Welfare Advisor(s) x 2

Salary £10 per hour. Hours: 2 posts 1 x 28 hours per week & 1 x 14 Hours per week. 2 Year Contract Funded for 50 weeks each year until 31st March 2020 

Funded by VSS – Victims and Survivors Service

 This is a Service Level Agreement post; the successful candidate will be responsible for processing their own HMRC.

Description:

• • A motivated person required who has knowledge of the Tax Credit and Social Security Benefit System and experience in income maximisation.   Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential.

Job Purpose:

• • The increase in the take up of welfare and other benefits; the provision of benefit tribunal representation; assistance and advocacy to clients regarding welfare related strategies and services.

• • To increase the service by working with partners and statutory bodies.

General responsibilities:

• • To provide information and advice on welfare benefits and unmet needs.

• • Maintain an ongoing caseload associated with the position

• • Maximise client income.

• • Visit in appropriate cases the homes of persons seeking Welfare Rights Advice

• • Provide clients with First Tier Benefit Tribunal Representation

• • Mediate and negotiate with appropriate agencies in the preparation and presentation of appeals

• • Participate in training programmes for Welfare Rights.

• • Provide regular reports on Client Financial Gains and Tribunal Representation for Board of Management.

• • Promotion and expansion of service.

• • Promote and develop partnership working to increase the service.

• • Recording, collation and provision of statistical data and reports.

• • Meet or exceed all Outcomes set for the project by due dates.

• • Provide support for Volunteer Advisors.

• • Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by Management.

Person Specification – Welfare Rights Officer

Welfare Rights Officer

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

EXPERIENCE

Experience of providing Benefit Tribunal Representation.

Awareness and understanding of how rights and advice issues impact the local community.

Experience in income maximisation.

Experience of computer programmes e.g. Word and Excel

Experience of partnership working.

Experience of working with Victims and Survivors of the NI troubles.

Welfare Rights Advisor Training (Law Centre Levels 2 & 3 or equivalent).

Tribunal Representation Course (Law Centre Level 4 or equivalent)

Experience of preparing reports and development proposals.

Experience of AIMS case recording system.

Experience of undertaking research/consultation

Upper Tribunal experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

NICAB welfare advisor certificate or equivalent

KNOWLEDGE

An excellent working knowledge of Welfare Benefits, advice and income maximisation calculations.

The ability to interpret and explain clearly social security legislation.

Awareness of the social needs of the local community.

Awareness of services provided by the voluntary sector.

Understanding of the value of Social policy work

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

Strong verbal communication skills.

Effective negotiating skills

The ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing.

Ability to prepare high quality reviews and reports.

To be well organised, able to manage a wide and varied caseload.

Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.

Understanding of the needs of vulnerable groups

Ability to work with partners and develop the service by opening new Outreach locations.

Experience of training staff in Welfare Rights

Ability to support Volunteer Advisors on Welfare Rights Issues.

Ability to write and deliver presentations to the Directors/ funders/ outside groups.

VALUES AND ATTITUDES

An understanding and commitment to the aims, principles and policies of EPIC and have a Commitment to quality Customer Care and to be impartial and non judgemental to all clients.

Willingness to work as part of a team.

Ability to monitor and maintain own standards.

Proven ability to work within a volunteer organisation.

OTHER

Having access to a form of transport that allows for flexibility to meet the needs of the service.

A willingness to work outside of standard office hours to meet service needs.