Advisor caseworker jobs

About Perennial

Perennial is the UK's only charity supporting everyone working in or retired from the horticultural community.

Working in horticulture isn't always straightforward. Challenges such as seasonality of work, physical injury, isolation, ill-health and financial hardship can arise when least expected.

As the charity for the industry, Perennial has a unique understanding of these challenges. Our free and confidential support services help horticulturists and their families navigate difficult periods in their lives through practical, financial and emotional support. Delivered through a network of caseworkers, debt advisers and wellbeing services across the UK, our work helps individuals and families build resilience and find stability during times of crisis.

At the heart of our work is a commitment to helping people in horticulture thrive. By offering the right support at the right time, we strengthen wellbeing, improve financial security, support family relationships and help people remain connected to the industry they love.

Alongside our support services, Perennial operates a select number of gardens and learning environments that help develop horticultural skills and careers, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector.

For more than 185 years, we have been helping people build better lives within horticulture.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow Perennial's trusts and foundations fundraising programme.

Our current trust income is modest but established, with a loyal group of family trust supporters generating circa £50,000–£60,000 annually against a growing pipeline of opportunities. We have recently strengthened our Services Directorate, creating a culture where colleagues are increasingly developing new projects and approaches that have strong potential for charitable funding.

We believe there is significant untapped opportunity within both our existing services and emerging projects. From advice and advocacy services to health, wellbeing, family support and employability programmes, Perennial delivers work that aligns strongly with the priorities of many charitable trusts and foundations.

This role is as much about developing fundable opportunities as it is about writing applications. We are looking for someone who enjoys building as well as managing; someone capable of identifying opportunities, developing persuasive cases for support and helping colleagues transform strong and growing service delivery into compelling funding propositions.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build a trusts and foundations programme with genuine growth potential and play a key role in unlocking significant future income for Perennial.

Purpose of the Role

To develop and grow income from charitable trusts and foundations by identifying opportunities, building meaningful relationships and securing significant grants for both core services and project-based activity.

The postholder will play a key role in strengthening Perennial's readiness for trust fundraising by helping colleagues develop projects, articulate impact, evidence need and create compelling cases for support.

A central aspect of the role will be collaborating with teams across the organisation to bring our work to life for funders, helping colleagues translate their expertise, ideas and service delivery into attractive and fundable propositions.

The successful candidate will maximise support from Perennial's existing trust and foundation partners whilst developing a strong pipeline of new funders capable of supporting both current services and future strategic priorities. They will also work with senior colleagues to develop compelling narratives around organisational sustainability, long-term impact and the strategic use of charitable resources.

Key responsibilities

Trusts & Foundations fundraising

• Develop and deliver a trusts and foundations fundraising strategy.
• Build and manage a pipeline of charitable trusts, foundations and institutional funders.
• Prepare high-quality funding applications, proposals, expressions of interest and cases for support.
• Research and identify new funding opportunities aligned with Perennial's strategic priorities.
• Manage funder stewardship, reporting and grant compliance requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of applications, reporting deadlines and relationships within the CRM.
• Monitor income performance and provide regular pipeline and forecasting reports.

Project development

• Collaborate with teams across the organisation to bring our work to life for funders.
• Support colleagues to identify, shape and develop fundable projects and services.
• Work closely with service leads to gather impact data, outcomes, beneficiary stories and evidence of need.
• Help develop funding propositions ranging from small service enhancements to larger strategic initiatives.
• Ensure projects are clearly costed and supported by realistic budgets and outcomes frameworks.

Relationship management

• Develop strong relationships with new and existing funders.
• Create tailored stewardship plans for key supporters.
• Arrange visits, presentations and meetings with prospective funders.
• Act as a trusted internal adviser on trusts and foundations fundraising.

Strategic development

• Work with senior colleagues to develop compelling narratives around Perennial's financial position, reserves and long-term sustainability.
• Identify opportunities for multi-year and transformational funding.
• Monitor trends in trusts and foundations funding and advise on emerging opportunities.

Person Specification

Essential

• Proven track record of securing significant grants from trusts and foundations.
• Experience managing a trusts and foundations pipeline.
• Excellent proposal and bid-writing skills.
• Experience developing compelling cases for support.
• Strong relationship management and stewardship skills.
• Ability to translate complex services into fundable propositions.
• Experience working with project budgets and impact reporting.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Experience using fundraising CRM systems.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.

Highly desirable

• Experience helping organisations build or expand a trusts fundraising programme.
• Experience securing five-figure and six-figure grants.
• Experience fundraising for welfare, health, employment, community or advice services.
• Understanding of balance sheet and reserves issues and how these can be addressed in grant applications.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

Success in the First 12 Months

The successful candidate will:

• Produce a comprehensive trusts and foundations fundraising strategy.
• Build a robust pipeline of prospective funders.
• Develop a portfolio of compelling funding propositions and cases for support
• Strengthen internal project development processes.
• Increase the value and number of trust applications submitted.
• Secure significant new grant income.
• Establish strong relationships with key funders and prospects.
• Improve understanding of trusts fundraising across the organisation.

Are you passionate about supporting women to overcome challenges and make positive changes in their lives? Do you want to use your skills, experiences or lived experience to help empower women facing adversity?

If so, St Giles Trust is looking for Women’s Alliance Volunteers to join our new Women’s Alliance Service across York and North Yorkshire.

About the service

The Women’s Alliance Service is a partnership between St Giles Trust, Waythrough and Changing Lives, providing gender-responsive and trauma-informed support to women across York and North Yorkshire.

Working from Women’s Centres in York and Scarborough, alongside community-based drop-in sessions, the service provides holistic support to women facing a range of challenges. Through a partnership approach, women can access a wide range of support in one place, helping them to build stability, confidence and positive futures.

About this volunteer opportunity
As a Women’s Alliance Volunteer, you will work alongside experienced Caseworkers to support and empower women to stabilise their lives, build confidence and work towards their individual goals.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in a supportive environment while making a real difference to the lives of women in your community.

What you’ll be doing

• Support women accessing the service through drop-in sessions and activities

• Help create a welcoming and inclusive environment within the Women’s Centres

• Work alongside Caseworkers to provide encouragement, mentoring and practical support

• Support women to identify positive goals and make informed choices

• Build positive relationships with clients, staff and partner organisations

• Follow safeguarding, health and safety and organisational policies and procedures

• Participate in training, supervision and reflective practice opportunities

What we are looking for

• Understanding of the possible issues faced by females involved in, or at risk of becoming involved in, the criminal justice system

• A knowledge and understanding of providing support, advice and advocacy to vulnerable clients and the ability to communicate this knowledge in a variety of ways

• Good written and communication skills, including familiarity with form filling, letter writing and advocacy and following instructions

• Ability to develop positive working relationships with other staff, volunteers, managers, and other professionals within the community

We actively encourage applications from people with lived experience of challenges such as homelessness, substance misuse, debt, involvement with the criminal justice system, domestic abuse, exploitation or other forms of adversity.

We recognise the value that lived experience brings and welcome applicants who can use their experiences positively to inspire and support others.

What we will do to support you
We are committed to helping our volunteers succeed and develop. You will receive:

• A full induction programme

• Ongoing training and development opportunities

• Regular supervision and support

• Reflective practice sessions to build your confidence and skills

• Opportunities to gain valuable experience within a supportive and professional environment

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

This role requires a basic DBS check.

For queries,or require further support,please contact [email protected]

Closing date: 18th Sept 2026 at 9am. Interviews: 06th Oct 2026.

Since 1899, Birmingham Settlement has been working to create opportunity and choice – connecting and empowering people through action, activities, and shared learning to build and sustain wellbeing for all.

Debt & Welfare Benefit Advisers

Salary: £30,000 pa (review after 6-months)

35 hours per week, 25 days A/L + contributory pension scheme

Birmingham Settlement is looking to build its Money Advice Team and has several vacancies for experienced Debt & Welfare Benefit Advisers.

As an experienced Adviser you will already have a background in providing effective, high-quality debt and welfare benefits advice to a wide range of clients in differing circumstances.

Based at one of our offices in Ladywood, Kingstanding, or Newtown, and with outreach work in other areas of the city we are looking for Advisers with drive, enthusiasm and a proactive approach to support our clients to get the outcomes they need. You will be adaptable, solution focused and possess excellent communication skills along with a flexible approach and ability to manage your own workload.

You will be joining a long established and professional Money Advice Team providing specialist advice with a holistic approach that covers all areas of debt and welfare benefit along with financial literacy training to build and continually improve money management and financial capability.

Our Money Advice Team sits within the overall Settlement which provides a wide range of community support services covering all ages and aspects of need, please see our website.

This is a great opportunity to join a progressive charity making a real difference to people’s lives.

 For an informal discussion about the role call Theresa Gniadkowski

This is an active recruitment; early applications are encouraged

For an application pack visit our website or email us or write to Human Resources, Birmingham Settlement Sports & Community Centre, 600 Kingstanding Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham, B44 9SH

Closing date for applications: Thursday 3rd September 2026

Interviews: To be confirmed

Birmingham Settlement is committed to Equality of Opportunity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Registered charity number 517303

We are looking for a Housing and Destitution Caseworker to join our small, impactful team and provide or co-ordinate advice on welfare and housing issues to migrants. 

ABOUT US

Hackney Migrant Centre (HMC) is a community-based charity providing free legal advice, casework support and holistic support services to refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants.

Approximately 50% of the people we support are homeless, and many are experiencing destitution due to precarious immigration status, the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) restriction or whilst living undocumented in the UK. HMC’s work is informed by our vision of a UK where no one is forced into destitution, exploitation, or vulnerability because of their immigration status.

HMC is currently a small team of 7 employees, including a CEO, Community Manager, Immigration Team Manager, Immigration Caseworker and Access to Justice Coordinator, and an Administrative Support Officer alongside a larger team of up to 60 volunteers.

ABOUT OUR SERVICES

We are based in our office in Stoke Newington, where we provide immigration advice & representation and our housing advice and casework support services. We also offer regular community sessions in a local venue on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month. We call these sessions our ‘Wednesday Service’. The Wednesday Service has historically been the heart and soul of HMC, and it continues to play a key role in our service delivery, accessibility and community presence.

Our Wednesday Service is a multi-functioning hub, offering a warm, welcoming and accessible space for:

• Legal advice appointments with HMC advisors and external specialist partners

• Casework appointments with staff and specialist volunteers

• Holistic advocacy appointments delivered by our volunteers

Our team supports an average of 350 people across all our service areas.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Housing and Destitution Caseworker will provide or co-ordinate advice on welfare and housing issues to migrants. This will include people visiting the Wednesday Service or referred by the Immigration Team. The post holder will assist with follow-up casework, and recruit and develop a small volunteer Housing and Destitution Support Team to support with these tasks. The post-holder will work to build partnerships with external specialist advisers, to expand our diagnostic advice provision and support with successful referrals for onward legal challenges.

Main duties

• Provide casework and advocacy support to homeless and destitute migrants regarding housing, and welfare entitlements including asylum support, Children Act and Care Act duties, mainstream benefits and homeless duties.

• Develop and coordinate partnerships with external specialist housing advisors to deliver housing advice and take on cases where able.

• Recruit and induct volunteers to a small Housing and Destitution Support Team and supervise their work.

• Keep up to date with legislation and practical guidance required to support destitute migrants, including attending relevant training sessions.

• Provide training to HMC’s volunteers on housing and destitution issues.

• Make referrals to public law/community care and housing legal representatives for complex casework and legal challenges such as judicial review.

• Identify where visitors need to access mental health or specialist support and escalate safeguarding concerns in line with HMC’s safeguarding procedures.

• Maintain records on all casework, regularly review progress during the casework journey, and ensure that cases are closed when support has ended.

Partnerships

• Develop links and partnerships with other organisations to enable effective joint working.

• Collect information, statistics and case studies on destitute migrants and the issues they face for the purposes of improving service quality and to meet the requirements of funders.

• Contribute case studies and statistical data to relevant policy/strategic legal work carried out by HMC and other partner organisations.

• Attend forums of organisations working in the sector to share best practice and evidence from HMC’s frontline work.

Additional responsibilities

• Administrative tasks relevant to the post

• Help to cover the work of the team during absences

• Contribute to HMC’s housing and destitution guides and signposting materials

• Support with the wider work of the organisation as needed, including assisting with the set-up and pack-down of the Wednesday Service and associated events.

• Implement sensitively HMC’s policies and procedures, especially with regards to confidentiality

• and diversity, equity and inclusion

• Work collaboratively with other HMC staff, volunteers and professional advisors

• Participate actively in staff meetings, and other meetings as may reasonably be required

• Attend HMC Trustees’ meetings as required

HOW TO APPLY

If you would like to apply for this position, please submit a Covering Letter (no more than 1 page) and CV, demonstrating how you meet the requirements in the person specification (below) via the Charity Job website.

Two professional references will be requested if successful at interview. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an appropriate level of DBS check.

We know that women and people from marginalised or under-represented groups- including people of colour- tend to apply only for roles where they meet 100% of the criteria. We encourage you to apply if you have an interest in the role even if you do not meet all the criteria below, particularly if you have lived experience of migration.

Please note that we can only accept applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK. If you do not have the right to work in the UK but you are interested in supporting HMC, please see our website for opportunities to volunteer with us.

The application deadline is 23.30 on Saturday 19th September, and we expect to hold interviews in the week beginning 5th October 2026.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

E = Essential, D = Desirable

Experience

E – Experience providing advice and casework support to destitute migrants and/or experience of providing housing advice and casework support to people facing homelessness.

E – Experience of providing support, supervision and training to volunteers

E- Experience communicating clearly and professionally with a range of audiences, including the public and statutory services.

E – Track record of working in a team in a highly pressurised, front-facing environment.

D – Experience of maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range of agencies

D – Experience of recording and reporting outcomes to funders

Knowledge / Skills

E - Knowledge of the rights of migrants seeking housing, and community care support in the UK and the UK’s housing and homelessness services and support provision.

E – Understanding of the UK asylum support provisions.

E – Knowledge of refugee, migrant and homelessness organisations and other relevant organisations to support referrals and signposting.

E - Excellent IT skills, including Outlook, Microsoft Office, Sharepoint, CRM databases (HMC uses Lamplight).

D - Working knowledge of UK immigration legislation affecting refugees and migrants and the impact of the hostile environment on migrants.

D – Experience of recognising and responding to safety and safeguarding concerns, and supporting members of the public in a trauma-informed way.

Personal

E - Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills.

E - Ability to work with vulnerable migrants with sensitivity and cultural awareness.

E - Demonstrable commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and of advancing the rights of migrants in the UK.

E - Commitment to ongoing learning and development and keeping up to date with legislative developments which will have an impact on migrants.

E - Ability on occasion to work outside of normal office hours (e.g. evening meetings).

Advice Service Manager

Do you have a passion for helping people and a solid understanding of the current welfare benefits system? Do you have excellent Microsoft Excel skills (to efficiently manage, analyse and visualise data)?

We're looking for highly motivated, committed and experienced individual to join the existing Management Team as an Advice Service Manager.

If this sounds like you, then apply today!

Position: Advice Service Manager

Location: Chesterfield or Ilkeston (hybrid mix of home and office working)

Salary: £36,887.00 per annum, pro rata

Hours: Full-Time (37 hours per week)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 31st August 2026

About the Role

In this role you will take the lead on managing assigned advice services, projects and the staff working on these, as well as contributing to the running of the wider organisation and working in collaboration with Service Managers and Supervisors. You will be responsible for monitoring and improving the performance of the services, including oversight of KPIs and quality metrics.

Main areas of responsibility include:

• Service Management
• Performance and Quality
• Stakeholder Engagement and Development
• Data, Reporting, and Compliance
• Staff and Team Leadership
• Training and Development
• Teamwork and Relationships

There is flexibility in this role which allows for some irregular shift patterns and remote or home working where appropriate, as well as travel to the offices when required.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. The organisation is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and hold the Derbyshire LGBT+ Rainbow Accreditation.

About You

We are looking for someone with strong and wide-ranging advice knowledge, an understanding of the holistic services offered by the organisation, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidates will have:

• Excellent communication skills
• A non-judgemental, empathetic approach to people
• Strong IT and digital skills, with the ability to learn new systems quickly
• Strong, demonstrable Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to efficiently manage, analyse, and visualise data
• A commitment to working to performance targets and KPIs
• A solid understanding of the current welfare benefits system

With experience of:

• Managing, recruiting, motivating, and developing staff.
• Supervising or managing an advice service or project.
• Monitoring and managing performance against quality standards and KPIs.
• Using case management systems and producing performance reports.
• Leading teams, prioritise workloads, and make decisions in a high-demand environment

About the Organisation

Join a local charity that provides free, confidential, independent and impartial advice to everyone across Amber Valley, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash and High Peak.

This advice can help people find a way forward with their problems, whoever they are, whatever the problem.

What is on offer:

The charity offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth:

• Generous annual leave: 35 days per year (pro rata), including all bank holidays and Christmas
• Buy/sell leave scheme: Flexibility to buy or sell up to one week of leave each year (pro rata)
• Employee Assistance Programme: Includes wellbeing support, free counselling, and lifestyle perks
• Contractual sick pay: depended on length of service
• Long service rewards: Extra leave and gift cards after five years of service and beyond
• Workplace pension: Auto-enrolment into our pension scheme
• Hybrid working: the option to work from home, if it works for you and for the team

Successful candidates will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and provide proof of Right to Work. Please note that the organisation does not hold a sponsor licence.

Other roles you may have experience of include Welfare, Benefits, Housing, Welfare Advisor, Benefits Advisor, Housing Advisor, Welfare Officer, Benefits Officer, Housing Officer, Advice, Advisor, Caseworker.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

“Providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice”

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

Are you an experienced debt advice specialist ready to step into a leadership role? Do you want to use your technical expertise to support a team making a real difference in South London?

We are seeking a Money Advice Technical Supervisor to lead our dedicated debt and money advice services in Southwark. In this vital role, you will ensure our community receives the highest quality financial guidance while directly shaping the skills of our frontline advising team.

What you will do:

• Lead Quality Assurance: Conduct file reviews and case audits to maintain compliance with FCA regulations and the Advice Quality Standard (AQS).
• Support the Team: Act as the technical point of escalation, providing daily guidance, coaching, and feedback to advisers and volunteers.
• Manage Complex Cases: Oversee high-level casework, including Debt Relief Orders (DROs), bankruptcy, and severe housing arrears.
• Drive Performance: Monitor team outcomes against local project targets to ensure efficient and impactful service delivery.

What we are looking for:

• A minimum of 2 years of experience delivering specialist money or debt advice.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or checking the work of other advisers. 
• Ability to manage a challenging caseload, meet targets and prioritise work in the face of competing demands on your time.
• Ability to respond sensitively to clients from a variety of backgrounds who are under pressure and negotiate with third parties in order to minimise conflict.

Closing date: 9.00 am Monday 24 August 2026

Interviews will take place on: Thursday 27 August 2026

For further information and an application pack please go to 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.

Money and Benefits Adviser

We are looking for a dedicated and experienced Generalist Adviser working as a Money and Benefits Caseworker.

This is an exciting opportunity to provide specialist welfare benefits advice and casework to people affected by cancer, helping them navigate financial challenges and access the support they are entitled to. Working as part of a compassionate and professional team, you will play a vital role in reducing financial hardship and improving wellbeing for clients at some of the most difficult times in their lives.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds as the organisation is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and holds the Derbyshire LGBT+ Rainbow Accreditation

Position: Generalist Adviser

Location: Derbyshire (Remote working with travel to healthcare and community settings and quarterly meeting in the local office)

Salary: £29,806.00 per annum, pro rata

Hours: Full-Time (37 hours per week) Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 21st August 2026

About the Role

We're looking for highly motivated and committed individuals to provide specialist advice and representation on welfare benefits, grants and financial support, managing a caseload that includes complex cases, mandatory reconsiderations and appeals. The Money & More Benefits Caseworker supports clients across all stages of the cancer pathway, including diagnosis, treatment, palliative care and end-of-life support. You will deliver advice through a range of channels including telephone, email, digital platforms and face-to-face appointments within healthcare and community settings.

Key duties include:

· Deliver specialist welfare benefits advice and casework.

· Manage a varied caseload, including complex benefit appeals and tribunal work.

· Support clients to maximise income through benefits, grants and other financial assistance.

· Advocate and negotiate on behalf of clients with third parties.

· Work collaboratively with healthcare professionals, community organisations and partner agencies.

· Maintain accurate case records and meet quality assurance standards.

· Contribute to service development, research and campaigns work.

About You

The ideal candidates will have:

· Significant experience providing welfare benefits advice and casework, including Mandatory Reconsiderations and Appeals

· A strong understanding of welfare benefits legislation and financial support available to vulnerable clients

· Experience supporting vulnerable people using a person-centred and empathetic approach

· Experience managing a caseload and achieving targets and deadlines

· A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

· Excellent communication skills both written and verbal

· A non-judgemental, empathetic approach to people

· Strong IT and digital skills, with the ability to learn new systems quickly

Successful candidates will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and provide proof of Right to Work.

About the Organisation

Join a local charity that provides free, confidential, independent and impartial advice to everyone across Amber Valley, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash and High Peak.

This advice can help people find a way forward with their problems, whoever they are, whatever the problem.

What is on offer:

The charity offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth:

· Generous annual leave: 35 days per year (pro rata), including all bank holidays and Christmas

· Buy/sell leave scheme: Flexibility to buy or sell up to one week of leave each year (pro rata)

· Employee Assistance Programme: Includes wellbeing support, free counselling, and lifestyle perks

· Contractual sick pay: depended on length of service

· Long service rewards: Extra leave and gift cards after five years of service and beyond

· Workplace pension: Auto-enrolment into our pension scheme

· Hybrid working: the option to work from home, if it works for you and for the team

Successful candidates will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and provide proof of Right to Work. Please note that the organisation does not hold a sponsor licence.

Other roles you may have experience of include Money and Benefits Adviser, Money Advisor, Benefits Advisor, Housing Advisor, Cancer Support, Cancer Advice and Support.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

Liverpool Innovation Park- Flexible hybrid working minimum 3 days office based
(Available for experienced Energy Debt Specialists only after training on the telephone platform is completed.)

Term: Fixed Term until 31st March 2028

Hours: 35 hours per week

About the Role

Responsibilities:

1. Provide advice and a limited casework service covering the full range of debt and money management advice, including breathing space, debt relief orders, bankruptcy, and debt management plans.

2. Maintaining standards of service delivery and ensuring that advice and casework conforms to the Citizens Advice membership requirements, the Advice Quality Standard, and the minimum individual file review score of the Money and Pensions Service Advice Quality Framework.

3. Complying  with systems for monitoring and reporting purposes.

4. Working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure that the service area meets key performance indicators and targets.

5. Analyse and interpret complex information, communicating this effectively in writing with particular emphasis on negotiation and representation.

Research and Campaigns

1. Keeping  up to date and participating in current research trends and campaign issues by providing information on a client’s circumstances,

Essential Criteria

1. An understanding of and commitment to the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service including a strong commitment to equality and diversity.

2. An understanding of the problems and issues associated with unmanageable debt, particularly energy debt, and their implications for clients and advice service provision.

3. Recent experience of providing advice to the Advice Quality Standard and/or the willingness and ability to complete full debt advice training.

4. A good understanding of the skills and techniques used in interviewing through telephone and digital advice channels.

5. The ability to understand the needs of others and to empower clients to take action for themselves.

6. The ability to monitor and maintain own standards, prioritise work and meet deadlines and targets.

7. The ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to challenge constructively.

8. The ability to work as part of a team and to respond positively to change.

Here are some examples of how we help our clients:

In Person Enquiry.

Mr Jones attended our drop-in service regarding multiple debts which had accumulated when, due to severe and sudden illness, he was forced to finish work. Mr Jones was unable to communicate by telephone due to his illness so needed in person support. He was anxious as his creditors had been contacting him asking him for payments and some were threatening court action.

The Caseworker helped Mr Jones obtain details of all his debts. They arranged a formal Breathing Space to stop further action from his creditors for 60 days. The Caseworker helped Mr Jones complete a budget, checked his benefit income was correct, and helped him claim charitable support to maximise his income. They also looked at practical ways of helping him reduce his bills and expenditure. Unfortunately, Mr Jones still had very limited income to make affordable payment arrangements to his creditors.

The Caseworker then advised him of all the options and solutions available. Mr Jones chose a Debt Relief Order insolvency solution, which the Caseworker completed, to give him a fresh start by effectively clearing his debts.

Telephone Enquiry.

Miss Smith contacted our advice line for help with her energy arrears. She struggled with a language barrier due to a limited level of English and was vulnerable due to a mental health condition. With a combination of several telephone calls, together with interpreting services, the Caseworker was able to successfully help her.

The Caseworker contacted the fuel provider concerned and advised of her vulnerabilities. They requested that Miss Smith’s details were placed on the Priority Services Register. Even though it was Wintertime, Miss Smith had not been topping up her prepayment meter as she could not afford to do so, so arrears via unpaid standing charges, were also accruing. The meter was also in an awkward position, so she found it difficult to access to top up. The Caseworker assisted her in contacting the fuel provider to install a new smart meter which she could access easier. Miss Smith was then able to use an app to top up her meter which she found more convenient.

The Caseworker assisted Miss Smith in completing a budget, benefit claims, charitable support and fuel vouchers. The Caseworker looked at ways of reducing her expenditure and easy energy efficiency measures Miss Smith could undertake herself in her home.

As a result of these actions, Miss Smith then had some disposable income and was able to start to top up her prepayment meter regularly and keep warm. The Caseworker also assisted her with the completion of a successful trust fund application to her fuel provider, to repay the arrears in full.

Requirements

Person Specification:

1. To be appointed as an Energy Debt Specialist, you will need to have knowledge and experience of complex debt casework, covering priority and  non-priority debt advice, options, and insolvency solutions.

You will also need to have the Institute of Money Advisers Certificate in Money Advice Practice or MaPS Caseworker accreditation equivalent. NEA Level 3 City and Guilds Level Energy Awareness would be desirable too.

• OR for a trainee - at least 6 months’ experience of delivering excellent customer service in a regulated environment such as banking, insurance, or a contact centre.

2. Experience of achieving performance and quality targets/KPIs.

3. Ability and willingness to undertake training and development to comply with Money and Pensions Service and Citizens Advice quality standards.

4. Effective oral and written communication skills.

5. Numerate to the level required by the tasks.

6. IT literate with the ability to use software packages including Microsoft Office products in the provision of advice and preparation of formal written materials.

7. Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.

How to Apply

For more information and to apply, please click on the redirect button.

About us

Citizens Advice Liverpool is a charity that provides free, confidential and impartial advice to people who live and work in the city. We depend on a workforce of paid staff and over 120 trained volunteers. We give people the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem. We are the leading provider of advice and advocacy services in Liverpool and have helped clients with over 106,000 issues in 2022/2023.

CAL have achieved accreditation with the Workplace Wellbeing Charter, showing we are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our workforce. We've also gained an award for outstanding contribution by an employer to workplace health and wellbeing 2022 by Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust.

We've gained awards from Citizens Advice National recognising our Advising Margainalised Communities Team for championing equity, diversity and inclusion in both 2021 and 2021. We were also named volunteer team of the year in 2022.