Welfare Benefits Specialist

Various locations across Liverpool

About the Role

• Work with a team of welfare benefit advisers to ensure effective support, supervision and appraisal

• Maintain effective admin systems and records, work cooperatively with colleagues, encourage good teamwork and clear lines of communication.

• Provide specialist welfare benefits advice in person and via digital channels to a small number of clients to support the team target and continuous development.

• Make home/outreach visits as necessary inc Torus Foundation and Citizens Advice buildings.

• Act for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters, negotiating with third parties as appropriate.

• Prepare and present welfare benefits cases to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals and courts as appropriate, up to and including level 2 tribunal.

• Provide advice and assistance to colleagues across the whole range of welfare issues.

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

• Carry out Quality of Advice Assessments and file reviews in accordance with agreed Advice quality standards and procedures

• Assist with social policy, providing information to inform CAL Senior Leadership Team

• Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to welfare and undertake appropriate training.

General

• Create a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are well managed, dignity at work is upheld and staff perform optimally.

• Ensure that all work meets quality standards and the requirements of the funder

• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.

• Assist with initiatives for the improvement of services.

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

• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for your own health and safety and that of colleagues.

• Identify own learning and development needs and take steps to address these with your Line Manager

• Key holder responsibility, opening and closing the building where necessary.

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

Requirements

1. Minimum of two years experience in welfare rights advice work

2. Extensive knowledge and experience of welfare benefits legislation.

3. Effective oral communication skills with particular emphasis on negotiating and representing.

4. Effective writing skills with particular emphasis on negotiating, representing and preparing reviews, reports and correspondence.

5. Ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow and develop agreed procedures.

6. Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage caseload.

7. Ability to use ICT in the provision of advice and the preparation of reports and submissions.

8. Ability to motivate and line manage staff

9. Ability to monitor and maintain own standards.

10. Demonstrate understanding of social policy trends and their implications for clients and service provision.

11. Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equal opportunities policies.

About us

Citizens Advice Liverpool in partnership with Citizens Advice St Helens and Citizens Advice Warrington are delivering a Welfare Benefits, Debt and Budgeting Advisory Service to Torus Housing tenants.

The Project Supervisor is responsible for supervising and overseeing the delivery of a Welfare Benefits Advisory Service. The supervisor will provide guidance, support, and leadership to a team of Welfare Benefits Caseworkers, ensuring the provision of high-quality welfare benefits advice to individuals and families in need. The role requires strong supervisory, communication, and organisational skills to effectively support the management of the project, monitor caseworkers' performance and adviser consultancy. The project supervisor will also be required to take on some casework for clients who require specialist advice regarding the review/appeals process, prepare clients for appeals tribunals and to represent at hearings where appropriate.