Welfare Benefits Advisor Jobs in Islington, Greater London

The role is within a small team that has a focus on Employer Relationships, Job Finding programmes (including our Alumni Job Club and Jobseekers Plus) In Work support for adults in Employment and Employer Training.

In addition to this we manage Employment Autism Employment Autism 

Key Responsibilities: 

1. To lead on running our employability training and Alumni Job Club.

2. To develop workshop structures and learning materials for these in close collaboration with the Development Director and ensure that participant feedback from earlier programmes is incorporated.

3. To line manage Development Job Coaches as needed.

4. To manage and deliver job search sessions.

5. To lease with Employability Lead when participants are ready to move over in In Work Support team.

6. To advertise project opportunities to autistic people throughout London and manage project recruitment and onboarding.

7. To ensure processes are in-place for each project to:- assess each participant’s individual skills and gather baseline data; ensure job matches are appropriate to the individual’s needs and aspirations; and that targets set are relevant and promote new skills and learning; acquire and complete necessary risk assessments to ensure safety of clients, staff and partners.

8. To oversee the set up and settling in of jobseekers into work placements, when needed. Providing support and training to employers where required; providing personalised on the job training to participants and employers as required and develop strategies and advise on reasonable adjustments.

9. To coach, train and help manage new project staff to support jobseekers and put in place monitoring protocols.

10.  To ensure jobseekers are progressing towards their individual targets; understand protocols and interpret work culture correctly; understand the health & safety in the work environment and adopt appropriate workplace behaviour.

11.  To ensure good working relationships are maintained with all employers/ work experience placements and that feedback is regularly sort from all stakeholders to help improve our service delivery and future opportunities.

12.  As a key member of the Development Team to work closely with the Development Director to actively, engage with employers and external organisations to promote CareTrade and our job seekers and to pursue opportunities to work collaboratively.

13.  To attend events, to market CareTrade to autistic jobseekers and to liaise with Disability Employment Advisors at JobCentre Plus, Disability Services teams, Social Workers and others to promote and support employment opportunities as needed.

14.  To organise and promote social groups for jobseekers.

15.  To collect data and use data analysis to help produce reports, internally, for funders and partners.

16.   To help seek and apply for appropriate awards and grants when required.

17.  To be a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)  and First Aider and complete regular training working alongside the Development Director to ensure the safety of participants and staff.

18.  To complete relevant health and safety training and be a named fire marshal.

Applications are sought from all suitably qualified sections of the community. We are happy to discuss any workplace adjustments needed to enable the right candidate to undertake the role including any support available via Access to Work if needed 

Job Purpose: To develop and manage, to a high standard, Age UK Bromley & Greenwich’s Information and Advice Service. To be responsible for the effective delivery of the I&A Service which will be delivered through a range of channels, including face to face, telephone, email, digital, and other means, across the Bromley and Greenwich boroughs.

Key Responsibilities:

Line management and supervision

• Provide line management and supervision to advisers and support staff.
• Supervising team advice sessions and casework
• Manage the practicalities of the advice session and ensure adequate staffing and resources.
• Undertake monthly supervision with individual team members and annual appraisal.
• Ensure referrals are actioned and clients are supported in a timely manner.
• Develop team competence in key advice areas. (Benefits, Housing,  Social care)
• Provide technical support to advisers and identify areas of further development for individuals and the team.

Support learning and development

• Support the team to embrace continuous learning and development and provide timely feedback on cases reviewed.
• Make recommendations for staff training and development areas of need.

Staff recruitment and development

• Create a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are well-managed, dignity at work is upheld and everyone can do their best.
• Participate in recruitment and selection activities as delegated.
• Undertake new  staff induction.
• Ensure the team receive appropriate support, supervision and appraisal and have opportunities for continuous learning and development.

Quality assurance and reporting

• Undertake Independent File Reviews ( IFR) and monitor the quality  to meet quality standards and service level agreements
• Maintain and develop  QAS/ AQS standards incl. renewal process.
• Ensure remedial and developmental issues are identified and acted on to develop individuals, improve the quality of advice, and ensure clients do not suffer detriment due to poor or inadequate advice.
• Keep technical knowledge up to date and provide technical support to advisers.
• Maintain a case load as demonstration of ongoing personal development and learning.
• Undertake advice work as required e.g. during staff absences.
• Provide statistical reports on outputs and outcomes as required by funders and management
• Review and implement outcome measures for the work of the I&A team, including an annual survey of clients.

Partnership working and development

• To manage networking/ liaison with other local key stakeholders and organisations and feed into wider local engagement and community development work.
• Develop effective partner relationships with referral agencies across  both boroughs, and to refer/ signpost cases to external agencies as appropriate.
• Represent the organisation at outreach and community events as required, continuing to raise the organisational profile and develop wider awareness of our services.
• Work with colleagues to develop marketing materials, give talks and presentations, identify outreach opportunities .
• Identify opportunities to develop and grow the wider information and advice service

At Independent Age, we believe that no older person should face financial hardship. That’s why, by 2027, our goal is to have improved the lives of one million older people. Our impact across policy, campaigning, information and advice, grant-making and partnerships improves lives by increasing the financial well-being of older people in financial hardship, enabling greater choice and independence in wider areas of life. We want to find talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

This role is an integral part of the day-to-day delivery of our Advice and Support Service, which has been re-shaped and is due to go live in the summer of 2024. The service is targeted at older people in or facing financial hardship, and provides information, advice and follow up support relating to a range of issues, including Welfare Benefits, Social Care and Housing. 

As an Adviser (Health Social Care and Housing) you will be responsible for providing specialist support to older people, their families and carers through our advice service with their housing and social care enquiries as well as providing generalist level support on a range of issues through our duty service. 

 You should have in depth, specialist level knowledge of Health and Social Care or Housing (ideally both) as they relate to older people, experience of working within a high volume advice setting and advice supervision framework such as the AQS framework

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. We also are open to this role being worked on a part-time basis on a minimum of 28 hours per week.

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 by visiting our website.

Salary information:

Hybrid working in London: £32,682 per year, increasing to £33,600 after 6 months and £34,493 after 12 months Pro-rata if part-time

Homebased (with regular travel to London): £29,453 per year, increasing to £30,267 after 6 months and £31,054 after 12 months. Pro-rata if part-time. 

Application Process:

To apply, please visit our website to submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification (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: 6th May

Interview Dates: 

First Round: 15th or 16th or, Second Round: 21st May

As an Employment Adviser, you will sit within the Employment & Careers team, supporting the direct delivery of our employment service by recruiting beneficiaries through outreach and supporting them to secure or progress in employment. At High Trees our services remain firmly rooted in the local community, responsive to and driven by local need and always delivered in the spirit of partnership and collaboration.

Reporting to Head of Employment & Careers you will be required to manage and support a varied and challenging caseload into employment by providing high quality information and guidance. You will be expected to conduct in depth and comprehensive initial assessments in order to produce SMART & tailored action plans.

Your role will also require meaningful weekly contact with beneficiaries, conducting regular reviews of agreed actions and setting revised actions where applicable. It is imperative that you are able to demonstrate and encourage a positive mind-set among beneficiaries by adopting a strengths based approach to their journey into employment.

As an Employment Adviser, you will be expected to conduct employer engagement activity for the service, as well as support the delivery of job fairs and sector specific workshops. The role will also require you to ensure the service is at capacity levels by establishing and maintaining a network of referral partners and attending outreach events.

You will have at least 1 year of experience working in a similar post supporting disadvantaged groups back to work and/or training and education. You will have experience of working in an evidenced based practice and working to set targets. You will be equipped with influencing and persuasion skills.

You will also be responsible for conducting caseload reviews weekly/monthly and maintaining up to date beneficiary records on our internal systems.

Employee Benefits
• 35 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and 3 Christmas days) rising by 1 day each year after 2 years’ service (capped at an additional 8 days)
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave after 2 years’ service
• Save money off a new bike with the Cycle to Work scheme
• Up to 7% contribution to the staff pension scheme
• 24/7 Employee Support Line
• Clear pay structure with yearly increments (based on performance)
• Annual Staff away day
• Premium eye-care vouchers through Specsavers and season ticket loans

“Providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice”

Citizens Advice Southwark has a track record of delivering high-quality services from its offices in Peckham and Walworth and outreach locations across Southwark and South East London. We sort out problems together, for good, by providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice across all areas of social welfare law, and through using the experience of our clients to bring about positive change through research and campaigns. 

This post is advertised as an exciting opportunity for an experienced Advice Session Supervisor to consolidate their skills and experience or as a development opportunity for an advisor to train to become an Advice Session Supervisor within six months of starting in post. If applying as a trainee the starting salary will be on NJC Scale 6 - £33,194 for the first six months whilst undertaking the training.

The post holder will be required to work across all of our offices and outreaches in Southwark according to operational needs.

The role includes:

• Providing advice to the public and undertaking casework on social welfare law issues
• Supervising advice and gateway assessment sessions
• Supporting and supervising staff and volunteers

To be successful you will need:

• Recent experience of giving advice to the public. This should include having undertaken advice casework.
• Experience of undertaking the role of Advice Session Supervisor or to demonstrate the ability to undertake this role with training provided within 6 months of starting
• To understand, empathise with and be committed to the Service’s aims, principles and equal opportunities policies

Closing date: 9.00 am Monday 20th May 2024

Interviews: Friday 24th May 2024

For further information and an application pack please visit our website via the apply button

We offer a range of employee benefits, including generous annual leave, an employer matched pension contribution up to 10% salary, and training and development opportunities to continue your professional development.

Citizens Advice Southwark is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all applicants who meet the person specification irrespective of sex, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, age, or disability.

Join us!

Contact is a national charity for families with disabled children. We provide information, advice and support, and bring families together so they can support each other. We campaign to improve their circumstances, and for their right to be included and equal in society.

Your role

You will provide an advice, information and support services to families using hospital services at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, London

What we’re looking for

• Experience of working with and supporting families who have disabled children.
• Good organisational and administrative skills.
• Knowledge and experience of the issues and concerns that affect families who have disabled children e.g. benefits, social care, and education.
• Knowledge and experience of welfare benefits, especially DLA/PIP and other benefits targeted at families with disabled children.
• Good communication, listening skills, time management and networking skills.

How to apply

Please return a completed application form along with an equal opportunities monitoring form (downloadable as part of the job pack) by the date stated below.

Important dates

Closing date:  9am on Friday the 10 May 2024  
Interview date: Wednesday the 15 May 2024

Age UK and its network of local and national partners across the UK deliver a wide range of services to millions of older people every year. We want to ensure that those services are of a high quality and of real value to the people who receive them. A key component of this is the Network Quality & Compliance Team, which oversees Age UK's Quality Assurance Framework of quality standards, assessments, and processes for dealing with non-compliance.

We have an exciting part-time opportunity for a Service Quality Adviser to join our Network Quality & Compliance Team. This role is part of the team that supports Age UK and its network of local and national partners to provide consistent, high-quality services to the public. The team is responsible for ensuring that training and guidance is available on how to run high quality services and supports individual network members with quality challenges and non-compliance.

The provision of Information and Advice (I&A) and our quality standards for these services, are a key element of this role. The successful post holder will have demonstrable experience of managing or supervising an I&A service and ideally, a broader understanding or experience of quality assurance and delivering services to older people.

This is a part-time, home-based opportunity, working 21 hours per week. Salary advertised is FTE. (Actual salary range for 21 hours per week - Actual £20,406 - £22,554)

Please note:
* You will be required to travel throughout the UK.
* You will be required to attend meetings in London, possibly as frequently as one a month. Travel expenses are paid to the London office and other Age UK locations.
* You should have a commitment to equality and diversity, social justice and giving people a voice.

Must haves:

* Experience of the provision of a range of services (including information and advice) to quality standards (including legal and regulatory) in a not-for-profit organisation or other relevant context.
* Experience of managing or supervising the delivery of services (including information and advice).
* Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate with staff in different locations, write reports and training materials.
* A wide range of influencing skills, including the ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external partners in order to meet objectives.
* Strong project management skills, with the ability to work flexibly and autonomously, managing individual projects to meet organisational objectives and achieve deadlines.
* Proven ability to work as part of a flexible team including remote staff.
* Good IT skills including an ability to use Microsoft Office (including Excel) effectively in preparing reports, presentations and in managing email communication. Experience of using CRM databases and other data management systems to manage client information is desirable. Experience of using online training and communication resources such as Teams or Zoom.

Great to haves:
* Experience of community development, working with volunteers and/or supporting small local voluntary organisations.
* Experience of delivering services to contracts and / or consortium working.
* Knowledge of public policy and practice issues in the delivery of services to older people.
* Proven ability to evaluate services and projects, interpret data and report on findings.
* Creativity and innovation including the ability to identify solutions and resolve complex issues.

What we offer in return

• Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave (pro rata) + bank holidays
• Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, health cashback plan and EAP
• Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
• Tech scheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
• Blue Light Card Scheme
• You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.

Additional Information

All CVs will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role at Age UK. Please note that our system is unable to anonymise cover letters, and we would therefore ask that to support the work we are doing on making our recruitment selection process fairer and more unbiased, that you remove any personal information from your cover letter/supporting statement, including your name before uploading this. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us once you are invited for an interview.

Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria under the Disability Confident Scheme. Please note that on occasion, due to high numbers of applications, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.

Age UK politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Advice Session Superviser or experienced Generalist Adviser with at least 2 years’ experience looking for a development opportunity to join our dynamic team.

The successful candidate will join our team of Supervisers and contribute to the support and development of our excellent staff and volunteers.

Together with our Senior Management Team and Quality Performance Manager, you will help to ensure that we continue to provide a high quality advice service within the London Borough of Bromley.

If you are a team player, committed to supporting others, and want a job that makes a difference in people’s lives this could be the job for you.

Closing date: Monday 6th May 2024 at Midnight

Interview date: Wednesday 8 th May 2024

Citizens Advice Bromley values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Hours: Full- and part-time positions

Contract: Permanent

Location: CAML charity offices and outreach venues across Merton

Salary (pro rata for part time):

From £30,000 per annum for Advice Supervisor

From £29,000 per annum for Trainee Supervisor

Annual Leave: 25 days (pro rata for part time), Charity Day, plus public holidays

Pension: The charity operates a pension scheme

The charity offers an employee assistance programme

Deadline: 6pm, Thursday 9th May 2024

Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth (CAML) is the leading advice charity supporting individuals and families primarily across the London boroughs of Lambeth and Merton but also wider London.  We provide a range of information, support and advice services.  We also work to raise awareness and understanding of the challenging issues affecting our clients and communities.

We are looking for an experienced Adviser/Caseworker or Supervisor to join our team in this new role.  If you are passionate about supporting individuals and families in need, relish supporting valued team members to reach their potential, have minimum of two years Citizens Advice Adviser experience, are a natural team leader, enjoy delivering training and are interested in joining a dedicated professional team we would love to hear from you.

Our offices have excellent public transport links and Mitcham also has a carpark.  We offer a friendly and welcoming work environment and can provide flexible work opportunities dependent on service demands. 

This role is a service manager including line management responsibilities and reports to Head of Advice Services.

Main duties and responsibilities

• As a member of service managers team, ensure client support team members are supported with the appropriate level of guidance and supervision

• Complete casework and generalist advice for clients (when required)

• Monitor the case records / telephone calls of designated staff and volunteers to meet quality standards and service level agreements

• Ensure remedial and developmental issues are identified and acted on to develop individuals, improve the quality of advice, and ensure clients do not suffer detriment due to poor or inadequate advice

• Keep technical knowledge up to date and provide technical support to advisers and / or caseworkers

• As a service/team manager you are a member of CAML’s Service Manager Delivery Team

• Assist trainees through self-learning modules and review progress on a regular basis.

• Research, design and deliver training programmes and sessions

• Take part in recruitment, induction and coordination of our fantastic volunteers

• Attend appropriate internal and external meetings as agreed

Research and Campaigns

• Promote the importance of research and campaigns work

• Include a review for research and campaigns within case-checking

Other duties and responsibilities

• Uphold the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equal opportunities policies.

• Professionally represent and promote Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth in your work

• Other duties as requested by your line manager (Head of Advice Services), SMT or Chief Executive

Professional Development

• The successful applicant will receive comprehensive induction to the charity and our work.  We support team members in their professional development to ensure we’re up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to benefits and debt and undertake appropriate training as agreed with your line manager. 

Person Specification

• Citizens Advice qualified and experienced across all advice areas essential.

• Ability to support volunteers and staff and maintain motivation.

• Demonstrable ability to monitor and maintain service delivery against agreed targets.

• Well-organised and able to prioritise own work and the work of others, meet deadlines and manage workload in a busy environment.

• Ability to use IT systems and packages, and electronic resources in the provision of advice and the preparation of reports and submissions.

• Commitment to and work within the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service.

• Strong understanding of equality and diversity and its application to the provision of advice, and the supervision and development of staff.

This job description and personal specification does not form part of any contract.

If you’re interested in the role and joining us, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please follow the link to our website to view the full job description and find out how to apply (please note we will not consider CVs for this role).

The deadline for applications is 6pm, Thursday, 9th May 2024. 

If you do not hear from us, we are afraid your application was unsuccessful.

We reserve the right to close applications early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and will process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our online Privacy Policy for more information on how your personal data will be processed and stored.

People living with Parkinson's value the services and opportunities Parkinson’s UK provides, delivered by committed and skilled colleagues, volunteers and partner organisations. Following an investment of 1.5 million we have the opportunity to build on the quality and reach of our community services. 

About the role

You’ll empower your clients to take actions for themselves or will advocate on their behalf for better service, support and outcomes, so they can live their life with Parkinson's in the way they choose.

You’ll deliver tailored information and support through a range of channels including telephone, video and email and, where appropriate, home visits and in community settings.

You’ll be responsible for building excellent relationships with healthcare professionals and other relevant agencies, as well as our network of volunteers and groups.

What you'll do:

• Provide professional person centred, in depth support to clients by a range of means, ensuring the most efficient and effective use of resources.

• Provide support on a variety of health and social care issues, including appropriate emotional, employment and welfare benefits support and advocating with and on behalf of clients. 

• Work flexibly across the service responding to enquiries through a range of channels.

• Work closely with clinicians, specialist nurses and other professional colleagues to raise the profile of the service, increase depth of support and achieve improved outcomes for people with Parkinson’s.

What you'll bring: 

• Experience of managing and delivering individual case work, including advocating for clients and supporting people to navigate  the health and social care system 

• Experience and understanding of safeguarding and your role in keeping clients safe and  implementing organisational policies and procedure

• Ability to be calm and use emotional intelligence in challenging casework

• Demonstrable digital competence, with experience of effective use of a range of tools including online case management systems

• The ability to build effective working relationships with others including working within multi disciplinary teams internally and externally 

You must live in the area you’re applying for in order to carry out this role. 

Please apply by sending us your CV, together with supporting statements. The supporting statement should fully demonstrate how you meet all the criteria as stated in the "What you'll bring" section of the role description.

We are operating rolling recruitment for this vacancy and reviewing applications as they are received. We reserve the right to close this vacancy when we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The successful candidate will be required to: 

• live in the area specified, and be able to travel freely and flexibly throughout the area and occasionally further afield without reliance on public transport

• Preferably hold a full driving licence

• provide occasional cover on Saturdays and/or Bank holidays

• provide their own broadband service with a minimum download speed of 2Mb 

This role will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You’ll be required to apply for one; refusal to do so will result in the offer being withdrawn.

Anyone can get Parkinson’s. It’s vital that the people who work for Parkinson’s UK are representative of our diverse community. We actively encourage people from all sections of the community to apply, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.

WHO WE ARE

We are a leading mental health charity on a mission to support Londoners with mental health challenges find and remain in good employment as part of their mental health recovery journey.  We have been changing lives for almost 30 years and we have just secured a large contract, submitted in partnership with Shaw Trust and Smart London, to provide Employment Advisors to support NHS Talking Therapy teams across West London.  This is therefore an incredibly exciting time to join a thriving organisation at the beginning of an innovative mental health support service.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are now inviting suitable candidates to apply for the role of Service Lead.  This position will manage a team of around 20 Employment Advisors (EAs) and Senior Employment Advisors (SEAs).  The role will be guided and supported by a Head of Services, as well as Twining’s established and experienced Senior Leadership Team and Trustees.

THE OFFER

In return we offer a friendly and supportive working environment, flexible working, career development opportunities, a comprehensive training and induction programme, a generous holiday entitlement and competitive financial rewards.  We also practice what we preach in terms of creating a positive working environment to support our own employee’s wellbeing.

Working format – based at NHS Talking Therapy sites, as well as some possibility of working from home

THE ROLE – SERVICE LEAD

You will be responsible for the ongoing day to day leadership and management of the Employment Advisors (EAs) and Senior Employment Advisors (SEAs) in Talking Therapies service across Ealing, Harrow and Hounslow.

You will liaise with managers, clinicians and GPs across the NHS primary care pathways to ensure that services are coordinated and pathways into, and out of, the service are managed effectively and efficiently.

You will ensure the service operates in line with national guidance related to Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies and gives consideration to wider disability employment and retention support models, whilst striving to achieve and maintain national best practice in this field.

You will ensure the team develops in a manner that facilitates clients being referred to the service quickly, so they do not remain unsupported whilst on sick leave, and then support them to return to work swiftly (where appropriate), or to follow the destination that is best suited to their circumstances, enabling individuals to achieve positive service experience outcomes.

You will work in partnership with key stakeholders and contract managers.

This role will require someone experienced in leading the delivery of a mental health support programme, whilst managing and meeting commissioner performance expectations.

SERVICE LEAD RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

1. To develop and manage the Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies Service, providing high quality, timely assessment and support interventions, including signposting for specialist external advice such as ACAS, welfare benefits advice, union or specialist employment law advice.

2. To have specialist knowledge and understanding of employment support and retention to be able to promote an early intervention model, which predominately focusing on supporting people into their preferred job choice, supporting them to remain in work, or enabling them to gain early access to advice and support to reduce the risk of not starting or losing their employment.

3. To manage the performance activity, data quality and service delivery of the team and ensure they provide an integrated and effective service.

4. To ensure the staff have an understanding of the process and philosophy of the positive benefits that work can have on an individual’s health, as well as understanding the benefit of early intervention and support for those at risk of losing their employment due to poor mental health, disabilities, health conditions or issues at work.

5. To oversee the development of new initiatives within the Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies Service in line with national best practice and planning capacity for the team to meet the anticipated increases in demand for the service as a result of changes in the economy or incidence of poor mental health.

6. Ensure the service works within national and locally agreed frameworks and develop key performance indicators if none exist.

7. To ensure that the team has appropriate arrangements in place to guarantee that efficient, effective, equitable and economical services are provided to all clients.

8. To respond to complaints and suggestions from clients and carers in accordance with policies and procedures, and to participate as appropriate in the investigation of complaints, grievances, significant events and disciplinary manners in accordance with polices and present the outcome of the investigations to the relevant personnel.

9. To lead the team in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practice.

10. To monitor the workload and performance of team members using electronic systems to monitor performance.

11. Provide reports to senior managers and stakeholders regarding activity and exception reports for information.

12. To provide regular line management supervision to members of the team.

13. Ensure all team staff receive annual Appraisals and have personal development plans in place.

14. To participate in own Appraisal to ensure development and planning.

15. To agree and monitor explicit performance targets with staff relevant to service delivery.

16. To monitor staff sickness and absence and offer appropriate counselling or appropriate actions.

17. To recruit new staff to vacancies that may arise within the service.

18. To promote and foster good relations with other teams and agencies and stakeholders, ensuring that any issues are addressed at the earliest stage.

19. To ensure that full and appropriate use is made of information systems and that all relevant activity and intervention is recorded appropriately to enable access to information regarding individual clients and also aggregated data.

20. To attend regular management and planning meetings, workshops and conferences relating to health issues and employment, as appropriate.

21. To remain well informed about the national agenda for Employment and Retention, health and social care, and the economic picture.

22. To keep abreast with current best practice in the field and continue to foster a network of specialist support for those who are employed but need support.

23. To make presentations, where appropriate, to staff, clinical colleagues or management groups regarding current national or local issues.

24. To implement and support any performance management systems agreed by senior managers. To regularly monitor and audit systems and records to ensure compliance with procedures and standards.

25. To take note of and, where appropriate, act upon any external audits or reviews that are of relevance to the team.

26. To take responsibility for the efficient use of resources within the team.

27. Provide the team with specialist advice for more complex cases as required.

28. To undertake any other duties of a similar nature consistent with the responsibilities of this post and as required by your manager.

The role holder must also:

1. Pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an Enhanced level.

2. Possess excellent IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office software, as well as experience updating and maintaining databases.

3. Maintain accurate and up to date records of activity and outcomes in line with service performance requirements, ensuring the IT database is up to date and paperwork compliant.

4. Receive regular supervision and training to meet individual, team and organization’s needs.

5. Contribute to the development of a service that is locally responsive and supports minority/disadvantaged communities.

6. Comply with and actively promote all Twining policies and procedures including Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding, Data Protection and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only.  The post holder will need to be flexible in developing the role in conjunction with their line manager.

The role will receive comprehensive training at induction, and ongoing career development and support as part of a structured performance programme thereafter.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our dynamic team as a Money Advice Caseworker on our Debt Free London project. The successful applicant will be providing money advice as part of our London wide project.

You will be contributing to the health & well-being of the community and helping people from reaching crisis point. In return, as part of our team, you will benefit from learning and development opportunities.

If you are a team player, willing to learn, committed to quality and want a job which makes a difference in people’s lives then this could be the job for you.

Closing Date: 5pm on Tuesday 7th May 2024
Interview Date: Friday 10th May 2024

Citizens Advice Bromley values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

The purpose of this role is to provide administrative support for Global Black Thrive involvement in the Culture of Care Programme liaising with the Lived Experience Advisors, the Race Equity Lead, Neurodiverse Connections, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and NHS England. 

This will include HR, Operations and Admin functions relating to the Culture of Care (CoC) Programme and will include managing systems to efficiently run the business and achieve strategic objectives agreed by Black Thrive Board of Directors. 

The role will be the first point of contact for our CoC team, organising travel and accommodation, managing HR and office queries. 

You may be involved in managing onboarding and offboarding, preparing employment contracts (Full-time and/or part-time, zero hours and/or fixed terms contracts), checking and following right-to-work in the UK, and administrating DBS checks. 

You will be working with the HR and Admin Manager in Global Black Thrive and may be required to assist in wider team activities where required. 

Hours: Full- and part-time positions

Contract: Permanent

Location: CAML charity offices and outreach venues

Salary (pro rata for part time): From £28,000 per annum

Annual Leave: 25 days (pro rata for part time), Charity Day, plus public holidays

Pension: The charity operates a pension scheme

The charity offers an employee assistance programme  

Deadline: 6pm, Thursday 16th May 2024

Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth (CAML) is the leading advice charity supporting individuals and families across the London boroughs of Lambeth, Merton and beyond.  We provide a range of information, support and advice services.  We also work to raise awareness and understanding of the challenging issues affecting our clients and communities. 

We are looking for an accredited Debt Adviser to provide comprehensive debt advice and support to those in need.  If you have at least one year’s experience as an accredited debt adviser, passionate about supporting individuals and families in need and interested in joining a dedicated, professional team we would love to hear from you.

If you are not an accredited Debt Adviser but you are an accredited Generalist Adviser with at least one year’s experience, are willing to complete the relevant training, passionate about supporting Merton and Lambeth residents, we would love to hear from you.

The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work flexibly with clients.  You will be meticulous in your work, especially when supporting clients and maintaining case records for continuity of casework.  You will also be very well informed with regards to legislation, case law and policy changes relating to debt and benefits.

Our offices have excellent public transport links and Mitcham also has a carpark.  We offer a friendly and welcoming work environment and can provide flexible work opportunities dependent on service demands. 

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive, full range of debt advice in line with Financial Conduct Authority and Debt Advice Quality Framework

• Commit to train for debt adviser (if trainee) and ongoing training/development (all roles) as requested by the charity

• Provide generalist advice in benefits, income maximisation and housing as required

• Complete Debt Relief Orders on behalf of clients (if accredited)

• Use your interpersonal skills to explore, listen and understand complex problems as they affect each individual and tailor approach to advice accordingly

• Provide a clear plan of action and follow-up on actions relating to cases as appropriate

• Follow-up on actions relating to cases as appropriate

• Identify and escalate serious problems, including safeguarding, appropriately

• Ability to work to own initiative within a team environment. 

• Work closely with service colleagues and wider CAML team

• Support clients in CAML offices and outreach venues

Monitoring Quality and Case Recording

• Ensure all client engagement and support is comprehensively and accurately recorded

• Review your work, and monitor quality standards, as per the Citizens Advice quality framework

• Ensure data protections regulations are adhere and office procedures followed

• Work with your line manager, senior managers and charity colleagues to develop and improve services, and your own standards.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• With wider charity team and other organisations, ensure clients are supported with related advice issues

• Ensure all work is fully compliant with our policies and procedures and Citizens Advice Quality Standard

• Assist and contribute to the charity’s communications, research and campaigns work

• Maintain positive working relations with our stakeholders

• Professionally represent Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth

• Other duties as requested by your line manager, senior manager and Chief Executive

Professional Development

• All our team receive comprehensive induction to the charity and our work.  We support Advisers in their professional development to ensure we’re up to date with recent legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to benefits and debt and undertake appropriate training as agreed with your line manager (Head of Advice Services).

Person Specification

• Generalist Adviser certificate (Citizens Advice or equivalent) – Essential

• Accredited debt adviser (either through relevant Citizens Advice debt training, Wiser Adviser training). – Essential for accredited role

• Willingness to undertake training and development to comply with Citizens Advice quality standards

• Experience of using client management databases (we use Casebook) - Desirable

• Ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines and manage caseload - Essential

• IT competency and experience - Essential

• Ability and willingness to work as a team - Essential

• Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of Citizens Advice service - Essential

This job description and personal specification does not form part of any contract.

If you’re interested in the role and joining us, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please follow the link to our website to find out how to apply. (please note we will not consider CVs for this role).

The deadline for applications is 6pm, Thursday 16th May 2024. 

If you do not hear from us, we are afraid your application was unsuccessful.

We reserve the right to close applications early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

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