Social Welfare & Digital Support Adviser

 Job Title:                    Social Welfare & Digital Support Adviser

Accountable To:       C.E.O

Responsible To:       Advice Services Manager

Working Hours:        35 hours per week (Full-Time)

Salary:                       £31,000 per annum (Including London Weighting)

Location:                   Limehouse Project, Unit 2, 789 Commercial Road, London E14                                      

PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

As a Social Welfare & Digital Support Adviser, you will play a key role in providing comprehensive advice, casework support, and digital support to the residents of Tower Hamlets. As a dedicated and empathetic Social Welfare Advice & Digital Support Adviser, your role will be essential in empowering individuals with complex and multiple needs, helping them navigate the intricacies of the welfare benefits system and access the financial support they deserve. Additionally, you will provide vital digital support to enable clients to manage their welfare claims online, enhancing their digital confidence and independence. Through a holistic approach that incorporates social, cultural, financial, and digital issues, you will address the diverse needs of our clients, ensuring they receive well-rounded support and are equipped to navigate the online systems essential to managing their welfare benefits.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Holistic Client Assessment and Support - Conduct detailed, confidential interviews with clients, applying a holistic approach to assess their needs for advice and support, including digital needs.
• Comprehensive Needs Assessment - Assess various aspects such as financial situation, social welfare entitlements, debt, digital literacy, and other significant issues affecting clients and their families.
• Digital Support - Provide guidance to clients in accessing and managing welfare benefit claims online. This includes assisting clients with online Universal Credit applications, managing online accounts, and building their digital skills for greater self-sufficiency.
• Advice and Casework - Provide high-quality advice and casework support on all social welfare benefits such as Universal Credit (UC), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance (AA), Council Tax Reduction (CTR), Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), Carer's Allowance (CA), Housing Benefits (HB), legacy benefits and travel-related services such as blue badge/freedom passes, unemployment benefits, and other welfare benefits. This includes offering digital assistance where needed.
• Application Assistance - Assist clients in completing application forms, mandatory reconsideration, appeals, and other paperwork related to social welfare benefits, money and debt, funding, and grants, both in person and online.
• Tailored Client Support - Ensure that services are adapted to the needs of each client, considering communication, digital abilities, understanding, and vulnerabilities, while supporting their navigation through online platforms.
• Financial Advice & Support - Provide advice on income maximisation, debt management, budgeting, savings, and accessing financial support, empowering clients to achieve financial independence, including offering digital tools to help manage finances.
• Client Involvement - Through clear communication and consultation, ensure clients are involved in resolving their social welfare issues, including welfare benefits, debt, and money management, and are kept informed on the progress of their case, particularly regarding digital aspects.
• Digital Training and Confidence Building - Assist clients in developing digital skills to independently manage online claim forms, journals, and accounts, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate online welfare systems.
• Compliance and Quality Standards - Provide advice and casework support that adheres to the Advice Quality Standard (AQS) and digital best practices.
• Digital support and Case Management - Use the Lamplight database system to organise and manage client support, including digital support case recording and compliance with LHP’s case management procedures.
• Monitoring and Evaluation - Contribute to project monitoring and evaluation by providing data on digital support & financial outcomes and also producing evaluative reports for the Advice Services Manager, focusing on digital engagement and success.
• File and Data Management - Maintain accurate digital records of client interactions and stay updated on social welfare policies, regulations, and digital support systems.
• Community Engagement and Partnerships - Liaise with local authorities, health services, and community organisations to support clients, including digital outreach and awareness-raising activities.
• To liaise with other agencies and develop strong working relationships to support clients effectively, including partnerships with GP surgeries.

·         Deliver advice sessions at the LHP office, GP surgeries, and other outreach venues, raising awareness of available support services.

·         Participate in borough-wide forums and activities to develop relationships with other organisations and enhance community awareness.

• Client Relations and Safeguarding - Build trustful relationships with clients, ensuring safeguarding and digital support considerations are fully met.
• Professional Conduct and Team Participation - Maintain confidentiality, adhere to equal opportunities, and observe LHP policies, including digital inclusion strategies, while participating in team meetings to share knowledge and best practices.
• Health and Safety - Ensure adherence to health and safety regulations, particularly around digital workspaces and client interactions. 

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.    To support the Limehouse Project’s overall goals and vision.

2.    Carry out day-to-day general administrative duties that are vital to the smooth running of the services and specific project-related work such as responding to letters, doing follow-up work, etc, and its online appointment sheets for LHP and external partners.

3.    Attend Limehouse Project staff meetings regularly.

4.    Carry out such other duties, as the LHP manager and management committee shall from time to time require.

5.    Keep up-to-date by undertaking further study or training, as may be necessary or which may be required by LHP and which contributes to the provision of an effective service.

The duties laid down in the job description may change following a review and consultation between the post-holder and line manager.

Please see the full job desription and specifications and apply via the webiste with the full application forms.