Company Overview
North & West Gloucestershire Citizens Advice is a dedicated community organization committed to providing free, confidential, and impartial advice to residents facing various challenges. Established in 1939, our mission is to empower individuals by offering expert guidance on issues such as debt, housing, benefits, and employment while advocating for policy improvements.
Summary
We are seeking a Generalist Adviser to join our team in Gloucestershire. The postholder will assist and direct client to access the most appropriate advice and support for their needs, you will manage referrals from the Gloucestershire County Council Crisis Resilience Fund to provide a holistic casework service to clients with the focus on addressing any advice issues.
Applications from trainees are welcome.
Responsibilities
- 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.
- 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.
- Ensure that internal data collection is suitably matched with GCC requirements.
- 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.
- Training will involve understanding the grants administration process in-order- to provide cover for absences.
- 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
- To have a flexible approach to using your generalist adviser knowledge and to 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 or willingness to commit to training period.
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. Clean driving licence.
12. Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to challenge constructively.
Desirable
13. Demonstrate understanding of social trends and their implications for clients and service provision.
14. Citizens Advice accredited.
Call-To-Action
'Join us in making a difference—apply today to become a cornerstone of support for your community!'
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary, Fixed term contract
Pay: £26,224.00-£27,840.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Work Location: In person
