Macmillan welfare benefits advisor jobs
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Citizens Advice Surrey Heath (CA-SH) is an independent local charity and a company limited by guarantee.
We provide free, confidential, impartial, and independent advice and information for the benefit of the local community, to exercise a responsible influence on the development of social policies and to ensure individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge or an inability to express their needs effectively.
The Role
Reporting to the Chair of the Trustee Board, the Chief Officer
● Is responsible to the Trustee Board for the management and leadership of Citizens Advice Surrey Heath.
● Represents Citizens Advice Surrey Heath to funders, partners and stakeholders.
● Ensures the delivery of a high quality, impartial and confidential service, utilising both paid staff and volunteers.
● Is responsible for the continuing funding, planning and financial management of the service.
● Represents the organisation in Surrey Heath and contributes to the overall provision of strategic advice services in the borough.
In particular, the priorities for the Chief Officer in 2026 will be to
● Manage CA-SH’s external relationships, with our funders and the Surrey Heath community generally, to ensure satisfaction with the delivery of current projects.
● Build on the current income base, in terms of increased existing project budgets, new projects, and diversifying the income base.
● Explore opportunities to potentially integrate with other local Citizens Advice in Surrey to ensure long-term sustainability and strengthen our impact, in line with the new Unitary Authority structure.
The role requires working closely with the Operations Manager, who will be responsible for staff, volunteers, and, generally, the internal CA-SH operation.
Person specification
Essential
1. Understanding of the voluntary sector and, in particular, knowledge of the strategic and policy environment in which the advice sector, and particularly Citizens Advice operates.
2. Proven ability to devise and implement strategic development and resource plans, particularly in the area of service development, staff development and the management of change.
3. Demonstrable track record of successful income generation and diversification, through promoting services, fundraising, and other activities.
4. Proven track record of devising funded projects, setting them up for delivery and delivering them against agreed targets.
5. Proven ability to lead, motivate and contribute to a team.
6. Demonstrable track record of financial management and budgetary control.
7. Effective communication and presentation skills in person and in writing, to include researching and interpreting complex information and producing clear verbal and written reports, both internally and externally.
8. Proven ability to earn and maintain the trust of stakeholders.
9. Track record in project management.
Desirable
1. Understanding of, and commitment to, Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies.
2. Broad understanding of the operation of local and national government, and the administration of public and legal services, including an understanding of commissioning.
3. Demonstrable ability in people management, particularly in the voluntary sector.
4. Ability to create a positive working environment in which equity and diversity are well managed, and staff are empowered and motivated to do their best.
5. Ability to communicate and work well with a governing body.
6. Track record of managing ICT in a working environment, including ICT business planning, managing information and supplier relations.
Staff Benefits
● 6% Employer Pension Contribution
● A company that is committed to its employees, valuing their knowledge, creativity, and flexibility
● Flexible, hybrid working
● Free parking
● Ongoing personal training and development
● The chance to work with amazing people and a nationally recognised charity.
Thank you!
The Tenovus Macmillan Welfare Benefits First Contact Advisor Role
We’re excited to lead a pan-Wales Financial Health and Wellbeing Service funded through our Macmillan partnership to directly help people with a cancer diagnosis.
With your expert specialist knowledge and experience in the Welfare Benefits advice area you’ll be able to apply this within the cancer community at a crucial time for these individuals to meet their needs as a Welfare Benefits First Contact Advisor and join us in a 3 Year Fixed Term Contract.
You'll need to be available to attend a Cardiff Assessment Centre week commencing 20th April for a 1st June start date.
The Tenovus Macmillan Welfare Benefits First Contact Advisor Role Details
This is a first line, important and meaningful holistic information and advice-giving role for an experienced Welfare Benefits Advisor. It’s about using information you collect to provide immediate welfare benefits advice and guidance, and/or refer, escalate and signpost seamlessly to other colleagues and services according to client needs.
It’s a rewarding welfare benefits job working with people with a cancer diagnosis. It’s one where you’ll make an immediate difference through your practical and sound advice, existing customer service skills and knowledge and experience in the welfare benefits area.
The role is primarily home based with Cardiff Head Office working welcome. You’ll need to be flexible to commute to Cardiff as required with a higher concentration of days during your induction and probation period for training and team interaction on at least a monthly basis.
Working as part of a Financial Health and Wellbeing service, you’ll be making a first line assessment to determine urgency and priority for new client referrals gathering key financial and health information. Your work is mainly done over the phone but may also be in person or digitally where you’ll be advising and making decisions on next actions including giving advice to complete your cases, referring on or escalating the most complex cases.
Service referrals may come from cancer medical professionals or self-referrals from cancer patients. What’s important is you understand the whole picture and gather the right level of financial health information to give appropriate financial benefits advice and signpost to other services from the start of the relationship, so all potential cancer support opportunities are handled professionally.
Our service user experience is key, you’ll make sure the way you work is professional and personable and quality. You’ll be supporting and advising your own caseload of clients with a chronic cancer condition or a life-limiting cancer prognosis so knowledge of working with people with disabilities, people too ill to work or in a distressing situation is something you can comfortably manage in a targeted environment.
The Tenovus Macmillan Welfare Benefits First Contact Advisor Fit
We’re looking for a team player who is experienced in this type of benefits advice field. You can comfortably manage a busy caseload, glean key information and tailor your communication style in a common sense and logical approach. It’s not just in doing the nuts and bolts of the job but how you go about it that matters just as much.
Making a difference for people affected by cancer is at the heart of what we do. Our values are our guiding principles in how we go about doing that in the way we think, go about work and interact with people and across teams.
Solution solving with a collaborative and open mind, being inclusive and super supportive and team focused means you’ll fit in well. You work in a way that can adapt to dealing with curve balls and know when to ask for help all whilst keeping on top of the day to day focus on what’s important to achieve our shared goals.
If you’re an adaptable and motivated person who’s proud to deliver quality work, has a people focused attitude and is excited to be part of our work we’d love to hear from you.
The Tenovus Macmillan Welfare Benefits First Contact Advisor Skills
We’d love to see your application demonstrating how your skills or experience match the job role essentials and understand your motivation behind your application and what you’d bring to the team.
To be great in this role you’re skilled with:
- The expert Welfare Benefits advice knowledge & customer service capabilities -you confidently know and can explain your stuff and help others well taking on feedback
- Producing well managed and quality work on time – you’re careful and double check your work, manage your own time independently and are results focused to get a job done well within a deadline
- A flexible approach to working – your attitude’s good when there’s pressure to deliver and you adapt to the flow of work recognising where you need to change your focus
- Being collaborative, team and people focused – you know how to deliver great customer service. You work well with your colleagues to help them, listen to others’ ideas and put forward your own ones and demonstrate how you treat customers, so they feel valued
- Solution solving – you’ve a positive and resilient attitude looking for the best options in any situation or challenge things appropriately when coming up with a new idea or have a suggestion
At Tenovus Cancer Care we’re guided in all that we do by our core values. These are: Collaborative, Integrity, Innovative, Respectful and Inclusive. We’re dedicated to making our workplace diverse and inclusive where everyone feels they belong and can be their authentic selves at work. This means that whatever your background you’ll have an equal opportunity with us.
With our commitment to safeguarding the successful candidate’s role is eligible for an enhanced DBS check (Adults)
Applying is easy, just click the ‘Apply Now’ button at the top of the page and follow the online process. If you’d like any help with your application or to discuss any adjustments you may need please contact our People Team.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
We are here for everyone affected by cancer We offer information, advice and specialist support to everyone who needs it.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.