RE: Legal Rights Officer
(Flexible Location) - Ref. 9367
Thank you for your interest in the above position. I am pleased that you are interested in working for RNIB, which achieves such a tremendous amount for blind and partially sighted people.
Our application pack consists of:
- an application form
- a job description and person specification
- an equal opportunities monitoring form
This pack can also be made available to you in large print, Grade 1 or Grade 2 braille, or on disk or tape. Please feel free to ask us if you would prefer to receive it in one of these alternative formats.
If you have a disability and would like assistance in filling in the form then please contact me at least three days before the closing date for the role and we shall be glad to help you.
We only accept CVs from applicants whose disability makes it difficult to complete an application form. All applicants however need to address the specific information we have asked for in the job advert.
Please read the guidance notes on the careers page of our website before filling in the application form as you may find this helpful when completing the form.
The closing date for completed applications ismidnight on 1 May 2018.
Interview date is to be confirmed.
If you are able to, please complete and return your application form and the equal opportunities monitoring form by email to .
However we will accept braille, audio, disk, typed and handwritten applications sent to HR Administrator, RNIB, Human Resources, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE.
We want to ensure that as much of our resources as possible go towards supporting people with sight loss and therefore we do not normally contact unsuccessful applicants individually. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. However, we would encourage you to apply for other suitable roles.
Once again, thank you for your interest in this vacancy and for working for the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
Lynda Morrissey
Assistant Resourcing Business Partner
Job Description
Position Details
Job Title: Legal Right Officer (Welfare Benefits)
Job Level: M2
Group: Services
Section: Specialist Services
Unit: Legal Rights Team
Location: UK wide
Type of Contract:Permanent
Salary:£29,820 per annum (plus London Weighting Allowance of £3,603 per annum where applicable)
Hours:36 hours per week
Reports to:Specialist Lead Legal Rights
Purpose of Job:
This role is for senior professionals who can deliver to our customers expert welfare benefits advice, and where appropriate representation at First Tier and Upper Tribunals, in accordance with Specialist Quality Mark standards.
The Legal Rights Team is also a key internal resource responsible for providing a duty consultancy service for Sight Loss Advisers, creating information resources and developing and delivering training. The team has responsibility for representing RNIB at external meetings and providing Advocacy with technical support to inform their policy activity.
Impact:
Legal lead in welfare benefits for RNIB. Line management of the following roles:
- Support and technical supervision of volunteers
Financial Responsibility:
None
Decision Making Responsibility:
- Responsible for quality of service delivery and independent file reviews of colleagues work to ensure Specialist Quality Mark compliance.
- Identifying the merit of cases and delivering formal representation.
- Ensuring accuracy of all RNIB legal information resources
Main Accountabilities:
1. Provide a legal casework service by advising clients on complex legal issues, maintaining up to date and accurate on line and paper based case records and recording statistics to Specialist Quality Mark standards.
2. Represent clients at first tier and upper tribunals. This includes identifying suitable cases, preparing submissions and where appropriate delivering formal representation in person at legal hearings. Your caseload will be small and consist of complex legal cases and appeals to upper tribunals.
3. Deliver advice and support on complex legal issues to colleagues in RNIB on a rota basis.
4. Develop, prepare and deliver training courses, learning and development resources and presentations to colleagues in RNIB and other people working with blind and partially sighted people.
5. Create and maintain accurate and accessible information resources – fact sheets, articles, web pages and toolkits, social media items etc - on legal issues.
6. Represent the RNIB at meetings with the DWP, Disability Benefits Consortium, Tribunal User Groups and other organisations. Represent the Legal Rights Service at internal meetings, sharing the team’s expertise and building strong collaborative relationships across the organisation.
7. Share your expertise to inform the RNIB Advocacy Team’s policy and campaigning work.
8. Carry out independent file reviews of LRS colleague’s cases
9. Maintain an up to date knowledge of welfare benefits law and practice and develop an understanding of Community Care law or the Equality Act.
10. Support and supervise volunteers.
12. Promote the service internally and externally throughconferences, meetings and representing RNIB in the media.
General
The following points are common to all job descriptions:
1Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post
2Adhere to all RNIB Group policies and procedures
Person Specification
Please note all criteria are essential unless otherwise stated
1Specialist Knowledge, Skills and Experience
1.1Substantial experience of advising on the law and practice relating to welfare benefits.
1.2 In depth, up to date knowledge of current welfare benefits legislation and practice.
1.3Substantial experience of challenging welfare benefit decisions including submissions to and representation at first tier and upper tribunals.
1.4 Ability to work to the specialist quality mark standard.
1.5 Experience of creatingaccurate and accessible learning and development materials and delivering training.
1.6Experience of creating accurate and accessible information resources in a range of different formats.
1.7Experience of managing a complex caseload including organising and maintaining on line and paper case files, maintaining administrative records for casework monitoring and management andrecording statistics.
1.8 Experience of supporting colleagues in the delivery of their casework through the provision of a consultancy service.
1.9 Ability to develop an understanding of community care or Equality
Act law and practice.
2 People management skills/team working skills
2.1Ability to develop effective and supportive relationships with colleagues.
2.2Ability to build strong collaborative relationaships internally and externally.
2.3 Ability to supervise and support volunteers.
3Planning and Organisational skills
3.1Ability to organise time effectively, planning your working week, creating work schedules, prioritising workload and meeting deadlines in a very busy environment.
3.2Ability to allocate casework to the team
4 Problem-solving and creative skills
4.1Ability to take responsibility for own actions and make complex legal decisions without referring to others.
4.2Ability to work independently and away from the office.
4.3Responsibility for ensuring that all advice given is accurate and that all your cases are managed effectively.
4.4Ability to represent the RNIB and the Legal Rights Service at internal and external meetings.
4.5Ability to understand a brief and to make decisions, sometimes on unexpected issues, at external meetings in line with that brief.
5 Communication skills
5.1Ability to negotiate successful outcomes for clients with the DWP and at tribunals.
5.3Ability to argue a case clearly, effectively and calmly even when under pressure.
5.2Ability to communicate effectively verbally, adapting your style to suit the audience and responding empathetically to customers who may be distressed or angry.
5.3Ability to communicate effectively in writing, adapting your style to suit the readership and/or type of resource for which you are writing.
5.4Excellent listening skills.
6 Equal Opportunities
Ability to understand and demonstrate commitment to RNIB Group's Equal Opportunities Policy and to ensure all activities are consistent with the Equal Opportunities Policy. This includes all staff activities and their interface with the general public.
7 Special Conditions
7.1Must be prepared to travel and attend meetings and training as required which will involve occasional overnight stays.
7.2Disclosure and Barring Service check may be required depending on the following information: Yes
7.3Will the position holder have any direct contact with RNIB Group customers, whether face to face or through telephone?: Yes - adults