain these in clear terms (due to the holistic nature of the service, the role will involve giving generalist information and advice across all subject areas):
The key principles of income maximisation/debt advice/money management
Welfare benefits and statutory funding
The main recovery proceedings used by creditors, the legal implications and strategies for responding
Ombudsman relevant codes of practice e.g. Financial Services
Awareness and understanding of the impact that financial hardship can have on individuals and families.
Demonstrable understanding of the need for confidentiality and data protection requirements.

Must be able to develop strategies, solutions and/or plans to solve difficult problems requiring:
Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills
Skills in scrutinising complex information including financial data and, asking probing questions, where needed
Identifying other organisations that can help and working with them when appropriate.
Experience of taking responsibility for recommendations and decision-mak

About Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind

This is an exciting opportunity to join and support a fast growing and dedicated team supporting the wellbeing of communities across West London.

We’re here to make sure that everyone suffering with a mental health problem gets the help they need to recover. We listen, support recovery, fight stigma and work with partners to take action. We provide services for adults, children and young people, signposting for everyone and training and consultancy for employers.

Job Purpose

This role is within our crisis alternative service, which is an out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. The service will operate 365 days a year from 4:30pm - 11:30pm across all of our boroughs.
Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone on a one-to-one or group basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis.

The objectives of the service include:

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health crisis in HFEH.
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation, planned wellbeing activities etc.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

The Role

The role of the support workers will be to support the rest of the team in delivering interventions on a one-to-one and group basis. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing.

Fixed Term until 31st March 2022 (with potential to extend)

Part time (21 hours per week) and Full Time (35 hours per week) opportunities available.

Post is subject to a DBS check.

We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

About Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind

This is an exciting opportunity to join and support a fast growing and dedicated team supporting the wellbeing of communities across West London.

We’re here to make sure that everyone suffering with a mental health problem gets the help they need to recover. We listen, support recovery, fight stigma and work with partners to take action. We provide services for adults, children and young people, signposting for everyone and training and consultancy for employers.

Job Purpose

This role is within our crisis alternative service, which is an out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. The service will operate 365 days a year from 4:30pm - 11:30pmacross all of our boroughs.

Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone on a one-to-one or group basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis.

The objectives of the service include:

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health crisis in HFEH.
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation, planned wellbeing activities etc.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

The Role

The role of the team coordinators will be to support the rest of the team in delivering interventions on a one-to-one and group basis. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing. The role will also include line management and supervision of support workers within the service.

Fixed Term until 31st March 2022 (with potential to extend)

Full Time (35 hours per week) opportunities available.

Post is subject to a DBS check.

We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

Are you experienced in claiming PIP, or challenging decisions?
Do you have a passion to ensure people get the benefits they are entitled to?

We are looking for an advisor with a tenacity to challenge decisions and make a real difference to peoples lives.

As a Welfare Benefits Advisor you will work closely with our Housing and Debt team to ensure a person centred holistic approach is taken for everyone who approached us.

Your research skills will also be vital as you will need to source grants and funds for clients in need as we look to maximise income in every way we can

Job Share/ Part Time and Hybrid/home working options available for the right candidate.

Do you have recent experience of providing specialist level housing advice? Then join us as a Housing Adviser and help ensure our clients get the support they need.

This role is being advertised as a Housing Adviser but on appointment your job title will be Housing & Welfare Benefits Advisor.

Job Share/ Part Time and Hybrid/home working options available for the right candidate.

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Advisor who will deliver a professional, impartial, pragmatic and outcome focussed Housing advice service to all of our beneficiaries whilst working to Accommodation Concern Quality Standards, Policies and Procedures and Regulatory Requirements.

To succeed, you'll have experience of providing specialist housing advice and supporting people with multiple disadvantages . We'll also be looking for a proven ability to work effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, both statutory and non-statutory agencies.

You will be able to manage a caseload, adhering to multiple deadlines and utilising and applying legislation to your day to day casework. Experience using various IT packages is also important as you will be required to input client data and communicate using various platforms

Our growing team will be delivering Housing, Welfare Benefit and Debt Advice accross the North Northants area as we meet the growing demand for our services.

You will provide advice and casework on all areas of housing law, having regard for relevant legislation, guidance and case law -  meeting the requirements of the Advice Service Alliance Standard for advice case work relating to Welfare Benefits, Debt and Housing.

You will also provide advice/case work on Welfare Benefit issues (along side our Debt and Benefit team) to ensure income maximisation is achieved for beneficiaries. 

Come and join our growing team and make a difference locally

Westminster, London with option for remote working

Citizens Advice Westminster works to make a difference to the lives of people in Westminster. We deliver a high quality, agile advice service which reflects community issues and needs. We operate a service which puts people first.

The Advice & Casework Supervisor will play a key role in delivering services and managing projects. Your role involves scheduling and managing advice appointments and rotas across a range of venues, contracts and teams. You will be providing first line technical support and training and development of team members ensuring quality standards are maintained.

The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator, qualified in generalist advice work and be comfortable in leading a team of advisers. You will ensure quality of their work through regular case checking and support and supervision. The right candidate will have excellent organisation and time management skills as well as strong IT skills.

We will offer the right candidate a generous salary with other benefits such as annual season ticket loans, career breaks, and the opportunity to develop yourself professionally and career development within the organisation. You will be part of a warm and friendly work culture where opinions are valued. We will also offer a flexible working environment where you can work some days from home.

If you are ready to be part of this community organisation who offer vital service to people who need our help, please download the attached Job Pack and then click apply to visit our website and complete the application process.

Closing date: 10th February 2022, 5pm

We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination here at Citizens Advice Westminster. We strongly encourage applicants from all parts of society and believe that diversity is what makes us the leaders in what we do.

About Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind

This is an exciting opportunity to join and support a fast growing and dedicated team supporting the wellbeing of communities across West London.

We’re here to make sure that everyone suffering with a mental health problem gets the help they need to recover. We listen, support recovery, fight stigma and work with partners to take action. We provide services for adults, children and young people, signposting for everyone and training and consultancy for employers.

Job Purpose

This role is within our crisis alternative emergency department (ED) service, which is an out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who present at A&E, feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. The service will work collaboratively with hospital Psychiatric Liaison Team (LPS) to ensure those in crisis are supported by the appropriate team. The service will operate 365 days a year from 5pm-1am across three ED’s in West London.

Staff within the service will triage, assess and provide face-to-face support to anyone who is experiencing mental health crisis. This will be person-centred and will be in various forms of de-escalation support; practical, emotional support, grounding techniques, safety planning, care/action planning etc. Staff within the service will work alongside LPS and escalate if clinical intervention is required. Staff will also actively participate in MDT discussions for frequent attenders and take a key role in initiating and promoting alternative crisis support in the aim of preventing A&E use. Staff in our Safe Space ED service are required to have experience in a mental health clinical setting (such as inpatient, A&E, or other clinical setting) however, they do not need to hold a clinical qualification for this role.

The objectives of the service include:

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health crisis presenting at ED
• To prevent the use of A&E and EDs where alternative crisis support is appropriate
• To effectively de-escalate mental health crisis in various forms of support
• Collaborative working with LPS and A&E stakeholders to promote preventative measures around early intervention; to identify any unmet social needs that are exacerbating wellbeing and prevent escalation
• Proactively work, and affect change with, a rolling cohort of people, using a truly personalised approach
• Act as a conduit to negotiate and de-escalate issues before a crisis occurs; a situation which has historically led to a destabilisation of their condition and resulting in an attendance or admission
• Empower service users to self-manage, to enable discharge from the project and encourage (where appropriate) unplanned to planned clinical activity
• Form robust networks of services around individual service users to ensure they can access the care and support they need, when they need it, including our community crisis alternative service – Safe Space
• Improve communication and partnership working between those involved in peoples’ care 24/7
• Personalise a plan of support, focusing on strengths and goals, whilst also developing personal crisis plans with the service user
• Advocate for the individual in the creation of any statutory service crisis plans that may be developed, ensuring they are person cantered and reflect the person’s needs
• De-escalate any negative or harmful patterns of behaviour as early as possible to reduce the likelihood of admission/readmission
• Manage relapse
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual
• To work hand in hand with our community Safe Space service; ensuring follow ups are arranged with our community Safe Space, creating a wrap around crisis service

The Role

The role of the crisis practitioner will be to work collaboratively with LPS and service users to de-escalate crises in ED. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, alongside LPS. The crisis practitioner’s duty will be to de-escalate low/moderate mental health and social needs and deliver collaborative self-management plans with service users to improve mental wellbeing and reduction in A&E attendance. The crisis practitioner will also be responsible for linking in and signposting follow up support with our community Safe Space team. This role does not include clinical intervention.

Post is subject to a DBS check.

We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

Fixed Term until 31st March 2023

Part Time positions available