Court Adviser job description
Context of role
To provide an effective advice and advocacy service for the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme at Peterborough Combined Court.
Reporting to the Housing Solicitor
Fixed term contract subject to continued funding from the Legal Aid Agency
Hours: 14 hours per week [Monday & Wednesday]
Salary: £10.50 per hour [£19,110 gross salary FTE]
Advice
•Provide adviceat court covering the full range of housing issues.
•Act for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, writing letters and telephoning.
•Negotiate with third parties as appropriate.
•Ensure income maximisation through the take up of appropriate benefits.
•Prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies 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.
•Attend HPCDS court sessions.
•Ensure that all work conforms to the Office Manual/the Advice Quality Standard/ Specialist Quality Mark requirements.
•Maintain records for the purpose of continuity of work, information retrieval, statistical monitoring etc.
•Ensure that all work conforms to the charity's systems and procedures.
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 management.
Professional development
•Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to housing law and undertake appropriate training.
•Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
•Prepare for and attend supervision sessionsteam meetings as appropriate.
Administration
•Use IT for statistical recording, record keeping and document production.
•Keep up to date with policies and procedures relevant to housing work and undertake appropriate training.
•Attend internal meetings as agreed with the manager.
Other duties and responsibilities
•Demonstrate commitment to the aims and policies of the Citizens Advice service.
•Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.
Person specification
1)Proven knowledge and experience of housing advice.
2)Proven ability to act effectively on urgent instructions.
3)Recent experience of representing clients’ at county court.
4)Possess sound knowledge of housing law including homelessness legislation
5)Effective oral communication & writing skills with particular emphasis on negotiating, representing and preparing reviews, reports and correspondence.
6)Ordered approach to advice and an ability and willingness to follow and develop agreed procedures.
7)Understand the issues involved in interviewing clients.
8)Numerate to the level required in the tasks.
9)Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage caseload.
10)Ability to use IT in the provision of advice and the preparation of reports.
11)Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to challenge constructively.
12)Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.
13)Ability to monitor and maintain own standards.
14)Demonstrate understanding of social trends and their implications for clients and service provision.
15)Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equality and diversity policies.
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Court Adviser job description – Feb 2016 – Citizens Advice Peterborough