Specialist welfare benefits advisor jobs in islington, greater london

Client Adviser – Services & Grants Team

Location: Hybrid working (currently two days per week in our London office). 

Contract type: 1 year Fixed Term-Contract, 35 hours a week 

Starting Salary £35,790 per annum

About Bank Workers Charity

We’re the charity for past and present bank employees and their families – here when life gets tough.

Every year, we help thousands of people navigate challenges like financial problems, mental health concerns, housing issues and more. We do that through free, confidential support – from expert advice and specialist referrals to financial grants.

We believe everyone deserves support when they need it most and we work hard to make sure that happens. If you care about making a real difference to people’s lives, you’ll be in good company here.

 About the role

Our Client Advisers are often the first people our clients speak to – and that first conversation really matters.

Whether someone is facing financial hardship, struggling with their mental health, or unsure where to turn for help, you’ll be there to listen, understand, and guide them through the support we offer.

It’s a varied and rewarding role. You’ll provide advice and guidance, coordinate casework, process grants, and refer clients to our trusted partners – helping them access the right support at the right time.

You’ll be part of a friendly, collaborative team who share ideas, support one another, and care deeply about doing good work. We’ll make sure you’re fully trained, supported, and encouraged to grow.

If you’re empathetic, organised, and want to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives, this could be the role for you.

 About you

You’re someone who genuinely cares about helping others – and knows how to listen without judgement.

You have experience supporting people with things like housing, benefits, mental wellbeing or budgeting – or you might come from another role where empathy, problem-solving and clear communication were key.

Some of the people you support may be facing difficult situations, so you’ll be calm under pressure and confident making decisions. And while not every call is as complex, you’ll always have the support of your team.

You’ll be organised, curious, and open to learning. Most of all, you’ll want your work to have a tangible, positive impact on people’s lives.

What we offer

We’ve put a lot of energy into being a great place to work. We’re proud of our supportive culture and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. There are plenty of learning opportunities, and as a wellbeing charity we aim to be a leader in wellbeing support for our people.

Our benefits include:

· 28 days holiday, plus statutory bank holidays

· 8% employer contribution to Bank Workers Charity’s pension scheme and up to 3% matched with employee contributions

· A wide range of employer funded wellbeing experiences through Heka

· Flexible benefit provision (including Bupa plan, cycle to work, payroll giving and electric car scheme)

· Group Life Cover (three times annual salary)

· Weekly wellbeing half hour

· Employee Assistance Programme

To apply, please review the attached applicant pack, which includes the job description and person specification, and send a CV and a supporting statement. 

In your supporting statement, please tell us (around 100 words per answer):

1. What makes you a good fit for this role? Tell us about the experience and transferable skills you’d bring – particularly anything that relates to the role description.

2. Can you share an example of how you’ve supported someone facing a difficult situation? We’d like to hear how you’ve helped them overcome challenges to do with housing, benefits, debt, mental health, domestic abuse or caregiving.
 

3. Describe a situation where you had to explain something clearly and sensitively to someone who was struggling. How did you approach it?

Closing Date: Tuesday 17th June 2025.

Interview date: Tuesday 24th June 2025
 

Bank Workers Charity is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities. 

Main Purpose of Position:

To provide urgent information, advice and guidance support for individuals in dealing with complex interlinked issues through intensive 1-1 personalised support service. Ensure clients are equipped with the knowledge and understanding needed to make a tangible, material difference to their lives. Ensure excellence in project and service delivery throughout the Information, Advice and Guidance service and deliver work as an integral part of the organisation.  

Responsibilities/ Core Duties:

To provide a support service through 1-1 interview sessions, telephone contact, face-to-face and in-depth support with follow-up and record keeping. This post primarily involves providing focused support to help individuals deal with urgent financial, housing, health and benefits issues and provide ongoing support often acting as a conduit, with liaison, advocacy and referral to specialist agencies in health, housing, finance and debt advice, counselling, benefits, domestic violence, immigration and other legal matters. The post-holder must support Nova’s aims, objectives and ethos for clients, staff, senior managers and trustees.

BACKGROUND

For over thirty years, Asylum Aid has been providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum in the UK. Our welfare advice team provide generalist advice on welfare benefits, housing, asylum support and related issues to Westminster residents with refugee and migrant backgrounds who do not have English as a first language and who would otherwise be unable to access vital advice which enables them to avoid destitution, homelessness and food poverty. We deliver this advice as part of the Westminster Advice Services Partnership through a drop in and outreach at local community venues, and supported by local volunteers many of whom speak community languages.

The post of Appeals Support Advisor is a new post established with the benefit of a grant from Westminster City Council. The post holder will support clients with appeals and reconsideration requests in relation to welfare benefits and housing. This will allow us to provide a more comprehensive service for our clients, many of whom struggle to lodge appeals and reconsideration requests, and to gather evidence in support of their appeals without advice, due to language barriers.  The post holder will deliver advice in community languages, including with the assistance of interpreters, to local residents as part of our partnership work. Most of our clients are refugees, people seeking asylum and others with a refugee or migrant background. The Appeals Support Advisor will work with clients referred from Asylum Aid’s Information and Advice Service (including our weekly drop in) and from other partners in the local community. They will also provide training and supervision to the Generalist Advisor and our volunteers. External supervision will be arranged for the post holder.

The ideal candidate will be resident in or near to the City of Westminster and fluent in one or more community languages. In particular, fluency in one or more of the following is highly desirable: Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Kurdish Sorani/ other Kurdish dialects, Somali, Amharic, Tigrinya.

As this is a new post delivering a specialist appeals and casework service from within our generalist advice team, it offers an exciting opportunity to set up and establish systems for the delivery of this service during the six month fixed term contract, including ensuring that case management processes are established which meet the requirements of our Lexcel quality mark and that clear referral procedures are established with the drop in service and our partners.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The post-holder will:

· Be part of a generalist advice service, with special emphasis on language support, as part of the Westminster Advice Services Partnership (WASP), a collaboration of advice agencies Asylum Aid, Westminster Citizens Advice, Age UK Westminster, and Deaf PLUS Westminster Advice Service.

· Provide specialist appeals casework and support to clients who do not speak English as a first language and need to challenge decisions, request  mandatory reconsiderations, internal housing reviews, lodge appeals in relation to welfare benefits and housing.

· Provide ongoing casework support up to the Tribunal stage, including helping clients to gather evidence in support of their mandatory reconsiderations and appeals and preparing for hearings (but not including representation at hearings)

· Where capacity allows, help to deliver generalist face to face and telephone advice and information, in a community language and English, to migrants and asylum seekers on issues related to welfare benefits, housing and asylum support in accordance with Asylum Aid’s contract within the WASP partnership, and taking responsibility for the quality of advice given.

· Provide training and supervision to the Generalist Advisor and to volunteers, supporting the development of their advice skills and ensuring the quality of advice delivered throughout the advice service.

· Maintain a high standard of electronic case records (using AdvicePro) for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, monitoring and evaluation of the service, and to help identify issues to be raised through policy advocacy.

· Ensure that all casework is conducted in accordance with the Lexcel quality standard, including by establishing case management procedures for the delivery of specialist advice which meet the Lexcel standard, and participate as required in annual Lexcel quality mark audits

· Attend external and in-house training organised by Asylum Aid and regular supervision sessions to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge required to help deliver a quality advice service, and to keep up to date with changes in welfare benefits, housing and asylum support law

· Cascade information, changes,  and developments in social welfare law, including learning from external training, to other staff and volunteers who assist with the delivery of the welfare advice service

· Work effectively with partners to provide a seamless service for clients, making and receiving referrals and maintain up to date information about other service providers for the purposes of referrals and signposting. 

· Be responsible for achieving relevant targets for quality and quantity set by the WASP coordinator

· Provide case studies and other information from the work of the advice service to support policy advocacy and strategic legal work in support of Asylum Aid’s vision of fair and dignified treatment of people seeking asylum, refugees and other vulnerable migrants 

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

The post holder will need to be able to travel to and within Westminster to deliver advice at outreach locations as well as at a drop-in in or around the Church Street Estate. Travel expenses will be paid to attend locations away from Asylum Aid’s office(s) and the main location of our drop-in service (currently the Church Street library).

Other duties:

• Respect for client confidentiality at all times in line with Asylum Aid’s confidentiality agreements and consent forms. 

• To attend staff meetings as required.

• To undertake other duties which are generally compatible with the functions of the post.

• To comply with the organisation’s policies and procedures, particularly those relating to safeguarding, health and safety, diversity, equity & inclusion, confidentiality and security, as set out in the Office Manual as well the policies of other relevant partner organisations.

Person Specification

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

· At least 12 months’ experience of supporting benefits appeals through to Tribunal stage and Housing Reviews

· At least 5 years’ experience of working face to face with clients to deliver generalist advice in different areas of law including welfare benefits and housing

· Knowledge on a range of issues on which advice may be sought including health and social care, housing and welfare benefits, including a thorough and up to date understanding of social security and welfare benefits legislation and policy  

· Experience of managing a case load

· Knowledge or ability to understand and use relevant legislation

· Have completed Advice UK’s Learning to Advise training or hold the Citizens Advice Generalist Adviser certificate or an equivalent qualification

· Be fluent in written and spoken English as well as a second language spoken by a substantial proportion of the Westminster population, ideally Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Kurdish Sorani/ other Kurdish dialects, Somali, Amharic, Tigrinya (to a standard that enables accurate advice to be given in the language)

· Experience of working with interpreters in the delivery of advice

· Able to meet deadlines, work under pressure, meet performance targets and take responsibility for their work, while working flexibly within a team environment

· Able to relate to a wide cross section of clients in a non-judgmental way.

· Able to use a range of IT systems and packages confidently and competently to be able to support and encourage others in using online systems and resources to enable them to self-help.

· Able and willing to learn and assimilate new knowledge in a working environment.

· Able to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively.

· Able and willing to work both on own initiative and as part of a team.

· Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of Asylum Aid service and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

· Good understanding of the needs of migrants and asylum seekers and the issues and barriers that affect them in UK.

Desirable:

· Experience of specialist advice work, including appeals and mandatory reconsiderations

· Friendly, polite, and patient

· Experience of working under a relevant quality mark such as the Advice Quality Standard or Lexcel

· Understanding of the housing and other support available to people seeking asylum who do not have the right to work in the UK

· Experience of working with volunteers

· Experience of supervising other advisers, including volunteers  

· Demonstrable understanding of issues facing vulnerable clients whose English is not the first language and many with mental health problems.

· Lived or learned experience of the difficulties that migrants and refugee communities face when they have to deal with the UK welfare system

· Personal experience and/or Knowledge of the advice process and experience in the areas of either benefits, housing or debt.

· Experience of using interpersonal skills, including sensitive listening, and questioning skills to understand the needs of others,

· Ability to communicate with other organisations, housing, and welfare departments.

How to apply 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 9am on 9 June 2025.

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.

Selection Process

We anticipate that we will invite candidates to an initial 15-minute online screening meeting week commencing 16 June 2025, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interview week commencing 23 June 2025. We will also ask you to complete a short written task on the day.

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.

We have a unique opportunity for an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor in a pilot project at Charing Cross Emergency Department. This s a full time position working 37.5 hours per week.

Co-locating, in a health service, an Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate (IDVA), a Domestic Abuse (DA) Coordinator and a violence prevention worker has never been trialed before anywhere in the UK.

This pilot project aims to showcase a gold standard approach to care for families experiencing DA by: -

• Improving recognition and management of victims and perpetrators of DA
• on-site specialised help for victims and perpetrators
• Building sustainable and long-term partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham council, Standing Together Against Domestic Violence (STADV), and Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP).

What we offer:

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible working options including hybrid working
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
• An extra day off for your birthday & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

You may be a qualified IDVA or a Domestic Abuse Outreach Worker wanting to work alongside health professionals in a hospital environment, although we will consider applicants from other fields providing you are able to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse.

This role is co-located within Charing Cross Hospital 4 days per week and 1 day per week at our office near Old Street.

You will:

• Implement effective ways of working with victims and those supporting them to increase safety and reduce harm.

• Provide a high-quality, front-line service to victims of domestic abuse, delivering a premium service prioritised according to risk, primarily focusing on victim/survivors aged 16+

• Work within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership responses to domestic abuse to keep safety central to all services for victims of domestic abuse.

• Be comfortable with running group training sessions and be willing and able to share your specialist knowledge with acute staff across the hospital.

• Have excellent communication skills, a proactive approach and the confidence to be able to influence the way in which this service is delivered are key.

Please note that the successful applicant will be required to sign an honorary contract with the Hospital Trust in addition to their contract of employment.

You will need:

• Have a knowledge of help-seeking barriers and support needs of victims of domestic abuse (in heterosexual or same-sex relationships).

• Have a good understanding of domestic abuse including the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.

• Understand the principles of risk assessment, safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and their children

• Understand safeguarding issues, and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues.

• Direct service delivery to victims of domestic abuse or other vulnerable people.

• Have excellent communication, negotiation and advocacy skills, both written and verbal when interacting with a range of agencies and individuals. Understand and be committed to equal opportunities and diversity issues in policy and practice.

• Have a strong crisis management skills and the ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us:

Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.

As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. VS is also a Disability Confident Employer and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.

If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

We are currently looking for dedicated Immigration Advisers (IAA Level 2) to join our growing team to provide immigration advice and casework to destitute migrants. We will be recruiting on a rolling basis for a number of upcoming roles, one of which is a woman only role, so we welcome applications from women. Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss this further.

Praxis Community Projects is a dynamic, award-winning human rights charity supporting migrants in crisis or at- risk, ensuring that their essential human needs are met and that they are able to overcome the barriers they face. We provide legal advice and a range of welfare support including group work. We build community, challenge exclusion and discrimination, influence policy, improve services and inspire solidarity with migrants.

The ideal candidates will have an in-depth knowledge of immigration and asylum law, as well as have a good understanding of the challenges faced by migrants with NRPF and those at risk of homelessness. They will be able to step immediately into a busy advice environment that includes independent outreach.

At Praxis, we work to build community, challenge exclusion and discrimination, influence policy and improve services. We played a leading role in exposing the Windrush scandal and advocate and campaign for lasting changes to policy and practice to address the root causes of the issues faced by at-risk migrants.

Praxis is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage applications from those with lived experience of migration, and from diverse applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy/maternity leave status.

Please see our website to find out more about our work.

Our Attractive Benefits Package Includes 

· A 35 hour working week including flexible working hours

· A hybrid work model 

· 25 days annual leave, increasing annually to the maximum 30 days (plus paid Bank Holidays) 

· You can buy up to 5 days annual leave each year 

· A defined contribution pension scheme 

· Our employee assistance programme offers counselling and support for you 24/7. 

· A season ticket loan to help you spread the cost of your commute 

If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Recruitment team who will contact you to discuss how we can help.

For further details, please contact Maria Iglesias Head of Operations and Business Development

To apply, send us your CV and cover letter demonstrating your capabilities in relation to each of the points of the job description marked ‘A’. Where relevant use your answers to illustrate how your competencies have helped you to achieve positive results. This will give you the best possible chance to be shortlisted. Applications will only be accepted with a cover letter.

Interviews: Offered on a rolling basis

Start date: Ranging from immediate to TBD.

The Debt Advice Team at Toynbee Hall provides crucial support to individuals and families struggling with financial burdens. Funded by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), this team delivers expert guidance and practical solutions to help clients manage and reduce their debt. The team's advisors are trained to navigate complex financial situations, offering tailored advice that empowers clients to regain control of their finances. Their work is vital in fostering financial resilience within the community, ensuring that individuals have the tools they need to achieve long-term financial stability.

Scope of role

The Debt Technical Supervisor is responsible for supporting Debt Advisers to ensure the delivery of accurate, effective, and tailored advice to over-indebted clients. This role involves conducting debt-advice interview observations, reviewing case files, and identifying training needs for advisers. The Debt Technical Supervisor provides real-time support and constructive feedback, helping advisers navigate complex cases and ensuring they have access to the necessary resources and information. Additionally, the role includes auditing delivery partner organisations to prepare them for external reviews and supporting them in meeting compliance and quality standards. The supervisor will collaborate with the Quality Assurance Manager to promote best practices, address risks, and contribute to the continuous professional development of advisers.

Key Responsibilities

Support Debt Advisers in their roles and ensure that the advice provided to over- indebted Clients is accurate, effective and tailored to individuals’ circumstances.

• Conducting debt-advice interview observations.
• Undertaking debt advice file reviews.
• Identifying advisers’ soft skill and technical training needs.
• Providing constructive feedback, and pastoral support, to advisers and their line managers.
• Providing real-time support to advisers, which will include but is not limited to providing guidance in complex matters and provide advisers with sources of information.

Support, and regularly audit delivery partner organisations, ensuring that they are prepared for external reviews of their service in line with the Grant Agreement.

• Ensure partner organisation are kept up to date with the requirements for external assessments.
• Supporting partner organisations with the preparation and review of files and documentation ahead of an external assessment.
• Support partner organisations with the implementation of any remedial actions following an external review and support advisors to identify suitable training to improve areas highlighted.

Ensure project compliance and quality requirements are achieved

• Working closely with the Quality Assurance Mangers to ensure Advisors based at delivery partners have a good awareness and understanding of the quality and service delivery requirements and have active involvement in the delivery of partnership events related to both quality improvement and CPD.
• Working collaboratively to share good practice in performance and quality improvement and to progress key priority areas of work.
• Escalating risks promptly and appropriately and contributing to wider monitoring and reporting requirements.

Contribute to Team

• Work to an agreed work-plan meeting targets and milestones
• Prioritise and manage your own workload.
• Be an active member of the team, identifying opportunities for your development. Work in collaboration with our funder, and with colleagues from across their other funded organisations, contributing to key projects and meetings.
• Compliance with Toynbee Hall policies and procedures, including health and safety. Demonstrate financial efficiency and value for money throughout work.
• Ensure that all services comply with equal opportunities and other relevant policies and quality standards and good practice.

Other

• Travel across London as required, and occasionally the UK
• Undertake additional tasks as defined by the Quality Managers, Managing Director and Toynbee Hall’s Senior Leadership Team.

Please download the full Job Description for more details.

Our Benefits Package

We believe in supporting our employees with a well-rounded benefits package designed to enhance work-life balance, financial security, and overall well-being.

Annual Leave

• 25 days of annual leave, plus 3 additional days for our Christmas shutdown (on top of bank holidays).
• After 2 years: +3 extra days of leave.
• After 3 years: +1 additional day.
• After 5 years: A total of 30 days annual leave, plus the 3-day Christmas shutdown.

Pension

• Standard Life Pension Scheme – Employer contribution: 4%, Employee contribution: 5%

Additional Perks & Support

• Enhanced Sick Pay for peace of mind during illness
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to support growing families
• Employee Eyecare Vouchers to support your vision health
• Employee Assistance Programme for free, confidential advice and support
• Mental Health First Aid to ensure workplace well-being
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme to help secure your home
• Interest-Free Season Ticket Loan for cost-effective commuting
• Cycle to Work Scheme to promote a healthier, greener way to travel
• Charity Mentoring Network to support professional development and networking

We’re committed to creating a supportive and rewarding work environment, because when our team thrives, we all succeed!

About Toynbee Hall

Based in the East End of London since 1884, Toynbee Hall is a charity working alongside people facing poverty, injustice, and inequality to build a fairer East London. We provide vital advice and support, working in partnership to tackle unfairness and ensure everyone has an equal chance to thrive.

We have recently launched a new strategic plan which reinforces that our purpose is to build a fairer future with an end to poverty, injustice and inequality.

We work towards this by:

• Addressing poverty and injustice through advice and support and influencing systemic change.
• Shifting power to people and communities affected by injustice and inequality.
• Collaborating to end poverty and build fairer systems and institutions. What we want to see in the world starts with our community and our organisation.

This means:

• Working together to build a thriving local community where people have the resources they need, feel their voices are heard and are optimistic about the future.
• Being a good employer, where people are treated fairly, feel engaged and empowered, and work together to achieve our shared vision.
• Acknowledging the role Toynbee Hall has historically played in civic society while recognising that our role now is to shift power, to be an effective partner, and to amplify voices that are less likely to be heard.

What we learn from our work in east London we use to inform and influence wider policy – working to influence change in structures, systems and policies.

This job description may change to reflect changing requirements of the role.

The Role 

Multiple Disadvantage refuge workers provide specialist support services to women with multiple needs, who have experienced domestic, or sexual violence and who have mental illness or use substances problematically.

You will work as part of the Refuge Team to enhance provision to women who may face additional barriers to accessing refuge or maintaining their space in supported accommodation.  This role will be located over two boroughs, and you will have a small caseload across several sites. You will undertake risk assessments, safety plans and identify support needs in relation to move on such as accessing benefits, setting up utilities, budgeting, ensuring safety measures are in place and to support them to maintain their tenancy. You will provide solution focused casework, whilst ensuring the service users voice is heard throughout. Providing support with life skills and practical support in relation to skills that may not yet have been developed.

You will enhance the refuge service by providing ad hoc advice and capacity building for the refuge team in working with women who experience additional disadvantage.  You will contribute to the smooth running of the refuge, including admissions of survivors.  You will work with women to devise a support plan that meets their immediate practical and emotional needs and starts the process of recovery, linking women into more specialist support services where required.  You will assist your colleagues with the smooth running of the refuge ensuring that rents and service charges are paid, rooms are available, organising repairs and responding to crisis situations.

Accountabilities

· Provide Solution-focused casework interventions with women who have experienced VAWG and severe and multiple disadvantage

· Provide emotional support using a trauma informed approach

· Ensure ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with service users within an attitude of ‘positive risk taking’

· Provide support with life skills, including practical assistance where skills are not yet developed

· Maintain accurate case notes and up to date records

· Contribute to the completion of outcomes reports and funding returns when required

· Complete risk assessments and safety and support planning to meet the individual needs of service users  

· Build and maintain supportive relationships with women, empowering them to access services

· Involve service users in the design, development and delivery of the service

· Promote coordinated, joined-up service delivery for service users between violence against women services and drug and alcohol agencies, mental health, housing, health and legal agencies.

· Attend and contribute to MARAC as appropriate

· Be self-motivated to research processes and services in order to fully support and advocate for the women. 

· Attend regular supervision sessions with your Line Manager.

Values, Behaviours & Competencies

· Committed to the purpose of Solace Women’s Aid, ensuring that the service user is at the heart of service delivery and development

· Feminist in understanding ‘Violence against Women and Girls’

· Committed to fostering innovation and continuous improvement in working practice

· Flexible and open to new challenges, ideas and experiences, and able to be self-reflective

· Committed to understanding diversity and ensuring anti-discriminatory practice is applied in all forms of our work

· Non-judgemental with a commitment to self-care within the team

· Collaborative, building relationships with internal and external partners.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills 

· Experience of Working with Survivors of Domestic abuse who are multi disadvantaged in various ways or similar client group

· Experience of working in a multi disadvantage setting

· Experience of multi-agency partnership working.

· Experience of working managing risk and following case management procedures to meet the needs of a diverse and vulnerable client group

· In depth understanding of domestic and sexual abuse and its effect on women and children

· A good understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries

· An understanding of, and commitment to, Equal Opportunities and diversity

· Ability to provide an effective key working service to women affected by domestic abuse

· Effective interpersonal and group work skills

· Ability to prioritise own work plan and work to deadlines

· Ability to operate and maintain basic administrative and financial systems

· Ability to provide accurate reports and record information

· Proficient use of Microsoft Office Packages

Qualifications

DAPA/IDVA/ISVA qualification desirable

Title: Advice Services Manager

Responsible to: Operations Manager

Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary: £36,000 - £42,000 FT (depending on experience and qualifications)

Based: Willesden, NW10 2JR; Haringey borough (including Hornsey, N8 9LP) + other locations if required

Contract: Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)

Please Note: DBS check will be required

JOB OVERVIEW

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? This is an exciting opportunity for someone already working in an advice role and looking to take the next step in their career to join the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as Advice Services Manager.

The Advice Services Manager will take the lead on BIAS’s day-to-day advice services, managing a small team of welfare and housing advice specialists to ensure that we provide the highest-quality service to our clients. You will need to have experience of delivering front-line benefits and/or housing advice, strong people skills and the ability to build good working relationships with staff and clients, along with excellent organisational abilities to ensure that casework and projects are delivered on time.

In 2025, BIAS is expanding its successful Brent-based welfare and housing advice service into Haringey borough. The Advice Services Manager will work closely with the Operations Manager to build and develop the new advice service in Haringey, ensuring that we replicate our excellent quality of service, strong record of positive outcomes and loyal client base.

This role will also involve working with the leadership team to help identify areas for future development and support grant applications and reporting, which will give you the opportunity to have a direct impact on shaping the organisation’s future strategy and direction.

If you are an experienced advice specialist and are looking to step up but don’t have all the skills required, please consider applying as we are willing to consider appointing the right candidate as a training and development role.

KEY WORK AREAS AND MAIN DUTIES

Staff management

• Managing a small advice team, ensuring the quality of the advice provided.
• Providing support, supervision and training to staff on the delivery of advice services, ensuring that appropriate advice is provided and casework deadlines are met.
• Ensuring good teamwork and lines of communication between staff and partner organisations.
• Creating a positive working environment in which equity and diversity are promoted and staff can do their best.

Quality and service delivery

• Leading the welfare advice services in both Brent and Haringey boroughs, and contributing to further expansion.
• Maintaining a small personal caseload (approximately one to two days’ work per week).
• Working with the Operations Manager to ensure that BIAS complies with Advice Quality Standard (AQS) requirements.
• Leading on monitoring service delivery, recording outcomes and ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Managing all aspects of risk relating to advice delivery, complaints handling, safeguarding and GDPR.

Operational support

• Working with the leadership team as required on operational matters, including planning, strategy for future development and grant applications and reporting.

These are the basic duties required of the Advice Services Manager. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based in our advice offices in Willesden and Haringey[1] but there may be some options for flexible working (i.e. one or two days per week).

ABOUT BIAS

BIAS is a local charity which has supported England’s largest Irish community in Brent for over forty-five years. We deliver our support through our welfare advice drop-in service, our active ageing clubs and our Be-a-Friend volunteer scheme. We raise over £2 million in extra income for the most vulnerable every year and have over 3000 attendances at our club services. BIAS has exciting plans for further expansion in 2025 and has a range of medium- to long-term grant funding, including from Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role (detailed in the PDF job description), with supporting examples.

The deadline for applications is 6th June 2025 but we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible as interviews may be carried out on a rolling basis.

[1] BIAS is currently running its Haringey advice services from the Hornsey Vale Community Centre, with plans to establish a permanent office in Haringey later in 2025.

If you are committed to reducing poverty in our communities, excited by our vision and ethos, and keen to use your debt advice experience to support those most in need, we would love you to consider applying for this role – it could be the best decision you ever make! 

The primary purpose of this role is to provide debt advice and money education on a case management basis and to support the provision of advice by volunteers. The post holder will be expected to manage their own cases and lead appointment sessions.

Ideally we are looking for someone with prior debt or social welfare experience, and who has experience of working with and supporting volunteers. However we will also consider employing someone as a trainee adviser if you are able to demonstrate that you possess the skills, maturity and determination to become proficient in this role. 

The role will be based in one of our branches in west London, but hybrid and remote options will be considered for the right candidate.

Crosslight Advice offers a comprehensive range of benefits to employees including access to a Health Cash Back Plan and EAP and is committed to offering comprehensive learning and development opportunities. Full and part time working options will be considered.

To find out more please see our Job Pack attached.

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? Do you have a passion for fighting homelessness and advocating for vulnerable people? If so, this is an exciting opportunity for you to take the next step in your career by joining the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as our Housing Adviser.

BIAS’s housing advice service supports members of the local Irish community and beyond with a range of complex housing issues, including homelessness, rehousing, tenancy sustainment and disrepair. We are looking to appoint a dynamic, enthusiastic person who has a background or demonstrable interest in advice, housing or homelessness to join our friendly advice team. Your role will involve contributing to the day-to-day running of BIAS’s advice service, providing specialist advice on housing via one-to-one client appointments, completing casework and advocating for positive outcomes for your clients.

You will need to have strong people skills and the ability to build good working relationships with colleagues and clients, excellent organisational skills and the ability to digest complex briefs. You will be required to manage an active caseload, ensuring that cases are appropriately actioned and recorded and that deadlines are met.

If you are interested in working in housing advice but don’t yet have all the knowledge or experience required, please consider applying as we are willing to consider appointing the right candidate in a trainee role.

KEY WORK AREAS AND MAIN DUTIES

• Providing appropriate advice, information and practical help to clients, via in-person appointments, outreach visits, telephone, letter or email. Where necessary, advocating on behalf of clients in the appropriate forums.
• Ensuring that all casework records are kept up to date and completed clearly and effectively.
• Contributing to monitoring service delivery and recording client outcomes.
• Maintaining a good knowledge of other available services, and signposting or referring clients as needed.
• Participating in regular team file reviews and supervision sessions, and contributing to maintaining BIAS’s high-quality service in line with Advice Quality Standard (AQS) requirements.  
• Engaging positively and constructively with other service providers, including local authorities and housing providers, to maintain partnerships.
• Staying up to date with developments in housing legislation and identifying opportunities to effect positive change to housing policy, together with the Advice Manager.

These are the basic duties required of the Housing Adviser. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based primarily in our advice offices in Willesden (Brent), with some outreach work in Haringey borough. There may be some options for flexible working (one day per week)

WHAT DOES BIAS DO?

BIAS is a local charity which has supported England’s largest Irish community in Brent for over forty-five years. We deliver our support through our welfare advice drop-in service, our Active Ageing Clubs and our Be-a-friend volunteer scheme. We raise over £2 million in extra income for the most vulnerable every year and have over 3000 attendances at our club services. BIAS has exciting plans for further expansion in Haringey in 2025 and has a range of medium- to long-term grant funding, including from Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role.

The deadline for applications is Friday 20th June 2025. We would strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.

Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life. We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life. 

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free, practical support to older people without enough money to live on. Through our grants programme, we support hundreds of local organisations working with older people across the UK.

We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.

We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey. 

Responsibilities and Person Specification: 

This role requires a proactive and results-oriented individual to provide expert marketing support across a range of projects and initiatives. The successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of marketing principles and best practices, with a particular focus on service marketing. 

Key responsibilities will include providing marketing advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders, resolving marketing challenges effectively and efficiently, and selecting the most appropriate marketing techniques to achieve desired outcomes. 

The postholder will lead on various marketing projects, build strong relationships with key stakeholders, and collaborate effectively with both internal and external partners, including marketing service suppliers and external organizations.

You should possess a proven track record of success within a fast-paced marketing environment with relevant experience in successfully implementing innovative marketing campaigns across both digital and traditional channels is essential. 

We require someone with proven experience in coordinating innovative marketing campaigns to effectively engage service users, build communities, and achieve desired outcomes across various channels and media is crucial. 

A thorough understanding of relevant marketing legislation and regulations is essential. 

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9 day fortnight. It is a maternity cover role of up to 8 months.

What it’s like to work at Independent Age: 

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits. 

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working.

You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age on the careers page of our website. 

Application Process: 

To apply, please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by visiting our jobs website (please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific requirements and need support to apply in an alternative format). 

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Therefore, please do not include your name, photo, or information to indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement. Please do not omit dates of employment. Please ensure the title of any uploads does not contain your name.

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Basic DBS Certificate will be required for this role. 

Closing Date: Sunday 1st June at 11:59pm 

Hours: 37.5 hours/week (1 FTE), Part time or Job share applications welcomed

About Us

Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell is a local charity that provides advice and information for anyone that lives, works or studies in Epsom and Ewell.

We deliver our service through as many different channels as we can to make sure we are accessible to everyone.  This includes face to face, phone, video conferencing, and email. The role is based in our Epsom office.

About the Role

This post will provide advice via a number of different channels including telephone, outreach and appointments. It is the main point of access for clients and provides a first response on the full range of advice issues including benefits, debt, housing, family and employment.  This adviser role offers great variety, providing holistic advice answering queries and supplementing existing advice, empowering clients to understand and assert their rights.

We are looking for a self-motivated, enthusiastic and organised team player.  No experience of working in the charity sector is needed but the successful candidate will have a keen interest in helping people in need no matter what their background. You will have effective communication skills and an ability to work pro-actively, both individually and within a team, along with being able to demonstrate effective computer literacy.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to make a difference in people’s lives, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society and helping them to find a way forward.

Closing date: 13th June 2025

Interview Date: 18th June 2025