Senior welfare benefits advisor jobs
PCS is seeking a motivated and experienced individual to join our Member Response team as Team Leader. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the growth and success of the union by leading a dynamic team handling queries and calls. This post is based in PCS Birmingham with hybrid working arrangements. This role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact in our union.
Salary and Location
- Band 3, Regional Spine points 37-33
- Starting salary: £39,403 p.a. rising to £43,715 p.a. in annual increments
- PCS Birmingham
Successful candidates for the Member Response Team Leader will be able to demonstrate:
- Experience leading teams or supervising staff
- Working in a customer-focused organisation or service
- A strong understanding of GDPR
- Experience using CRM platforms such as Salesforce
The main duties of the Member Response Team Leader role include:
- Managing a team of Member Response Team Administrators
- Day-to-day operations of the team
- Ensuring workflows are managed efficiently and service level agreements are consistently met
With an ability to foster a positive and collaborative working environment both remotely and in person, the Member Response Team Leader will be expected to provide clear direction, conduct appraisals, and support the professional development of their team. Strong leadership skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and the ability to motivate and engage staff are essential.
The role of Member Response Team Leader offers hybrid working with flexibility to work from home outside of peak periods. Due to key operational and democratic activities, the Member Response Team Leader will be required to attend the office daily from February to April each year and additional periods throughout the year. Outside of this period, hybrid flexibility will apply in line with team needs and organisational policy.
Closing date: at 12 midday on Thursday 22 January 2026
Interviews will be in person: Thursday 5 February 2026
About PCS
PCS is the Public and Commercial Services Union, representing many thousands of members working in the civil service and related areas.
Employer Benefits
You will have access to a generous package of staff benefits including
- flexible working (including hybrid working)
- childcare and family support
- generous maternity/paternity leave
- 32 days leave and Christmas closure
- pension scheme
- employee assistance programme
Learning and Development
The union offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities. We will work with you to support your continued professional development.
PCS Recruiting Process
We use CVMinder to manage all recruitment activities. It helps us to maintain our commitment to equality and diversity by ensuring that we are fair and compliant with our recruiting practices.
Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified.
Candidates invited for interview are required to make themselves available on the date/s specified. Interview dates cannot be changed to accommodate candidates who are unavailable to attend on the specified date.
- CVs will not be accepted. Please see the job description/person specification and follow the application process.
- PCS is working towards equal opportunities and is positive about disabled people.
- All posts can be considered on a full-time, part-time or job share basis.
Please view our guidance for applicants.
JOB DESCRIPTION: MEMBER RESPONSE TEAM LEADER
Ref: 0226
Grade: Band 3, Birmingham
Salary:
Spine points 37- 33
Starting salary £39,403 p.a. rising to £43,715 p.a.
Location: PCS Birmingham
Purpose of the job:
To assist in maximising the potential for union growth, development and success through managing, co-ordinating and supporting the work of the Member Response Team, in line with PCS policy and our ethos as an organising union.
Responsible to: Member Response Team Manager
Responsible for: Member Response Administrators
Contacts
External:
PCS Union Representatives, Members, Government Departments, Employees of other trade unions, Suppliers, TUC, Employers, legal and other professional advisors, other external contacts
Internal:
PCS staff and officials, Bargaining Units, Membership and Balloting, and other internal departments
Main duties and responsibilities
1. People Management
- Day-to-day management of staff and workflow
- Manage work allocation, future planning and support for team/line manager
- Through the appraisal system, identify training and development needs, train or organise training for staff
- Undertake induction programmes, 1 to 1s and appraisals with staff as appropriate
- Apply the staff conduct policies e.g. discipline, grievance, capability, dignity at work and IT security policies as and when required
- Check work standards and maintain consistent quality of delegated tasks
- Proactively promote diversity including equality in line with the wider PCS approach
- Continuously improve effectiveness and efficiency of the administrative team
- Ensure health, safety and welfare of team members
2. Systems Management
- Develop and make best use of relevant systems e.g. office, IT, finance, etc.
- Attend relevant training and ensure staff are appropriately trained on system changes and developments
- Regularly reviewing existing systems, and ensure consistency and organisational best practice is followed
- Equality-proof and check that the design and operation of any new systems are in line with wider PCS policy, e.g. health and safety, and IT security policies, and make recommendations to senior officers as appropriate where new systems are designed that could be applicable to the wider union
- Implement an ongoing development and monitoring process for systems including managing resources, gathering, monitoring, collating and reconciling information, checking allocations, preparing reports, highlighting budget over and under spends
- Set up statistical systems to produce reports and analyse information i.e. membership reports, personal cases management system, equality statistics
- Organise and allocate work, deal with queries and correspondence, research information, produce briefs, documents and responses
- Ensure the membership system e.g. Salesforce is used to maintain up-to-date data
- Contract management work including scoping suppliers, drawing up tendering documents and recommendations, provide reports to bodies and committees
3. Team Working
- Proactively promote team working
- Initiate, organise, lead and participate in team meetings as appropriate
- Maintain high levels of confidentiality of sensitive issues at all times
- Provide assistance to team members
4. Office Coordination / Project Management
- Plan ahead and prioritise the teams work
- Share best practice with colleagues across the organisation
- Manage the physical work environment e.g. undertake risk assessments, coordinate office resources, review office layout in line with facilities systems, work with department head / SNO to deploy non-staff resources (e.g. office furniture and equipment) in the most effective manner
- Prepare for, attend and record meetings and events and take follow up action
- Liaise with senior officials both within PCS and external organisations e.g. trade unions, government departments and agencies
- Handle projects as directed by the line manager
- Deal with complex queries, issues, arising from staff or via correspondence from members
- Draft complex correspondence, briefs, reports as appropriate
5. Meeting, Conference, Election, Ballot, Events Arrangements
- Organise, co-ordinate and supervise arrangements for meetings, elections, conferences, seminars and other external and internal events
- Develop appropriate systems and support for events, conferences, elections, meetings, ballots, etc. e.g. ensuring computer and internet services are available, determine schedule for printing materials, and encourage participation
- Agree and manage timetables, processes and procedures
- Attend and contribute to events as appropriate
- Ensure compliance with rules and legal requirements, including equality issues, seeking guidance where appropriate
6. Union Organising and Campaigning (where appropriate)
- Co-ordinate and assist in the delivery of union organising activity at PCS members workplaces in support of and alongside the relevant PCS Officers
- Prepare, plan, and co-ordinate team(s) support for scheduled union organising and campaigning activity
- Maintain direct contact with PCS members within their workplace(s)/branches as required
- Co-ordinate and delegate union organising and campaigning support work/activity to direct staff team as required
7. General
- At all times implement and promote the PCSs Equal Opportunities Policy adhering to the PCS Values
- Take due and reasonable care of self and others in respect of Health & Safety at Work
- Participate in appraisal, training and development systems
- In all work activities, comply with data protection legislation and PCSs requirements for the protection of personal information and the privacy of individuals
- Act in a manner that enhances the work of the PCS and its overall public image
- Such other duties that may reasonably be required and which are within the level of the responsibility of this post
- Willing to work outside normal office hours and location subject to personal circumstances, and advanced notice
Person Specification: MEMBER RESPONSE TEAM LEADER
Ref: 0226
Date: January 2026
Location: PCS Birmingham
ESSENTIAL FACTORS
EXPERIENCE
- Working in a customer-focused organisation or service
- People management including induction, work allocation, appraisal and conduct
- Efficient set up and management of office systems, procedures and databases
- Draft and deal with complex correspondence and issues
- Events management, organisation and co-ordination
- Attend meetings, produce accurate records/notes of actions, follow up as appropriate
TRAINING
(including continuous professional development)
- Evidence of ongoing training and continuing professional development
- Commitment to undertake job-related training
- Commitment to participation in appraisal and development review process
- Commitment to staff development
KNOWLEDGE
- Impact and use of digital and IT applications, including Microsoft Office and Salesforce
- Knowledge and understanding of trade unions and work of the public sector
- Project management/project activity
- Understanding of the application of GDPR
SKILLS
- Ability to communicate effectively using written and oral channels, including reports and presentations, with a variety of audiences
- Ability to identify, research, analyse and present evidence, including statistics
- Ability to manage team to ensure efficient running of the work of the department/unit
- Ability to identify and set priorities
- Deal with confidential and sensitive information
- Operational decision making (within defined parameters)
OTHER
- Commitment to the application of Equal Opportunities policies and practices at work
- Understanding of own role in maintaining legal compliances within PCS (e.g. data protection; health and safety)
- Flexible approach to work and willing to work outside of normal office hours and location on occasions
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
About Talking Money
Talking Money is an independent charity providing free, expert money advice across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Our purpose, from a client’s perspective, is:
“Help me with my money worries in a way that suits me so I can get on with my life.”
We work holistically and person-centred, supporting people facing debt, poverty, rising living costs, poor housing and mental ill-health. Demand for our services continues to rise.
The opportunity
This newly created Fundraising Manager role is central to securing Talking Money’s long-term sustainability. Following funding changes, we are strengthening our income generation with a focus on trusts and foundations and corporate partnerships.
You will join a small, ambitious Leadership Team, shaping strategy while delivering income in a mission-driven organisation.
What you’ll do
- Lead and grow income from trusts and foundations, including multi-year funding
- Develop early-stage corporate partnerships aligned with our mission
- Write high-quality funding applications and reports
- Build strong, long-term relationships with funders and partners
- Track fundraising performance, forecasts and pipeline
- Work closely with colleagues to gather impact data and stories
- Contribute to Talking Money’s fundraising strategy
About you
You will be a confident, values-driven fundraiser with:
- A track record of securing income from trusts and foundations and/or corporate partners
- Excellent written communication skills
- Strong relationship-building skills
- The ability to think strategically while delivering operationally
- A collaborative and organised working style
- A commitment to equity, inclusion and whole-person support
Experience in small charities, individual giving or fundraising communications is welcome but not essential.
Why join us?
- Make a tangible difference to people facing financial hardship
- Shape a growing fundraising function
- Flexible, hybrid and part-time working
- A compassionate, values-led organisational culture
- Supportive leadership and realistic expectations
Benefits include 25–30 days annual leave (pro rata), 5% employer pension contribution, Employee Assistance Programme, health plan, and cycle-to-work and tech schemes.
How to apply
Please send:
- Your CV
- A supporting statement (max 2 pages)
Deadline: Thursday 15th January, 11pm
Interviews: Tuesday 20th January (in person)
Talking Money is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and an inclusive recruitment process, we welcome applications from people under-represented in the charity and advice sectors. Adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
To empower and enable people to tackle financial challenges through advice, financial education and support
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
This is an exciting opportunity to steer Asylum Aid at an important time in its 30-year existence. As Executive Director you will be responsible for delivering on our strategy for impact. You will oversee our work to increase access to expert, trauma-informed legal representation to those in the asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems and lead our policy and strategic legal work to achieve systemic change that contributes towards our vision.
You will line manage the Director of Legal Casework to oversee the provision of supportive and enabling leadership to Asylum Aid caseworkers so that they can continue to deliver high quality expert advice in complex cases, while being supported in their professional development and wellbeing. You will also manage and develop the work of our welfare advice team within the Westminster Advice Services Partnership and beyond, and work collaboratively with colleagues in the sector to build capacity and increase our impact.
The ideal candidate, who may be legally qualified, will have experience of leadership in the charity/NGO sector and a sound understanding of the asylum, human rights and trafficking processes in the UK and the legal frameworks which govern the protection of refugees, survivors of trafficking and stateless people, and of the role of law in achieving system change.
We are looking for someone who is strategically minded and passionate about providing supportive and inclusive leadership to our expert team. You will be committed to our objectives and to the role which expert legal representation plays in enabling people in need of protection in the UK to obtain it.
As is the nature of this sector, the role may be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst they will be supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and surrounding team, the candidate should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment and dissemination of those principles to junior members of the team.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership and strategy
·Be responsible, with the support of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO, for the development, implementation and monitoring of Asylum Aid’s organisational strategy
·Provide leadership and strategic direction at Asylum Aid in accordance with its aims and objectives, with the support of the Director of Legal Casework
·Act as external spokesperson for Asylum Aid, maintaining and strengthening Asylum Aid’s position as a leader in the refugee rights, statelessness and legal aid sectors;
·Work collaboratively with others in the sector to promote and strengthen Asylum Aid’s work, identify and establish potential partnerships, with the support of the Director of Legal Casework;
·Work collaboratively with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and Executive Leadership team to drive the implementation of the Group strategic framework;
·Ensure that all reporting and monitoring requirements are met to support fundraising, contract compliance and monitoring strategic impact;
·Support the cross collaboration of the Asylum Aid team with the Helen Bamber Foundation team and play an active part in the management of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group.
Governance
·Act as the Data Protection Supervisor with responsibility for data protection and cyber security within Asylum Aid
·Together with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and designated safeguarding leads, be responsible for child and adult safeguarding within Asylum Aid
·In collaboration with the Director of Legal Casework, ensure compliance by Asylum Aid with all legal and regulatory obligations, including the Legal Aid Agency contract, the Immigration Advice Authority and Solicitors Regulation Authority;
·Lead on the preparation and presentation of quarterly reports on Asylum Aid’s activities, strategy and risks to the Asylum Aid Board, the Finance and Fundraising Committee and the People and Governance Committee;
·Lead on the preparation of the Trustees’ annual report and ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are adequate to enable reporting on Asylum Aid’s activities and impact.
Management and Supervision
·Responsible for line management of the Director of Legal Casework and Welfare Advice service coordinator, and other team supervisors as required;
·Together with the Group Director of People, responsible for Human Resources and implementation of the People Strategy within Asylum Aid, including development and implementation of HR policies and procedures;
·Together with the Director of Legal Casework and team supervisors, drive the effective management and supervision of the Asylum Aid team and ensure that they comply with relevant professional standards and accreditation;
·Foster a supportive and inclusive team culture at Asylum Aid in which each member feels valued and supported to develop professionally and to perform to the best of their ability;
·Ensure the team’s well-being and that self-care practices are established and work in tandem with the Director of Legal Casework and supervisors to ensure trauma-informed ways of working.
Policy & Strategic Legal Work
·Together with the Group Director of Policy, identify policy priorities and coordinate the preparation of evidence and briefings drawing on Asylum Aid’s experience and expertise to influence system change;
·Build and maintain relationships and partnerships with sector colleagues to support joint strategic engagement including policy advocacy and strategic legal work;
·Work closely with the Director of Legal Casework and team supervisors to drive changes in the UK asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems through strategic legal work.
Finance & Fundraising
·Work closely with the CEO and the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Finance Team to set and manage budget(s) and general financial matters for Asylum Aid
·Together with the Director of Legal Casework and the Group Finance Team, establish systems for monitoring legal aid Work In Progress and billing, and securing casework income including legal aid, and inter partes income from judicial review cases;
·Work closely with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Fundraising and Communications Team to secure funding for Asylum Aid from a range of sources including trusts and foundations, corporate philanthropy and major donors;
·Ensure that Legal Aid and other income is maximised, and targets are achieved.
Other duties
·Manage the recruitment and supervision of volunteers where necessary in collaboration with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Volunteers Coordinator;
·Support the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Facilities team to ensure the smooth running of the office and that the facilities meet the needs of Asylum Aid;
·Work outside normal office hours as required and travel in order to carry out the responsibilities of the post.
·To undertake any task that may be requested from time to time that may be consistent with the nature and scope of this post.
Essential Experience, Skills and Knowledge
•Experience of running a small to medium sized charity/legal NGO and/or legal department within the NGO sector (or other equivalent senior management role);
•Demonstrable experience of managing and leading a successful team and the ability to manage a growing team with mixed roles from team supervisors to administrative support staff, working co-operatively with colleagues to maintain transparency and effective working relationships within the team;
•Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds
•Strong understanding of good governance including legal, regulatory and financial responsibilities;
•Ability to work with a range of stakeholders from trustees to external partners;
•Experience of leading and/or participating in organisational strategic planning;
·Experience of legal policy work within the human rights field and /or of strategic litigation, whether as an NGO claimant or legal representative;
•Experience of managing diverse funding sources and setting and implementing budgets;
•Experience of working in a service delivery partnership with other organisations;
•Experience of fundraising, especially grants from trusts and foundations;
•Sound working knowledge of the law and policy as it relates to immigration, asylum, human rights and modern slavery/trafficking;
•Demonstrable understanding of the asylum and human rights sector in the UK;
•An understanding of the barriers migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers face regarding access to legal advice, reasons why they may become destitute and why this makes it more difficult to access advice and support; and
•The passion for working empathetically and supportively with migrants, refugees, stateless people and asylum seekers.
Desirable Experience
·Experience of managing the delivery of frontline casework with people in the asylum or trafficking systems
·Experience of tendering for and delivering publicly funded contracts e.g. LAA or local authority funding;
·Working knowledge of Legal Aid Agency contracts, including the delivery of casework and billing under a legal aid contract in the immigration and asylum category and/or the public law category;
How to apply
The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 10am on Monday 26th January 2026.
The website form will ask you to:
1.Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.
2.Upload your current CV
3.Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional, and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.
For an informal conversation about the post before applying, please contact Alison Pickup, the current Executive Director.
Selection Process
We will invite candidates to an initial online interview on Tuesday 10th or Wednesday 11th February, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interviews at our office in Old Street on Tuesday 24th or Wednesday 25th February.
We offer a guaranteed initial interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they provide some evidence of relevant experience or skills in relation to the essential criteria.
We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.
Eligibility
Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).
Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.
Adjustments
We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our approach to our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and we are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer.
We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in.
We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from a range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma and of the housing and welfare system, who are under-represented in our organisation.
We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the advice sector. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK.
We are also proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector.
If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network and access other information and resources which may help in preparing your job application.
Please complete the form on their website to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
With the Carers Leave Act now a statutory requirement for all employers to support unpaid carers by giving five days unpaid carers leave, this is a pivotal time for working carers to receive the right support to remain in work.
Our best practise employer forum, Employers for Carers (EfC) works as a department of Carers UK and helps business create carer-friendly workplaces.
Carers UK is looking for an Account Executive to support the Income Generation and Communication department in delivering activities to maintain and grow significant income from Carers UK’s products and services, namely the Employers for Carers forum.
This is not a fundraising role but focuses on upselling our Employers for Carers product as earned income and account managing existing clients.
Find out more about Employers for Carers on our website.
About you
You will be highly confident approaching and building rapport with prospective and existing clients with a commitment to a sustained high level of outbound communication. Collaborative in approach and with excellent communication skills you will have the ability to prioritise and manage a combination of different tasks and work effectively and efficiently to tight deadlines. You’ll have experience of sales and account management and retention with experiencing in cross and upselling. You’ll feel passionate about our mission - to make life better for carers.
About the role
Carers UK’s Income Generation and Communication team is responsible for the organisation’s income stream. The postholder will assist the team to develop, deliver and grow its earned income activities. You will carry out prospects research to support new business development, while building relationships through active client engagement. You will receive relevant training, guidance and coaching.
We are a truly inclusive team; we offer flexibility and we live and breathe our values. We are Attentive, Ambitious and Achievers.
Diversity and inclusion
Carers UK is committed to becoming a diverse and truly inclusive organisation. We strive to create a workplace where our colleagues and volunteers can truly be themselves and feel like they belong and constantly seek to ensure all voices are heard.
To embrace this culture of diversity, our employee and volunteer recruitment should reflect our stakeholders and the society that we serve and support, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, disabilities or religious practices. We value individual diversity and are actively building diverse teams here at Carers UK and value our colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.
As a membership charity for carers, we particularly seek employees and volunteers with a real understanding of the issues faced by carers. Reasonable adjustments can be made to the process and role dependent on the needs of the applicant.
At Carers UK we want our application process to be as accessible as possible. If you need any adjustments to apply please contact us to discuss.
The closing date for applications is 5pm, Friday 30 January.
Carers UK anonymises all applications prior to shortlisting.
Carers UK reserves the right to appoint at any stage, should an outstanding candidate emerge.
Carers UK are actively interviewing as we receive applications.
Carers UK may carry out online and social media checks before a formal offer is made.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.