Since 1899 Birmingham Settlement has been tackling social inequality and disadvantage; supporting people to live happier, more fulfilled lives. Our five organisational objectives are:
1) To improve financial resilience – people and communities
2) To build individual and community wellbeing
3) To develop people – skills, confidence, voice
4) To build environmental awareness and action
5) To build and maintain a sustainable organisation
We do this by maximising our assets to provide services and activities that support people to overcome the barriers they face and to take positive action on the issues that impact on their lives. Whether it be financial hardship, social isolation, unemployment, or other issues, we provide independent advice and support, wellbeing activities, and training and development opportunities that enable people to gain new skills, build confidence and establish social and community networks that create opportunity and improve lives.
The requirements for our Debt and Welfare Benefit Advisor role are listed below are broad definitions of the role. Birmingham Settlement reserves the right to amend and/or change these as and when it sees fit in line with changing needs.
- 35 hours per week, 25 days A/L and compensatory pension scheme
- Experienced Debt and Welfare Benefit Advisor salary – £28,216
- Trainee Debt and Welfare Benefit Advisor salary – £23,500 (review after 6 months)
- Closing date for applications – 5pm Tuesday 10th September 2024
- Interviews will take place on Monday 16th September 2024
Key accountabilities/job purpose:
Corporate Requirements:
- To positively represent and demonstrate a commitment to the aims, objectives, and values of Birmingham Settlement at all times.
- To work cooperatively with colleagues offering support, advice, and contributing to the development, induction and training of staff and volunteers.
- To work at all times in accordance with, and to assist the development and implementation of policies and procedures for service delivery and Birmingham Settlement as a whole including: Equal Opportunities and Diversity, Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Confidentiality.
- To be approachable and willing to go the extra mile to ensure the best possible outcome for service users; ensuring Birmingham Settlement is the provider of choice; recognising the value of and delivering excellent customer care.
- To ensure all service users have the opportunity to feedback, shape, and develop services; to identify their own aspirations and goals, and to direct their own outcomes.
- To develop and contribute to integrated working through communication and coordination of service delivery across Birmingham Settlement and its partners.
- To contribute to the sustainability of Birmingham Settlement via fundraising and income generation activities.
- To be self-administering, and to accurately record and work towards the achievement of agreed organisational, departmental, and individual KPIs and targets.
- To undertake training to meet new and developing needs.
- To carry out any other duties commensurate with the post as required by Birmingham Settlement.
Core Duties:
- To work with the Money Advice Team to deliver services addressing debt and welfare benefits, financial literacy and wellbeing.
- To ensure that services are geared to meet the needs of individuals across the city and beyond, and that steps are taken to ensure those needs are understood.
- To deliver high quality debt and welfare benefit advice to individuals and groups.
- To carry and manage own caseload, opening/closing cases appropriately.
- To ensure exploration of income maximisation through benefit entitlement checks and appropriate signposting/referral for specialist welfare benefit advice and support.
- Responsible for alerting the Money Advice Services Manager of any areas of shortfall/concern, areas of emerging need within target communities and to suggest and develop strategies for overcoming identified concerns/need.
- Responsible for developing and maintaining a high level of specialist knowledge in debt and for maintaining an awareness of trends and developments relating to money advice generally.
- To ensure that Money Advice Services meet FCA and other, required, Quality Standards.
- To deliver a money advice service through outreaches as and when required.
Value for Money:
A key driver for Birmingham Settlement’s sustainability must be the consideration of all aspects of value for money. All employees must contribute to this concept through:
- Effective role fulfilment.
- Effective joint working and integration.
- Continual evaluation of personal performance, service user feedback, benchmarking, KPIs
- Promotion of energy saving and cost reduction e.g., recycling, reusing, reducing; responsibility and commitment to energy saving utilities, lighting, PCs, printing.
- Promoting, encouraging, and supporting volunteers.
- Maximising accessibility for volunteers across all service areas.
Where:
Birmingham Settlement Money Advice Centre, Unit 2, First Floor, Alma House, Newtown Shopping Centre, Birmingham, B19 2AB.
For more information, please contact: Jelena Dukic, Money Advice Service Manager
Tel: 0121 250 0777 Email: jelena.dukic@bsettlement.org.uk
