Barnwood Trust – Caseworker

North & West Gloucestershire Citizens Advice are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our advice team and make a real difference to their community. This is an opportunity for you to join an established charity that has an excellent reputation for the provision of high-quality advice and is a great place to work. You’ll be part of a team committed to working together and with partner agencies to achieve the best outcomes we can for our clients.

This role is supported by Barnwood Trust, a longstanding Gloucestershire charity which supports and promotes the rights of disabled people and people with mental health conditions. This collaboration with Citizens Advice is an exploration of the way we are able to work with Barnwood Trust Community Partners and others. To provide a wrap-around advice and guidance service best suited to the client needs and the skills and resources of the partnership organisations.

The purpose of this role is to tackle issues faced by clients by focusing on income maximisation and support for funding. This role will include working with partner organisations to deliver a holistic service for clients, it is a fixed term appointment as this is a one year Pilot, although we envisage that funding for the role will continue beyond this date. If the pilot is successful.

If you do not have the experience for this role, we are considering trainees. We have a training programme which will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and experience to do the role as well as a career opportunity which could lead to professional progression within the service.

Please note, this job specification applies to fully trained Caseworker. Trainee will be working towards gaining those qualifications.

The role

Pension: Contribution of 7% based on 4% employee contribution
Type of Contract: 1 Year fixed term – extension subject to funding
Employee Assistance Scheme: Health Assured
Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may be held before the closing date, so early applications are encouraged.

Purpose of the Role

To assist and direct client to access the most appropriate advice and support for their needs, with a focus on information and funding support for disabled people and people with mental health conditions.

This role may include home visits and outreach support in order to assist individuals who are particularly vulnerable, digitally excluded, and would otherwise unable to access this service.

Clients may be referred internally for specialised advice relating to benefits, debts, housing and other areas of expertise, they will also be supported in making funding applications for immediate need and for enrichment purposes.

You will manage referrals from Triage Advisers, BT Community Partners and others to provide a holistic casework service to clients with the focus on addressing issues relating to disability and mental health.

Role Profile

Casework

• Provide casework covering the full range of benefits, debt advice, housing and other relevant advice.
• Identify where clients need energy advice and make referrals to partner agencies. To help clients register with Priority Services Register etc. to ensure energy support.
• Act for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters and telephoning.
• Negotiate with third parties as appropriate.
• Prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals and courts as appropriate.
• Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer to other advisers or specialist agencies as appropriate.
• Liaise with other Community Partners regarding support options or to clarify ongoing support that an individual may be currently receiving.
• Support clients to make appropriate funding applications via Barnwood Trust and other funders.
• Ensure that all casework conforms to the bureau's Office Manual, the Advice Quality Standard and/or the Specialist Quality Mark and Citizens Advice practices and procedures
• Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.

Research and campaigns

• Assist with research and campaigns work by providing information about clients' circumstances.
• Provide statistical information on the number of clients and nature of cases and provide regular reports to bureau management for the purposes of reporting to funders.
• Monitor service provision to ensure that it reaches the widest possible client group and work with funders and partners to develop referrals.
• To record return referrals and to inform Development Lead of any relevant changes within Barnwood Community Partner organisations.

Professional development

• Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to Welfare Benefits and Money Advice and undertake appropriate training.
• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions/team meetings/management team meetings as appropriate.
• Assist with initiatives for the improvement of the project and wider bureau services.

Administration

• Maintain local information systems.
• Use the Citizens Advice national case recording system for statistical recording, record keeping and document production.
• Keep up to date with policies and procedures relevant to bureau work and undertake appropriate training.
• Maintain close liaison with Triage Adviser and Development Lead and relevant external agencies where necessary.

Public relations

• Liaise with partner organisations and funders and represent the Service on outside bodies as appropriate.

Other duties and responsibilities

• Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.
• Demonstrate commitment to the aims and policies of the CAB service.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

1. Recent advice work experience.
2. Qualified to Caseworker Adviser level as a Generalist Adviser or willingness to commit to training period.
3. Understanding of the particular challenges of accessing funding and support services for disabled people and people with mental health challenges.
4. Experience of providing home visits and outreach support for vulnerable clients and lone working procedure awareness.
5. Experience and ability to implement new projects and work with funders to ensure appropriate and accurate outcomes.
7. Ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow and develop agreed procedures.
8. Ability to use IT in the provision of advice and the preparation of reports and submissions.
9. Effective communication skills with emphasis on negotiating and representing and preparing reviews, reports and correspondence.
10.Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equality and diversity policies.
11.Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage complex caseload.
12.Proven ability to work well within a small team.
13.Clean driving licence.

Desirable

11.Understanding the needs of clients with complex health issues.
14.Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a
willingness to challenge constructively.
15.Demonstrate understanding of social trends and their implications for clients
and service provision.
16.Citizens Advice accredited.

Want to chat about this role?

If you want to chat about the role further, you can contact Penny Hulbert via details to the right of this advert.

Applying for this post

To apply for this post, please complete our application form, which can be found on our website,by clicking on Apply Now. Completed application forms should then be emailed to the email address to the right of this advert.

In accordance with Citizens Advice national policy, we may require the successful candidate to be screened by the DBS. However, a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to your being able to take up the job.