Generalist Adviser - Grants Project Team

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 Gloucestershire County Council and Barnwood Trust to provide a wrap-around advice and guidance service best suited to the client needs.

The purpose of this role is to tackle issues faced by clients by focusing on income maximisation and support for funding. It is fixed term at present to 31st March 2026, but we anticipate further funding to extend the project.

We are seeking a fully trained adviser.

Remote working will be considered.

The role

Location: Gloucester, remote working

Type of Contract:  Until 31st March 2026 – extension subject to funding

Reporting to: Community and Partnerships Manager

Application deadline: 15th February 2026 (may close early if a suitable candidate is appointed)

Company Benefits Pension: Contribution of 7% based on 4% employee contribution Employee

Assistance Scheme: Health Assured

Birthday Leave: Take a day to celebrate your annual personal milestone. This leave does not form part of your annual leave entitlement.

Christmas Closure: Our office will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s, and these days won’t count towards your holiday entitlement.

Flexible Working Policy: Includes compressed hours, flexitime, homeworking/hybrid

Purpose of the Role

The postholder will support both Grants projects (HSF and Barnwood Trust) to assist and direct client to access the most appropriate advice and support for their needs, you will manage referrals from Gloucestershire County Council HSF Team, Triage Advisers and Barnwood Trust Community Partners to provide a holistic casework service to clients with the focus on addressing any advice issues.

Role Profile

Generalist Advice

• Provide generalist advice 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 GCC to establish what grant support is needed, if any support that an individual may be currently receiving.
• Support clients to make appropriate funding applications and to 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.

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.
• Part of this role will involve providing support to clients who have received grants from various sources. This will include a mix of generalist advice and administrative follow up work.
• Maintain close liaison with Community and Engagement Manager

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 Generalist Adviser level.
3. Understanding of the particular challenges of accessing community funding and support services.
4. Experience and ability to implement new projects and work with funders to ensure appropriate and accurate outcomes.
5. Ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow and develop agreed procedures.
6. Ability to use IT in the provision of advice and the preparation of reports and submissions.
7. Effective communication skills with emphasis on negotiating and representing and preparing reviews, reports and correspondence.
8. Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equality and diversity policies.
9.  Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage complex caseload.
10. Proven ability to work well within a small team.
11. Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to challenge constructively.

Desirable

12. Demonstrate understanding of social trends and their implications for clients and service provision.
13. Citizens Advice accredited.

Want to chat about this role?

If you want to chat about the role further, you can contact Penny Hulbert by emailing her on the email address to the right of this advert or calling 01452 943 137.

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 via the information 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 you being able to take up the job.