Entry level jobs for the Social Welfare sector

This is an exciting opportunity to join Citizens Advice Woking as part of a specialist partnership with i-access, Surrey’s drug and alcohol support service. As a Generalist Adviser, you will work directly with individuals in recovery, helping them navigate some of the most challenging issues they face - including welfare benefits, debt, and housing.

Working across a mix of in-person, remote, and outreach settings, you will provide tailored, practical advice that helps people overcome immediate crises and build longer-term stability. You’ll take time to understand each client’s situation in depth, explore their options, and where needed, actively support them - whether that’s completing applications, negotiating with third parties, or advocating on their behalf.

This role is about more than advice - it’s about empowering people at a critical point in their lives. You’ll work closely with i-access staff to ensure a joined-up approach, while also being part of the wider Citizens Advice Woking team, connecting clients to additional support where needed.

We’re looking for someone who is confident managing a varied and sometimes demanding caseload, with strong listening skills, sound judgement, and the ability to turn complex information into clear, practical guidance. Experience in advice work is essential, and knowledge of welfare benefits, debt, or housing would be a strong advantage.

In return, you’ll be part of a supportive and purpose-driven organisation, with opportunities for ongoing development and the chance to make a meaningful, day-to-day difference in people’s lives.

The Hub Supervisor plays an essential role in the smooth running of the Bristol hubs, supporting all aspects of the food operation. You will work as part of a team to effectively support the hub operation, incoming goods, storage and dispatch of goods to member charities to high levels of compliance and service. This role will include working with a large and diverse team of volunteers throughout the week.

The role will be primarily based at our South Bristol Hub, where alongside our usual food redistribution operation and volunteering programme, we run our youth employability programme FareChance for 18 to 25-year-olds to develop logistics and workplace experience.

Duties and responsibilities:

Hub Support

• Support the smooth running of food intake, storage, and food distribution, liaising with food industry representatives, FSUK, distribution companies and hauliers.

• Support the South Bristol Hub Manager and Fleet Manager in coordinating and maintaining the fleet of vans and machinery.

• Report to the South Bristol Hub Manager with operational improvements to increase efficiency and implement agreed changes. Volunteers and FareChance

• Oversee (under the direction of the South Bristol Hub Manager) FareChance participants, regular volunteers and corporate volunteers on hub shifts, delegating and assigning tasks, providing training and supervising work to ensure all tasks completed effectively and safely.

• Provide positive role modelling to FareChance participants and volunteers while undertaking warehousing tasks together. Goods In and Storage

• Follow FSSW goods-in procedures including liaising with suppliers, completing relevant paperwork, using inhouse software and fork-lifting duties and ensuring areas are ready to receive good in and dispatch orders at all times.

• Manage storage of stock within the hub, including stock checks, rotations and sharing of best practice

• Oversee the dispatch of goods through deliveries and collections ensuring all FSSW procedures are followed.

• Liaise with the wider FSSW team and FSUK to report quality, quantities, and other issues.

Compliance and Health & Safety

• Operate according to the FSUK HACCP Food Safety Manual and FSSW compliance standards and processes, providing high levels of compliance

• Support the South Bristol Hub Manager to ensure compliance with relevant food hygiene, health & safety, and other standards applicable to FSSW premises, vehicles, refrigeration equipment, staff, and volunteers.

• Undertake relevant training in food hygiene, safeguarding and health & safety

General

• Respond to/answer any enquiries/communications via telephone, email, in person or via inhouse IT/systems.

• Support FSSW events.

• Carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in support of the main purpose of the role, including liaising with the wider FSSW team.

• Uphold high quality care and standards of conduct when dealing with all stakeholders and the public, acting as an ambassador at all times.

• Support the security of the FSSW sites and assets.

• Driving and fork-lifting duties where appropriate.

Person Specification 

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Problem solver and competent decision maker

• Full UK driving licence and forklift truck operator’s qualification (or willing to train as an essential part of the role)

• IT competent and able to use various IT platforms/systems

• A clear commitment to the ethos of FSSW

Desirable

• 1 years’ experience of working in warehousing operations

• Voluntary sector experience

• Experience of working with people who require support

• Experience and knowledge of adhering to health and safety standards

• Experience of working within a food operation

• Qualification in Food & Hygiene Level 2

• Experience of supervising staff and/or volunteers and delegating tasks

• Experience of delivering training

We welcome applications from people with convictions. This role requires an enhanced DBS check so applicants will be asked to disclose relevant unspent convictions at a later stage of the recruitment process. If you are asked to disclose, the information will be handled confidentially and used to assess your suitability for the role.