Housing And Welfare Benefits Advisor Jobs in Hammersmith, Greater London

Job Summary

This role is an expansion of our employment pathway and will be our first dedicated employment coach for our students.

PiP has developed a unique reputation for our experience and quality of employment support for adults with learning disabilities. This has led to an increased number of referrals with a focus on employment, an expansion of our in-house social enterprise capacity, and more employers keen to work alongside us to diversify their staff base.

PiP is keen to respond to and meet this demand. This role for us is the next step in doing so, allowing us to increase our job coaching capacity and providing more dedicated resource for students on their employment journey. As to date our coaching has been delivered across our existing staff team.

Who We Are

PIP is a local charity that supports adults with learning disabilities or autism to achieve their potential, and to lead lives that are as independent as possible.  

Our mission is to empower adults with learning disabilities to achieve their potential. We are a growing, grassroots charity based in West London, and run a number of key services to promote independence and choice for our students.

What You’ll Need

• Working with people with learning disabilities, or a similar client group
• Experience of training, education, or employment support delivery
• Experience of job coaching or supporting work placements
• Understanding of and commitment to a person-centred approach
• An understanding of the needs of employers and ability to articulate the benefits of having a diverse workforce to businesses
• Able to establish, develop and maintain constructive and professional relationships, both internal and external, with a wide variety of professional and carers
• Evidenced experience of success in building strong and positive relationships with a variety of people and organisations

What We Offer:

· The salary for this role is circa £29,500 dependent on experience with incremental pay progression.

You'll get 25 days holiday + bank holidays ever year. We're closed for Christmas but the rest of the year you may take leave whenever you wish. 

· An extra day of annual leave for each year you've worked with us up to another 5 (30 in total)

· We offer a travel subsidy of up to £7.50 per day to help with the cost of commuting.

· We provide a 4% pension contribution

· Incremental pay progression

· It's an early finish on Fridays - we close once all students leave around 4pm.

· Free Employee Assistance Programme 24/7 including access to counselling

· We offer regular team meals and social-generally during work hours and they are optional.

· We offer a cycle-to-work scheme and other staff discounts

Our Mission

PiP's mission is to empower adults with learning disabilities to achieve their potential. We are a growing, grassroots charity based in West London, and run a number of key services to promote independence and choice for our service users.

Our commitments

PiP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with the Inclusive Employers Standard 2020. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly applicants who are significantly underrepresented in our sector, such as people with lived experience of disabilities and individuals from Black and Minority ethnic communities. 

PiP keeps all personal information confidential and in line with current data protection legislation and GDPR. 

Closing Date:  November 17th 2024

We encourage you to apply early, as applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received, and we reserve the right to close the advert sooner subject to finding suitable candidates. 

This role sits within the Community Education and Training team, working to support our learners to access, complete and progress through our wide range of adult learning provision. The main focus will be on providing additional support for learners who need wrap-around support relating to a range of additional personal and educational needs. This could include welfare, personal and family support and wider mental health and wellbeing support or additional learning needs such as dyslexia, ADHD, literacy support and other needs.

You will work with the team to implement strategies and support plans for individuals to aid learning and enhance educational experience. You will support the team’s administrator to monitor learner’s attendance, contacting them via phone, email or arranging a meeting in person where pastoral support is needed.

You will work with our Adult Safeguarding Lead to support safeguarding cases across our departments, including keeping safeguarding records, making referrals and building a database of local support services available to learners and other service users.

We are looking for a dedicated individual who is passionate about supporting learners to ensure they have the best opportunity to thrive on their learning journey.

You will also support wider functions in the team such as contributing to the organisation of our termly learners’ forum to celebrate achievement and attending events in the community to publicise our work.

The successful applicant will have experience of working with vulnerable individuals or groups, be committed to safeguarding, have excellent administration skills, be flexible and excited about being at the heart of a busy team and committed to providing an excellent service to High Trees’ users.

Benefits of working at High Trees

• 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

North Paddington Foodbank (NPFB) is the UK’s first and only full cash-first foodbank, pioneering a transformative approach by providing customers with emergency cash grants alongside advice and support services. We’re looking for a dedicated and passionate Welfare Benefits Advisor to help deliver life-changing financial support to individuals in Westminster who may be missing out on benefits or are struggling with debt.

This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with those in need, offering tailored guidance on welfare benefits, income maximisation, and budgeting. You will have the chance to make a real impact on the lives of vulnerable people, ensuring they receive the financial assistance and advice they deserve.

Role Overview:
We are seeking a passionate and driven Welfare Benefits Advisor to join our team and make a significant impact on the lives of those in need. This position is vital in ensuring that underserved communities in Westminster access the financial support they deserve. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic environment and embodies a positive, solution-oriented mindset.

Key Responsibilities:

• Casework Support: Provide comprehensive casework support to NPFB service users, assisting with welfare benefit claims (PIP, ESA, Universal Credit) and addressing independent reviews.
• Debt Support: Offer basic debt advice, focusing on priority debts, applying for Local Housing Allowance, and facilitating referrals to specialists for complex cases.
• Financial Capability: Help clients create realistic budgets and develop essential financial skills to foster independence.
• Income Maximization: Deliver tailored advice to maximize household income through benefit checks, applications, and challenges to ensure clients receive their rightful support.
• Outreach Coordination: Manage outreach clinics and community events, collaborating with partners to enhance service delivery.
• Client Engagement: Provide advice across various settings, including the NPFB office, community outreach, and digital platforms.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate case records and ensure timely completion of funding reports and evaluations.
• Training: Stay updated on welfare legislation and provide training sessions for staff and volunteers on welfare rights issues.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in delivering social welfare advice. 
• Ability to empower clients facing welfare benefits and debt challenges through empathetic support.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage challenging situations effectively.
• Proficient in managing a caseload and meeting deadlines to ensure timely client support.

Personal Attributes:

• Commitment to quality, continuous improvement, and excellence in service delivery.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and emotional intelligence.
• Passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion, with a willingness to challenge discrimination.

Other Requirements:

• Willingness to travel across Westminster and work occasional weekends or evenings.
• Right to work in the UK and willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check

If you thrive in fast-paced environments, are driven to create positive change, and want to work with an innovative team that believes in the power of cash-first interventions, we’d love to hear from you!

The Cardinal Hume Centre works to prevent and tackle youth and family homelessness.

Job title: Immigration Advisor (OISC L1)
Westminster, London
Hours: Permanent, part time, 21 hours (up to 35 hours (full time) considered)
Salary: £20,916 (£34,860 FTE)

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the world? Do you want to leverage your skills to combat homelessness for children and young people? Then we have the perfect opportunity for you.

We are looking to recruit an OISC Level 1 Advisor to provide tailor-made advice to individual clients with regard to child citizenship applications. This is an exciting role in our Immigration Team that will Act as a point of contact within the Centre for all queries and questions relating to immigration advice. You will develop your own caseload in partnership with the service manager, assess referrals, apply for fee waivers and provide casework support for other team members. You will work to Office of Immigration Services Commission (OISC), Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) and Immigration and Asylum Accreditation (IAAS) standards and keep up to date with changes in law and policy relating to refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

Please refer to the job description for further information.

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the requirements of the role and why you would like to work for us. You must account for any gaps in your employment history. 

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The Centre requires staff and volunteers to complete a criminal records self-declaration and undertake a DBS check.

Benefits
‍·26 days’ leave rising to 28 days’ leave after two years’ service (pro rata for part time staff)
·Two annual wellbeing days
·Access to Blue Light Card discounts
·Pension: stakeholder pension scheme and we will match employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%.
·Life assurance cover(after probation passed)
·Season ticket loan
·Training and development opportunities

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:

We are recruiting for two Generalist Advisers - one permanent and one fixed term contract for 12 months. The roles are an integral part of the day-to-day delivery of our Advice and Support Service, which has been re-shaped and went 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 to older people, their friends, family and professionals.

As a Generalist Adviser you will be responsible for providing advice and support during calls received through the duty line, pre-booked appointments and short term casework.  

You should have knowledge and experience of advising on a wide range of topics, including Welfare Benefits, Housing and Social Care. You should have experience of working within an advice setting and advice supervision framework such as the AQS framework. You will have a warm, supportive and person-centred approach, working alongside individuals in a holistic manner.

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. 

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 on our website.

Salary information:

Homebased: £29,453 per year, increasing to £30,267 after 6 months (and to £31,054 after 12 months for the permanent role)

Hybrid working in London: £32,682 per year, increasing to £33,600 after 6 months (and to £34,493 after 12 months for the permanent role)

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). Please specify in your Supporting Statement whether you would like to be considered for the permanent role or the 12 month fixed term contract role, or both. 

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: 27th October 2024

Interview Dates: 12th November 2024

Welfare Benefits Advisor – Adults
Salary: £27k to £30k negotiable & dependent on experience
Training can be provided in key areas of the role for those with essential experience. (see person specification)
Hours: 37.5 hours a week
Place of work: Centre for Independent Living, Mo Mowlam House, Clem Atlee Court, SW6 7BF
Contract period: Permanent
Accountable to: Welfare Benefits Team Leader

The Organisation

Action on Disability (AoD), founded in 1979, is one of London’s leading Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations. As we believe in the social model of disability, our values and principles embrace inclusive and accessible ways of working both internally and in all our activities, seek the participation and contribution of our members, and encourage and respect diversity.

The organisation is a medium sized charity with a Board of Trustees (at least 75% is disabled trustees), 25 staff and a strong ad hoc staff and volunteer base including many with direct experience of disability - all of whom are passionate about removing the barriers that disabled people face.

AoD provides five key services. These are: Youth, Employment, Welfare Benefits and Independent Living.

AoD’s Welfare Benefits Service

The Welfare Benefits Service provides free independent advice and assistance to all disabled residents and their carers who live and work in Hammersmith and Fulham borough. The service is for all ages, including parents and carers of disabled children.

We provide free advice and assistance, up to and including Tribunal level, on all Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) benefits, Tax Credits, and some local authority benefits.

Welfare Benefits Advisor will

• Provide high quality Welfare Benefits advice and casework and, as appropriate, representation at the 1st Tier Tribunals for disabled individuals of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
• Write Mandatory Reconsideration requests and in a limited number of cases, write appeal submissions.
• Undertake direct welfare advice and casework.
• Maintain appropriate records of work undertaken using an appropriate electronic Welfare Benefits Recording and Information System via AoD’s Charity Log, and through the use of Excel
• Gather information to monitor and evaluate the service.
• Assist with funding applications / tender bids by providing basic factual information to Fund Raising Manager/CEO/Managers to enable them to apply for funding and also enable them to write funding/tender applications.
• Contribute to Welfare Benefits related publicity material, social media, reports for the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders and other documents as required.
• This post requires travel to different locations, e.g. for home visits.

For all work:

• Work in a person-centred way
• Produce agreed regular monitoring and progress reports
• Comply with AoD’s agreed policies and procedures.
• Participate in the wider development of the service and contribute to service improvement as required.
• Be computer literate and administratively self-supporting.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as identified by the line manager.

Ongoing consideration of applications up to; 10am Wednesday 23rd October 2024
Interviews; on receipt of shortlisted applications and up to Thursday 31st Oct 2024

The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

Please note we do not accept CVs and only review applications sent via email or post, not via social media.

Finally, Action on Disability positively welcomes applications from Disabled people.

Please identify any specific requirements you may have, or wish to bring, to ensure full access at your interview if you are shortlisted.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Action on Disability prides itself on being an accessible and equal opportunity employer.

No agencies please.

Job title: Immigration advisor
Hours: 35 hours (full time) or contact us for part-time options
Contract: Fixed term for 1 year with the possibility to extend
Salary: £36,352 (OISC L2), £38,750 (OISC L3) or £42,192 (with IAAS Supervising Senior Caseworker accreditation) plus benefits
Office based role in Westminster, London

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the world? Do you want to leverage your skills to combat homelessness for children and young people? Then we have the perfect opportunity for you.

We are looking for an Immigration Advisor to provide tailor-made advice to individual clients and to engage them in the process of making informed choices about their future direction. This is an exciting role in our Immigration Team that will work closely with the team to ensure that the centre is able to provide confidential advice and representation, whilst providing support and training to colleagues. We are passionate about defending the rights of our clients and you will be joining a team that achieve great results. The role is pivotal in providing highly skilled legal advice and representation to vulnerable clients across London at no cost to the individual. This is particularly important at a time where free or low-cost advice is becoming harder to find.

If you have the IAAS senior caseworker accreditation, you will be a key advisor with regards to Legal Aid work, including prioritising Legal Aid cases and ensuring that Legal Aid is used whenever appropriate throughout the team.

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the requirements of the role and why you would like to work for us. You must account for any gaps in your employment history. 

Please refer to the job description for further information.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The Centre requires staff and volunteers to complete a criminal records self-declaration and undertake a DBS check.

Benefits
‍·26 days’ leave rising to 28 days’ leave after two years’ service (pro rata for part time staff)
·Two annual wellbeing days
·Access to Blue Light Card discounts
·Pension: stakeholder pension scheme and we will match employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%.
·Life assurance cover(after probation passed)
·Season ticket loan
·Training and development opportunities

About Us: 

First Love Foundation is a Christian charity, founded with a mission to transform society through justice, dignity, and equality for all. We empower individuals to break free from poverty and crisis, offering comprehensive support and guidance. Our AQS-accredited service helps those facing income shocks, housing difficulties, health challenges, and more. 

The Role: 

As a Generalist Adviser/Caseworker, you will provide advice, case management, and advocacy services to individuals in need. The ideal candidate will have at least two years’ experience in advocacy or advice roles, with at least one year in casework. You will manage a diverse caseload, collaborating with our team to achieve life-changing outcomes for our clients. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Providing advice & advocacy on welfare benefits and housing. 

• Managing complex cases, including preparing for appeals and representing clients at tribunals. 

• Offering guidance and support to colleagues and volunteers. 

• Maintaining accurate case records, adhering to AQS standards. 

Who We’re Looking For: 

We are looking for someone with excellent communication and problem-solving skills, a passion for helping others, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Experience with welfare benefits and case management systems, such as Advice Pro, is essential. 

We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and from diverse backgrounds, particularly those reflecting the communities of Tower Hamlets. 

Join us in our mission to transform lives and help create a Britain free from poverty! 

We are looking for an advice supervisor for our fantastic team of volunteer advisers who provide advice and advocacy on a variety of social welfare issues including welfare benefits, housing, debt and health and welfare. We hold the Advice Quality Mark.  We are looking for someone with at least 3 years recent experience of providing or supervising social welfare advice,(e.g. on welfare benefits, debt or housing)  including advocating complex cases.. 

Living Well Bromley is a foodbank and support charity based in Penge, South East London. Our services are free to use and include a foodbank, a clothes bank, hot meals, free café, community choir, counselling and advice and advocacy. Our mission is to ensure that people have the food, guidance and the support of an uplifting community to live life to the fullest.

The role is 3 days a week (22.5 hours), on agreed days and times. These are currently under review

Starting salary will be £36,000 to £39,000 pro rata (£21,600 to £23,400 actual) depending on experience.

For more information, please visit our website https://www.livingwell.life.

Location: Hatfield – currently we are office based on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and work remotely on Mondays and Fridays.

Purpose of role:

Due to internal promotions, Citizens Advice Welwyn Hatfield is looking for 3 Generalist Advisers to join our team. You will provide advice focused on a range of issues including welfare benefits, housing, debt, and discrimination. You will be providing advice by phone, email and face to face, to support clients with the problems they face.

Ideally, you’ll have experience of working as a Generalist Adviser but full training will be provided for the right candidates entering the service as trainees. What’s really important is your ability to learn quickly and apply this knowledge to helping clients. A good attitude to hard work, finding solutions and being able to take constructive feedback are essential as are strong interpersonal, written and oral skills.

If you have a passion for helping people and want to join us in our fight against poverty, then we’d love to hear from you! We offer comprehensive training so if you think you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you’ll enquire to learn more.

What we can offer our staff:

• 25 days’ annual leave FTE plus bank holidays.
• 5% contribution to Employer’s Pension Scheme.
• Death in Service cover on joining the Employer’s Pension Scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme with Telus Health (formerly Lifeworks). (Everyone working at Citizens Advice has immediate access to professional and completely confidential counselling and legal advisory services.)
• Commitment to continued professional development.
• Town centre location with great transport links.
• An opportunity to work within a team that is friendly, supportive, forward thinking and passionate about helping our community.

Closing date: Wednesday 23 October 2024 at 5pm.

We will be interviewing suitable candidates on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the advertisement early.

The Immigration Adviser at LAH will provide advice and assistance on basic visa and immigration matters, including handling straightforward cases, often referred to as "initial advice" or "entry-level advice." You will assist LAH service users with applications within the immigration rules including visitor visas, Spouse and dependent visas, straightforward EU Settlement Scheme applications, extensions of leave and Settlement and British citizenship applications, offering advice on non-complex immigration rules and regulations, and explaining to LAH service users the relevant procedures, helping them to complete application forms and gather necessary supporting documents.

LAH’s Immigration Advice service is currently provided in partnership with Seraphus, an external law firm. This collaboration offers valuable career development opportunities for the right candidate, including mentoring and the chance to shadow one of their experienced practitioners.

Additional benefits: Paid OISC Level 2 Training

Main duties and responsibilities 
● Efficiently responding to LAH service users' inquiries while creating a friendly, warm, and welcoming environment
● Providing one-to-one specialist high-quality immigration advice at OISC Level 1 on basic immigration matters, including visitor visas, Spouse and dependent visas, straightforward EU Settlement Scheme applications, extensions of leave to remain, Settlement and British citizenship applications, providing guidance on eligibility and ensuring LAH service users understand their rights and obligations
● Representing LAH service users by completing straightforward application forms, such as visa and leave to remain applications, and assisting them in gathering and preparing the necessary documentation for their applications, maintaining professional conduct with LAH service Users at all times
● Liaising with the Home Office and other relevant authorities on behalf of LAH service users for non-complex matters and submitting high standard applications to the Home Office
● Assisting LAH service users with correspondence related to their applications or immigration status
● Recognising when a case is beyond the scope of OISC Level 1 authorisation, such as appeals, asylum cases, or more complex immigration matters, and referring these to higher-level advisers or solicitors
● Operating within professional boundaries, ensuring confidentiality is maintained at all times

Monitoring and Evaluation
● Maintaining accurate records and case files, ensuring all advice and actions are properly documented, adhering to OISC Code of Standards and AQS
● Overseeing administrative systems for case management and partaking external file reviews and supervision as instructed, tracking workload, and monitoring submitted applications and their outcomes
● Assisting in demonstrating the impact of our work by recording clear and detailed case notes in our database and tracking outcomes against project targets, identifying challenges and issues affecting the LAH community, all of which will be used to inform our provision
● Providing LAH management with necessary information on the Immigration Advice service, including case studies, detailed reports, and relevant data when required

Professional Development
● Participating in learning and evaluation sessions with partner organisations as relevant
● Attending regular staff and other team meetings as required
● Undertaking OISC Level 2 training procured by LAH
● Staying current with legislative changes and policy updates affecting individuals' rights to remain in the UK, and adhering to best practices set by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and Advice Quality Standard (AQS)

Other Accountabilities
● Ensuring that work is carried out in accordance with LAH's policies and procedures as well as with the OISC and AQS Code of Standards
● Participating in regular one-to-one sessions for both service and professional development purposes, including regular supervision to assess the quality standard of advice work
● Working closely and collaboratively with other advisers, staff team members, interns, trainees, and volunteers as needed to address the holistic needs and circumstances of LAH service users
● Supporting the preparation for audits by the OISC and AQS, as well as for internal and external reports
● Collaborating with the Head of Operations to ensure the smooth running of the service and implement an efficient administrative strategy
● Conducting workshops and presentations on immigration matters as instructed
● Assisting in creating, maintaining, and distributing relevant informational materials and resources for both the team and service users

Deadline to apply: We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Our aim is to recruit the most suitable candidate for the job, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from those who identify as members of minoritised groups, as well as from Latin Americans and individuals with lived experience of migration and/or second generation to better reflect the community we serve.

Thank you for showing interest in working for Age UK Bromley & Greenwich. We are an independent local charity and have been working in the community to help older people for over 50 years.

With nearly 80 staff and over 250 volunteers we provide support to clients across both Boroughs.

We work in partnership with BTSE helping to deliver the Bromley Well project as well as BLG Mind working on Dementia Services and Oxleas providing Care Navigation.

Vision:

To make Bromley and Greenwich places were all can enjoy later life.

Mission:

Age UK Bromley & Greenwich will be the voice of older people in both boroughs. We will work with older people to enable, support and connect.

We will promote independence and well-being.

Values:

Equality - We value diversity and strive to give equality of opportunity. We believe that the organisation and society is enriched by its diversity.

Respect - We respect the life histories of our staff, volunteers and clients. We believe in their potential and we will help to realise their ambitions.

Creativity - We encourage innovation in the solutions we adopt.

If you stand for our vision, mission and values and match the criteria in the below job specification we would love to hear from you.

Job Purpose: To provide Information & Advice to older people. The service is primarily office-based but may also include outreach or home visits; providing support to the Volunteer I&A Advisors, providing office cover as required and supporting the I&A Advice Case Supervisor in keeping our information resources up to date.

Key Responsibilities:

To provide information and advice to older people, their careers, relatives and friends. This advice may be in person, in writing, by email or telephone. There may also be occasional home visits

To be responsible for the provision of up-to-date welfare benefit information and undertaking of benefits checks supporting older people with their claims and where necessary challenging DWP decisions and assisting with appeals.

To have an in-depth knowledge of those issues likely to affect older people, for example but not limited to Lasting Power of Attorney, succession, care provision and housing as well as paying for care

To respond promptly, proactively and effectively to a wide range of enquiries from the public

To support access to a wide range of services that are appropriate, paying particular attention to the needs of marginalised groups

To undertake rights-based casework, for example assisting with a wide range of complaints and making representations where appropriate.

To be responsible for the recording, collation and monitoring of all relevant information relating to clients accessing our services and the milestones, outcomes and outputs of the service

To be responsible for inputting client records onto the organisations case management system and running reports

To arrange and participate in stakeholder and other events throughout the two Borough’s

To work closely with other members of the team and when necessary other partner agencies in respect to correspondence, telephone conversations and enquiries

In the absence of the I&A Case Supervisor to provide support to the Volunteer I&A Advisors ensuring they are briefed and updated before each of their sessions begins and that if possible there is always someone present to take enquiries, answer the phone etc.

To provide outreach information & advice at venues across the Borough’s as and when required

To provide high quality information, ensuring that our policies and procedures are fully complied with, and that we meet the standards required by the Age UK Quality Advice Standard and any other external accreditations

To liaise with and refer clients to appropriate external organisations and services.

To undertake accurate case recording according to our policies and procedures

To support the I&A Case Supervisor with the statistics and reports required across both the Boroughs

To keep up to date with relevant laws, policies and procedures – locally and nationally and participate in training (internal and external)

To refer and facilitate to the services provided by Age UK Bromley & Greenwich, including relevant ‘charged-for’ services, to clients and other professionals. This may include attending outreach events

To uphold and protect the good reputation of the organisation

The Cardinal Hume Centre works to prevent and tackle youth and family homelessness.

Job title: Support and Advocacy Practitioner

Reports to: Supported Accommodation Deputy Manager

Salary: £32,643 plus benefits

Contract: Permanent, full time (average of 35 hours per week) 

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the world? Do you want to leverage your skills to combat homelessness for children and young people? Then we have the perfect opportunity for you.

We are looking to recruit a Support and Advocacy Practitioner to work collaboratively as part of a committed team to deliver an outstanding service and a range of personalised support that puts residents first and empowers them to achieve their goals and thrive in adult life. This is an exciting role in our Supported Accommodation team that will lead on co-producing bespoke support and move-on plans, involving key stakeholders such as Social Workers, Personal Advisors and other support providers where appropriate. You will engage residents to meet agreed outcomes and develop life skills, assisting with day-to-day support and tenancy-related matters. You will also identify and promote opportunities for employment, education and training and support residents to remove barriers to accessing these opportunities.

Please refer to the job description for further information. 

In your cv and cover letter please outline how you meet the requirements of the role and why you would like to work for us. You must account for any gaps in your employment history. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to complete an application form before attending due to the safeguarding regulations within our supported accommodation.

This is a full-time role. You will work an average of 35 hours in a 40-hour week worked on a rolling rota (including weekends and Bank Holidays). Shifts are 8 hours (inclusive of a 1-hour unpaid lunch break) and include early, late and flexi/cover shifts.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The Centre requires staff and volunteers to complete a criminal records self-declaration and undertake a DBS check. This role requires an enhanced DBS check.

Benefits

· 26 days’ leave rising to 28 days’ leave after two years’ service (pro rata for part time staff)

· Additional discretionary wellbeing and celebratory days

· Access to Blue Light Card discounts

· Pension: stakeholder pension scheme and we will match employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%.

· Life assurance cover (after probation passed)

· Season ticket loan

· Training and development opportunities

Purpose of the Job:

This role is within our crisis alternative service – Safe Space - which is an out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. The service operates 365 days a year from 12:00pm(midday)-11:30pm across all of our boroughs. The shift pattern for this role is 4:30-11:30pm. This will be on a rota basis across support workers.

Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone on a one-to-one or group basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis. This will consist of 1:1 support; de-escalating and providing interventions, signposting for specialised or longer-term support, and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing. The aim of this service is to de-escalate and prevent further crises.

The objectives of the service include:

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health crisis in HFEH.
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation, planned wellbeing activities etc.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

Key Responsibilities:

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g. CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CMHTS, etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family

You will have:

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress and crisis
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the Recovery Model in mental health
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• A good understanding of mental health conditions
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations

Benefits of working with us:

• Contributory Pension Scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays per year, increasing by 1 day per full year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days) [pro rata].
• Employee Rewards and Benefits Platform/Wellness Hub (Perkbox)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Flexible working
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) including free counselling sessions
• Paid time off for medical appointments
• Training and personal development opportunities
• Access to shared resources and training opportunities via Mind Federated Network

How to apply:

Please provide your CV, and a cover letter demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the Person Specification (see JD attached) and why you want this role.

We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

HFEH Mind are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults.

Post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.