Housing And Welfare Benefits Advisor Jobs in Ealing, Greater London
Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!
We are looking for a Senior Multiple Needs Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate
Salary: £30,000-£32,000
Location: Ealing Women’s Wellness Zone & Hammersmith – Advance Head Office
Hours: 35 Hours per week (a late shift once per week till 7pm)
Contract: Fixed Term – 12 months (from start of employment)
This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.
About us
Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.
We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.
Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
About the role:
The Senior Multiple Needs Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) will work within a dynamic, crisis intervention, advocacy and support service based at the CGL Ealing Women’s Wellness Zone. The IDVA will provide support in the local community and at the Ealing Women’s Wellness Zone. The successful candidate will be co-located up to 5 days a week at the Women’s Wellness Zone.
The IDVA will be closely working alongside CGL colleagues/team to deliver support to women with a range of complex support needs including substance misuse, mental health, domestic abuse, sex working, trafficking, and offending behaviour. The IDVA will work in collaboration with their team members to holistically support women in the borough of Ealing to achieve sustained recovery, improved health and wellbeing, helping women to manage/mitigate risks, and empowering them to reach their fullest potential in society as well as ensuring the voice of survivors informs every stage of the process.
The Senior Multiple Needs IDVA will assess the needs and risks of survivors, carry out short and longer-term risk management, safety planning and support. As well as identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs. They will also proactively advocate and advice women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies, encouraging them to engage with other agencies, and help co-ordinate the provision of multi-agency support where necessary.
About You:
To be successful as the Senior Multiple Needs IDVA you will need to have:
Excellent understanding of domestic abuse and its effects on women and children, of best practice in supporting survivors of domestic abuse, and of the MARAC. As well as understanding of drug and alcohol issues and experience of working within a related field.
Bringing your experience of risk and needs assessment, safety and support planning, and crisis planning and successfully managing high numbers of referrals and experience of working in a co-located setting with another agency and providing consultations/briefings to professionals to support in upskilling them around Domestic Abuse. The candidate will have experience of partnership working and of maintaining excellent working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
This is an exciting opportunity for you to work as part of an innovative service, designed to offer multi-disciplinary wrap-around support to women with multiple needs, with the aim of facilitating long-term recovery.
We enthusiastically welcome applications from Substance Misuse Workers/Practitioners, Recovery Workers, Recovery Practitioners, Recovery Coordinators, Drug Workers, Alcohol Workers and Needle Exchange Workers who meet the specified requirements.
How to apply:
Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.
· Closing Date for Applications: Wednesday 22 May 2024
· Interviews are taking place on Thursday 30 May 2024
· *Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.
What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:
- A 35-hour working week
- An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
- Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
- Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
- Pension scheme
- Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee eye-care scheme
- Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
- Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
- Organisation wide away days
- Thorough induction and training
- Career development pathways
**************************************************************
Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.
Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. 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.
Safeguarding
Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
LOCATION: Across Citizens Advice Hammersmith & Fulham sites with the potential for some hybrid working following completion of successful probationary period.
Citizens Advice Hammersmith and Fulham is recruiting for Advice Services Managers, who will be responsible for the supervision, quality and monitoring performance of the advice and information team. This busy and varied role will rely on your ability to mutli-task and bring out the best in paid and volunteer staff, to ensure the highest quality of advice across our many and varied projects. Working as part of a team with other Advice Services Managers, you will also be responsible for all aspects of risk relating to advice delivery, complaints handling, safeguarding and GDPR.
It is essential that you have the required management skills and a good understanding of the main advice enquiry areas including welfare benefits, housing, debt, and employment as well as a combination of the following attributes:
- Excellent and effective communicator
- Experience in managing and developing staff and volunteers
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and assess priority order
- Ability to research, analyse and interpret complex information
- Experience of working with colleagues to maintain a positive working and learning environment, ensuring equality and diversity principles are upheld
If you are an experienced Generalist Advisers, and don’t have all the skills required, please consider applying as we are willing to consider appointing the right candidate as a training and development role.
What we can offer you:
We value our people and can offer a supportive culture within a high performing and award winning organisation. 86% of our workforce recommend us as a place to work. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and workplace to represent the diverse communities we service. We are committed to increasing our diversity and whatever your background, we welcome your application. We offer an attractive remuneration package with excellent terms including:
- Generous holiday entitlement starting at 25 days per year (in addition to bankholidays) and rising to 30 days with long service
- Learning, development and personal growth opportunities
- Mental health and Well-being support helpline
We will interview on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to close the applications earlier if suitable candidates are found so encourage early applications.
Closing Date: Thursday 16th May 2024
Hours: 30 hours/week (0.8 FTE), Part time or Job share applications welcomed
About Us
Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell is a local charity that provides advice and information for anyone that lives, works or studies in Epsom and Ewell.
We deliver our service through as many different channels as we can, to make sure we are accessible to everyone. This includes face to face, phone, video conferencing, and email. The role is based in our Epsom office.
About the Role
We are looking for a self-motivated individual with proven ability of managing and supervising a team. You will have recent relevant experience of working in a local Citizens Advice or similar advice organisation, and be able to demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the issues facing local communities.
This role involves the supervision of advice sessions, providing guidance and assistance to those working in our Epsom office as well as to staff working from home or in outreach locations.
The post is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the day to day service and the implementation of consistent processes to maintain quality standards. In addition you will manage volunteer advice staff and work closely with the Training team to support their training and development.
This is a great opportunity for someone looking to make a difference in people’s lives, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society and helping them to find a way forward.
About You
- Highly motivated with proven ability of managing and supervising others including the ability to develop and motivate staff as well as give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively.
- Recent relevant experience of working in a local Citizens Advice or similar advice setting.
- Ability to plan and manage your own work and the work of others in a pressured environment, including: setting priorities; meeting deadlines; and monitoring performance
- Flexibility and willingness to work as part of a team including advice work if required.
- Ability to identify ongoing training needs and deliver appropriate support to ensure high quality of service.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Proficient in the use of IT systems, including office, case management and benefit calculation systems.
- Commitment to work within the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service, demonstrating an understanding of issues affecting society and the implications on our clients and service.
We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, as they are currently under-represented in our workforce.
Closing date: 20th May 2024
Interview Dates: 23rd May 2024
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Citizens Advice Hertsmere is a great place to work, with a friendly and supportive team. We are looking to take on a Debt Caseworker to join our small debt advice team. You will be providing advice to clients supporting them through the debt advice process, including dealing with emergencies, income maximisation, budgeting advice and ultimately helping with a debt strategy.
You will need to:
- Prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies
- Negotiate with third parties in writing and on the telephone
- Act for clients where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters and telephoning
- Be numerate and able to analyse data and draw conclusions
- Have good communication and IT skills
Role purpose
To deliver an excellent quality debt advice service to clients, with due regard to the aims, policies and procedures of the organisation and service, working within a client focussed and responsive team.
About Us
Citizens Advice Hertsmere (CAH) is an independent local charity and a member of the national Citizens Advice network. We deliver high-quality advice across Hertsmere and campaign on issues that matter to residents. Our primary office is in Elstree with outreach locations in Bushey and Potters Bar.
Our staff and volunteers supported clients with a wide range of issues including benefits, debt, employment, housing, relationship, and consumer issues. We provide our advice face to face, telephone, and email.
We are a forward-thinking organisation, committed to continually improving, expanding, and developing our services to better serve our local community.
We are a friendly, supportive team, and we are looking for another person to strengthen our debt team. There are opportunities for progression within our service and we encourage and support our staff to achieve their potential. We believe that what we do matters.
Please submit the application form as your cover letter
You will provide support to our Cost-of-Living Crisis Clinic Consultant to co-ordinate the efficient service delivery of our busy Cost-of-Living Crisis Clinics, used by clients who need assistance to make successful applications for: welfare benefits; social housing; lower utility and broadband tariffs; and crisis and general grants. You will work with a wide range of people internally and externally, providing support and supervision to volunteer advisers and helping clients.
You will be a confident communicator who will have the right blend and balance of strong administration skills with excellent interpersonal and customer-facing skills and legal knowledge, working for a charity supporting and enhancing the lives of people in the local community.
This role is central to Westway Trust’s commitment to deliver activities and events to the benefit of the North Kensington community. You will also work from and help to co-ordinate the delivery of our Cost-of-Living Crisis Clinic at our outreach site, St Luke’s Community Centre, EC1V.
Key responsibilities of the role include but not limited to:
General Duties
- Being the initial point of contact; receiving calls and emails from clients and referring agencies, , and booking client appointments in an efficient and timely manner
- Setting up and clearing away after Cost-of-Living Crisis Clinic sessions, (currently, Tuesdays, at St Luke’s Community Centre, 90 Central Street, Islington, EC1, and Wednesdays at Westway Trust, 1 Thorpe Close, Ladbroke Grove, W10). Sessions start at 9.00am and finish around 1.00pm
- Meeting, greeting and orienting (showing where the facilities are and H&S guidance) clients and volunteers
- Triaging clients on to our database and referring clients who are out of scope to other relevant organisations
- Assisting clients to complete online and paper forms both face-to-face and remotely
- Liaising in a positive manner with our stakeholders, eg. clients, other teams within Westway Trust, our funder, a City Law firm, and our hosts, Westway Trust and St Luke’s Community Centre
- Responsibility for monitoring our work, completing simple reports, writing case studies, making sure volunteers complete their data entry after advising clients, and running case management statistics using AdvicePro, our case management system) (training on AdvicePro will be provided)
- Recruiting, inducting, training and supervising volunteers both corporate (from the City) and lay (students and local residents)
- Casework; writing up case notes about clients helped
- Attending relevant meetings and training and keeping resources up-to-date
- General administration including: photocopying, scanning and record keeping, and coordinating the general day-to-day activities of the Cost-of-Living Crisis Clinics
- Effectively contributing to make our Cost-of-Living Crisis Clinics high performing in line with the values of Westway Trust
Appeals & Representation Duties
Responsibility for our legal appeals representation service, including:
- Triaging clients, including reading appellant’s hearing bundles to assess the merits of their case
- Case management of appellants’' appeal cases, (ie, smooth management of appellants' cases from inception to post-hearing)
- Attending hearings
- Guiding and case managing lawyers/law students on applications for leave to appeal/set aside to the Upper Tribunal/Judiciary, (from the Lower Tribunal). Full training will be given
Qualifications: You will have or be working towards a law degree or equivalent.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A good understanding of the law in any jurisdiction
- Experience of providing an efficient, customer focused service, with a personable and collaborative approach and ability to provide, develop and maintaining friendly positive relationships with customers, staff, volunteers and other stakeholders
- Good time management and organisational skills
- Excellent administrative skills
- High level of IT skills. Experience of using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and database software (we use AdvicePro)
Personal Skills:
- Good people management/awareness skills
- Good communication and presentation skills, orally and in writing.
- Ability to work independently and on own initiative with minimum supervision
- Ability to work as part of a team in a multi-cultural and diverse environment
- An inquisitive mind and good problem solver
- Interest in civil law
- Good memory and research skills
- Demonstrable understanding and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Connections to/understanding of North Kensington or the surrounding area is highly desirable
We exist to work together with the local community to enable North Kensington to thrive.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.