Post Title: Welfare Advice Officer
Hours of Work: Part-Time21 hours per week (0.6 FTE).
There is no overtime for such work and LCIL’s TOIL policy will apply.
Post Salary: £15,912 pro-rata per annum
(£26,520 per annum for 1FTE)
Duration of Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2027. Depending on funding and performance, this could be extended.
Scope: The post covers East Lothian and Midlothian
LCiL offers a hybrid model of working with the main base at LCIL’s Office in Edinburgh.
Responsible to: Team Leader
Please provide a CV & supporting statement.
Post Objective:
LCiL adopts a rights-based approach to both strategy and service delivery. Our advice, information, and support services actively promote and seek to protect the human rights of disabled people, individuals with long term conditions, and their carers. By working in partnership with others, we also strengthen the capacity of duty-bearers to understand, implement, and uphold these rights, ensuring they can be held to account.
The postholder will be responsible for the effective delivery of advice and information services for disabled people living in East Lothian and Midlothian. The role is focused on empowering disabled people to understand and access their rights and welfare benefit entitlements, and to maximise their household income wherever possible.
This will include providing clear and accurate information on welfare benefits, undertaking comprehensive benefit checks to assess eligibility, and offering full support with benefit applications, as well as any follow-up assistance required.
The postholder will also contribute to the co-design and co-delivery of cost-of-living information workshops, working alongside colleagues and service users to ensure these are accessible, relevant, and impactful.
In addition, the postholder will play an active role in the ongoing development of LCiL as we continue to deliver and grow person-led, innovative, and high-quality services shaped by the voices, experiences, rights, and capabilities of disabled people, individuals with long term conditions, and their carers.
We are committed to supporting applicants to succeed in their application to join LCiL. To assist with this, interview questions will be provided in advance to all shortlisted candidates.
We welcome applicants to share the full range of skills and experience they can bring to this role. While the ability to think on one’s feet can be valuable, it is not always a primary requirement. We also recognise the importance of taking time to reflect, consider information carefully, and prepare thoughtful responses so that candidates can present the best version of themselves at interview.
If you require any support during any part of the recruitment process, please contact
[email protected]
Main Duties
Advice and Information
- Respond to incoming enquiries from referring agencies, as well as direct referrals from disabled people, individuals with long-term conditions, and their carers.
- Arrange and deliver one-to-one appointments to support disabled people in applying for welfare benefits and undertake comprehensive benefit checks.
- Identify and respond to the advice and information needs of service users, determining appropriate support.
- Provide advice and information on Self-Directed Support.
- Undertake home visits where this best meets the needs of disabled people to access the service.
- Deliver the tasks associated with the role from within the community hubs operated by LCIL in East Lothian and Midlothian.
- Provide appropriate follow-up support as required by individuals.
- Contribute to the design, development and delivery of Cost-of-Living Support Service workshops, applying learning from service delivery and feedback.
- Make referrals to other specialist services where appropriate to best meet service users’ needs.
- Maintain a high level of knowledge and awareness of welfare benefits, disability issues, and best practice in advice and information delivery.
Promotion of LCIL’s Services
- Work alongside the Communications and Events Officer to promote the service and communicate how LCiL can support disabled people, individuals with long-term conditions, and their carers.
- Contribute to effective internal communication to promote the service and ensure it is well understood across LCiL, enabling strong and appropriate cross-referrals between services.
- Initiate and maintain contact with relevant voluntary and community organisations.
- Promote LCIL’s activities and services to service users, professionals and members of the public.
Engagement and Partnership Working
- Promote and represent LCiL at relevant networks, meetings, and external events.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with key stakeholders including LCiL service users, partner agencies, organisations, and funders.
- Build effective networks with key individuals and agencies in the voluntary, public, and private sectors as appropriate.
- Maintain awareness of wider policies and political initiatives that are relevant to the delivery of LCiL services.
General
- Prioritise activities within own work plan.
- Make recommendations to the Team Leader regarding gaps in information provision and potential service improvements.
- Identify relevant opportunities for research, training, and ongoing professional development.
- Maintain and develop personal development and learning plans as agreed with Line Manager.
- Assume responsibility for own professional development, in discussion with Line Manager.
Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Responsibilities and Accountabilities
- Responsibility for the safety of self & others.
- Visible and active commitment to HSE – leading by example and acting on HSE concerns.
- Manage designated activities and any other activities as required through being the responsible reference person and where required key holder for the premises.
- Ensure that any premises that are used comply with any fire prevention, health and safety requirements.
Quality/Governance Responsibilities and Accountabilities
- Adhere to LCIL’s managerial, human resources, health and safety and corporate requirements, ensuring that all volunteers are aware of their responsibilities.
- Ensure that all electronic recording of performance indicators, statistical returns, and monitoring data is carried out regularly and timeously.
- Ensure all information is accurate, up to date, stored securely, and delivered in accessible formats.
- Contribute to robust service monitoring and evaluation processes.
- Support the Team Leader by providing accurate and up-to-date information required for reporting to funders and the LCiL Board.
- Follow LCIL’s policies and procedures and other national guidelines such as Child Protection Guidelines and Adult Support and Protection Guidance & Procedures.
Performance Indicators
- Demonstrates confidence, initiative, and effective self-management within own work plan while contributing positively to the wider LCiL team.
- Delivers the Service in line with agreed targets, outcomes, and service user needs.
- Develops and maintains positive and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Supervision and Support
- The postholder will report to the Team Leader and will receive regular supervision, support, and guidance.
- The postholder will be expected to attend team meetings, training courses, LCiL events, and other meetings as required on a periodic and regular basis, including supervision, multi-agency fora and planning groups relevant to the effective delivery and development of the role.
Regular Interface with Stakeholders
- Disabled people, individuals with long term conditions, older people and carers.
- LCiL’s trustees, staff, volunteers and members.
- Other Disabled People Organisations.
- Funders.
- Relevant training bodies and organisations.
- Other partner organisations & stakeholders across relevant sectors.
- Members of the public.
Complexity and Creativity
Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living (LCiL) is an innovative and dynamic organisation that has a significant impact on the lives of disabled people, their families, and carers.
Supporting disabled people to increase choice and control over their lives is complex and requires sensitivity, up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and services, and a strong understanding of the concerns and lived experiences of disabled people. A commitment to the Social Model of Disability and Independent Living philosophy is essential.
The postholder will be required to take initiative across a wide range of tasks, work effectively as part of a team, and contribute to an integrated organisational approach. The role requires the ability to work under pressure within a challenging and sometimes uncertain social, political, and financial environment.
LCiL is a Disability Confident employer and is led and managed by disabled people. It is essential that the postholder is able to work effectively within this value-led organisational context.
All successful applicants will be subject to PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme membership.
Person Specification
Welfare Advice Officer
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Strong communication skills with the ability to express ideas clearly and succinctly.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage proactively and positively with service users, their families and carers.
- Ability to facilitate user-led engagement approaches.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Ability to work positively with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Ability to self-direct and work on own initiative.
- Proficient in the use of IT, including Microsoft Office and case management systems.
- Strong planning, organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to prioritise and manage a complex workload effectively.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Ability to maintain accurate, clear, consistent, and professional records.
- Ability to adapt and work creatively within a period of organisational growth and development.
Desirable
- Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to deliver workshops to groups.
- Skills and experience in co-designing content for information and training workshops.
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of how to provide effective advice and information.
- Knowledge of welfare benefits systems.
- Experience of supporting individuals in a professional or voluntary capacity.
- Demonstrable experience of working in a person-centered approach.
- Experience of using monitoring and evaluating tools.
- Experience of working with sensitive and confidential information.
- Demonstrable understanding of equal opportunities and anti-discrimination practices and requirements.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a user-led organisation.
- Understanding of the Independent Living Movement and the Social Model of Disability.
- Understanding of Self-Directed Support.
Pay: £15,912.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Edinburgh EH7 5QY
