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This is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled line manager with experience in general welfare advice to join Sufra NW London. In this highly rewarding role, you will oversee the delivery of services that can measurably change lives by providing quality advice and support to those most in need.
You will manage our team of advice staff and volunteers to deliver high quality advice, information and welfare support to guests on a range of topics including benefits, housing, debt and immigration issues. An additional focus will be on establishing clear pathways for referring guests to external services, and managing volunteers to triage, signpost and refer guests to other forms of welfare support.
The advice team consists of paid staff and support volunteers. This year will be dedicated to consolidation of the service, ensuring that we are fulfilling our core mission to the highest standards. We are also hoping to launch our immigration advice service, providing guests with a first point of contact for their immigration needs and smooth referral pathways to specialist advice.
Finally, our OpenARMs programme will be launching workshops for our refugee and asylum seeker communities.
You will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, especially Head of Advice at Sufra to support the implementation of new initiatives, and the expansion of our information and advice services to enhance our efficiency and impact.
The post holder will be a highly articulate and proactive individual with good welfare advice knowledge, 3+ years delivery experience in managing a charity team, strong service management skills, as well as experience managing staff and volunteers. The ideal candidate will have up-to date knowledge of the welfare system, immigration and safeguarding protocols. They must also have demonstrable experience using a case management system, adhering to advice standards and be able to manage a diverse workload and work under pressure.
This is an immensely rewarding role working in a dynamic charity built on an ethos of sharing, hospitality and inclusivity. We are looking for an exceptionally committed individual who is willing to go the extra mile and has flexibility to work during evenings and weekends if necessary. As this is a frontline role, you will be required to work on site at least 2 days per week.
We offer a wide range of employee benefits including:
• Excellent annual leave entitlement0
• Pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Death in Service benefit
• Flexible working
• Opportunities for training and professional development
To apply for this role, please submit a CV, Covering Letter (no more than 2 sides) and complete our Equal Opportunities Form found here. As part of your covering letter, please answer the following questions:
1. The advice manager may have appointments with guests and a small case load. How would
you foresee managing your time effectively between this work and management of the
team?
2. What would be your priorities in ensuring a well-functioning, effective, advice service?
3. The advice team is spread out across different sites, often working remotely. How would
you ensure effective communication?
Registered Charity 
11 - 20
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
SMART CJS – Trust and Foundations Bid Writer
Role Overview
Are you committed to supporting people who are homeless or rough sleeping?
Are you proactive with a positive attitude?
Job Title: Trust and Foundations Bid Writer (with some responsibility for corporate fundraising)
The salary will be in the range of £36,000 to £42,000.
Hours: 37 hours per week
Term: Permanent
Location: Working from our office in central Bedford, with some provision for remote working.
About SMART CJS
Founded in 1997, we are a charity that provides safe spaces for people who are facing or experiencing homelessness, are rough sleeping or have fallen on tough times. As times have changed, our services have adapted and grown, but we’ve always kept the people we support at the centre of all that we do. We believe that everyone needs a little help sometimes and, with trust, respect and honesty, people can make incredible changes. Our vision is to transform communities so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, participate in and contribute to all aspects of life. Our mission is to provide safe spaces to work with vulnerable people within our communities, empowering them to make positive changes and take control of their lives.
Why Join Us?
We believe in diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.
Benefits include:
- 27 days Annual Leave (rising to 30 after 3 years) + Bank Holidays (pro rata)
- Generous Pension scheme (after successfully completing a probation period)
- Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
- Access to a Charity Worker Discount scheme
- Access to the company health and wellbeing service including support with mental health, legal advice and more
- Access to an online GP service
We require all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This job description will be supplemented by annual objectives which will be developed in conjunction with the post holder.
The Role
SMART CJS is looking to recruit a Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer. The successful candidate will also have some responsibility for corporate fundraising with businesses based in Bedford and beyond; this responsibility will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.
The main responsibility, though, will be to generate income by writing bids to charitable trusts and foundations, and to statutory funders.
The role will include researching and identifying charity trusts and similar bodies which are able to make an award to SMART. It will also include keeping abreast of developments in fundraising in the charity sector as a whole, especially in the field of grant awarding and, to a lesser extent, of corporate giving.
There will be a probationary period for the role. As it generally takes six months for a grant to be awarded (though some arrive more quickly), the probationary period will need to be for a minimum of seven months, though its precise duration can be negotiated with the successful candidate.
Training will be given; the scope of the training will depend on the candidate’s previous experience.
This is an exciting opportunity to join SMART’s friendly and dedicated team. You’ll need to be able to manage your time effectively; the role is primarily self-directed. We envisage that you’ll be working primarily from our offices in Prebend Street, Bedford, though you'll be able to work from home for some of the time as well. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is important; some of the stories we use when applying for funding can be emotionally challenging.
Our fundraising comes from regular gifts, donations from the community (individuals and groups), and corporate bodies (businesses). The majority of our fundraising income comes from grants. There will be a realistic target for the amount you need to raise; this will reflect the performance for grant applications in the charity sector as a whole and it will not be unrealistic. Fundraising is not an exact science; the assessment of performance against the targets will be fair and reasonable. The final responsibility for SMART’s fundraising rests with the trustees; they appreciate and understand the complexity of the issues involved.
Main Purpose of the Role
You will work closely with the CEO, the Chair of Trustees, the Head of Business and the fundraising team. The post involves gathering information, writing the bids, tracking the progress of submissions, and reporting back to grant awarders on how their money has been spent, if they require this.
There will also be a responsibility for corporate fundraising. This will involve building relationships with businesses in and beyond the Bedford area. The responsibility for this will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising and Bid Writing
- Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
- Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
- Work collaboratively with service leads and front line teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
- Tailor the applications to the funder’s criteria, using storytelling effectively.
- Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
- Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
- Work to realistic targets and be able to provide feedback on these.
- Organisational Development and Support
- Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
- Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems.
- Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business and to the Chair of Trustees.
- Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.
Other Responsibilities
- Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
- Attend the monthly meetings of the Fundraising Committee (a sub‑committee of the Board of Trustees).
- Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the CEO, the Head of Business or the Chair of Trustees.
Person Specification
Whether you’re already an experienced bid-writer, or whether you think this is something that you could learn to do effectively, we’d like to hear from you. You need to have excellent skills in written English and be able to write in prose that’s clear and readily understandable to the general reader. The criteria for each grant awarder are different; you need to be able to match your bid to what they would like to fund (homelessness, mental health, relief of poverty, women’s issues and so on). You need, then, to tell SMART’s story in a way which appeals to each funder.
You need to have excellent inter-personal skills and be able to work as part of a team. While there is a strong element of self-direction in the role, you need to be able to work closely with senior management and also with the trustees; the trustees have the final responsibility for fundraising in the charity.
You will need, too, to have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to have a genuine interest in homelessness and the work of the charity, and a commitment to improving our clients’ lives and wellbeing.
Thank you!
About the Role
Do you enjoy helping people? Are you a compassionate and people-focused person? Do you want to make a real difference to the lives of people who are in problem debt and help them find a way forward?
The Debt Advice Caseworker will provide an in-person high-quality debt advice and casework service to the organisation’s clients.
The Debt Advice Caseworker will provide mentoring and support to their co-workers, which will help develop their skills and expertise in debt and money management service, ensuring they deliver our clients with the best possible service.
A demanding role, whereby the Debt Advice Caseworker will have the ability to understand and deal with complex information.
They will work collaboratively with their team, management and external organisations.
Flexibility is a key characteristic of all our posts, and the post-holder may be asked to carry out other tasks consistent with the grade from time to time.
Requirements
To be appointed as a Debt Advice Caseworker, you will need to have:
1. Knowledge and experience of complex debt casework, covering priority and non-priority debt advice, options and insolvency solutions.
OR
To be appointed as a Trainee Money Advice Caseworker, you will need to have knowledge of advice areas and money advice issues and have experience of giving advice. We’re not looking for the finished article, if you have the right attitude then we can help to develop your skills.
2. Experience of achieving performance and quality targets/KPIs.
3. Ability and willingness to undertake training and development to comply with Money and Pensions Service and Citizens Advice quality standards.
4. Effective oral/written communication skills and be numerate to the level required by the tasks.
5. Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines, manage workload and targets in a pressured environment.
6. An ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow and develop agreed procedures.
7. IT literacy with an ability to use software packages including Microsoft Office products in the provision of advice and preparation of formal written materials.
8. Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to challenge constructively.
9. Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.
10. Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equalities and diversity policy
11. Ability to work across different sites within Liverpool.
12. Institute of Money Advisers Certificate in Money Advice Practice or MaPS Caseworker accreditation equivalent.
Equality and Diversity:
All staff members are expected to demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity. We recognize and celebrate the positive value of diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.
Responsibilities:
- Provide a casework service covering the full range of debt and money management advice, including debt relief orders, bankruptcy, and debt management plans.
- Deliver our service by a range of methods required, including telephone/digital channels, drop-in sessions, appointments, outreach work, and home visits.
- Act for clients where necessary; this includes drafting letters, budgets, financial statements, and negotiating with third parties.
- Ensure income maximisation through the take up of appropriate welfare benefits.
- Prepare and present cases to statutory bodies, tribunals, and courts when required.
- Assist clients with issues, where they may be an integral part of a case, and refer them to the appropriate agencies and advisers.
- Maintain standards of service delivery and ensure that casework conforms to the Citizens Advice membership requirements, the Advice Quality Standard, and the Money and Pensions Service Advice Quality Framework.
- Comply with systems for monitoring and reporting purposes.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure that the service area meets key performance indicators and targets.
- Assist in the smooth running of the organisation and provide emergency cover for other parts of the service when necessary.
- Analyse and interpret complex information, communicating this effectively in writing with particular emphasis on negotiation and representation.
About us
Citizens Advice Liverpool is a charity that provides free, confidential and impartial advice to people who live and work in the city. We depend on a workforce of paid staff and over 120 trained volunteers. We give people the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem. We are the leading provider of advice and advocacy services in Liverpool and have helped clients with over 106,000 issues in 2022/2023.
CAL have achieved accreditation with the Workplace Wellbeing Charter, showing we are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our workforce. We've also gained an award for outstanding contribution by an employer to workplace health and wellbeing 2022 by Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust.
We've gained awards from Citizens Advice National recognising our Advising Margainalised Communities Team for championing equity, diversity and inclusion in both 2021 and 2021. We were also named volunteer team of the year in 2022.
