Posted: Wednesday, January 17th 2024
Responsibilities 1. Provide comprehensive and accurate advice on all aspects of welfare benefits advice and casework covering the full range of welfare benefits including welfare reform updates and changes. This may be on a one-to-one basis, face to face, online or by telephone and also via group information sessions. The Centre focuses particularly on Carer- and disability-related benefits and does not presently handle housing benefit issues. 2. Ensure income maximisation through the take-up of appropriate welfare benefits and or other income checks. 3. Carry out in depth benefit and income checks on behalf of clients, assisting and completing carer- and disability-related claim forms, reviewing and submitting applications. 4. Act for the client and take on casework where necessary in order to progress the client’s issue. Appeals will be referred to other appropriate and specialist agencies in the borough. 5. Support and advise the Centre’s carer support team to aid their basic understanding of accurate welfare rights information and advice. 6. Negotiate with third parties as appropriate on behalf of clients, both orally and in writing. 7. Promote the service to external agencies, including other local groups and organizations who work within the community. 8. Prepare and work towards applying for the Advice Quality Standard General Help with Casework category for Welfare Benefits. 9. Work as a team member to deliver advice primarily face to face, but also via email, letter, telephone, home visit and outreach work. 10. Meet targets as set by Enfield Carers Centre objectives and defined by Line Manager. 11. Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer internally and/or externally to other advisers or specialist agencies as appropriate. 12. Maintain accurate and organized case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring, and report preparation. Social Policy 1. Assist with social policy work by providing information about client’s circumstances, statistical information and nature of cases. 2. Assist the line manager to monitor service provision to ensure it reaches the widest possible client group. 3. Alert other staff to local and national issues. Professional Development 1. Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures. 2. Attend specific Welfare Benefits training and any other appropriate training. 3. Read relevant publications/ law updates. 4. Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager. 5. Prepare for and attend supervision sessions. 6. Assist in initiatives to improve services. Administration 1. To be self-administrating and comply with existing procedures for quarterly, statistical recording, record keeping and document production using IT based systems. 2. Maintain reference material and local information systems. 3. Ensure that all work conforms to Enfield Carers Centre administrative policies and procedures. Other duties and responsibilities 1. Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service. 2. Uphold the aims and principals of the Enfield Carers Centre and its equal opps policies. 3. Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues. 4. Maintain close liaison with relevant external agencies and represent the service as appropriate.
Job type: Full Time
Location: Enfield
Closing date: May 24, 2024
How to apply: Follow https://enfieldcarers.org/welfare-benefits-adviser/and return completed applications to [email protected]