Job Description
Job Title : Information & Advice Lead
Responsible to : The Chief Executive
Responsible for : I&A staff & volunteers
Hours : up to 28 hours per week
Description of Service
Age UK Birmingham provide a wide range of Information & Advice to older people across Birmingham. The provision of accurate and up to date Information & Advice is a cornerstone of our services as we believe it is essential that older people have good quality accurate information in order to make informed choices.
As a brand partner of the national charity of Age UK it is also a requirement that we provide Information & Advice to agreed standards, supported by the national charity. Our Information and Advice services fall under at least 2 key areas:
· The provision of a wide range of Information & Advice supported by literature from the national charity and locally
· Benefits advice and support.
Job Purpose
· To work towards securing and maintaining the Age UK quality standards
· To work directly with and for older people to provide a quality Information & Advice service that meets their needs.
· To be responsible for establishing systems, managing staff and volunteers and monitoring procedures to ensure that the information provided is consistent and of a high standard.
· To highlight new trends , develop services accordingly, including identifying and assisting with funding bids
Principal Duties
1. To devise and implement for Age UK Birmingham a strategy for the provision of a wide range of advice and information of benefit to older people. This should be in line with the requirements of the Age UK I&A Quality Standards
2. To ensure that Information & Advice services are developed to meet the requirements of the Age UK Brand Partnership agreement and their quality marks.
3. To ensure that all staff and volunteers in offices around city who may give information are providing accurate information and passing it on to the public in an appropriate format.
4. To ensure that Information & Advice staff and volunteers are adequately trained, attend regular meetings and are regularly supervised.
5. To be responsible for the provision of up to date information relating to welfare benefits. To undertake case work with clients and advise older people of their benefits entitlements, to help them pursue this and to take to tribunal level if necessary.
6. To support and direct the work of the Advocacy team, advising and assisting with casework on a wide range of issues pertinent to older people.
7. To train, direct and support the work of a team of volunteers who will assist in home visits to assist the I&A staff in their work.
8. To ensure all necessary actions are in place to maintain the quality standard
9. To promote awareness of our Information & Advice services by giving talks to local groups, arranging displays and occasional training sessions.
10. To keep up to date with new legislation relevant to the Information & Advice service, to identify and attend training events to support this.
11. To take a lead role in training other Age UK staff and volunteers and other outside bodies as necessary.
12. To liaise closely with other advice agencies in the area and to attend network meetings to share expertise and good practice.
13. To promote Equality and Diversity in the provision of advice and information work and to respect client confidentiality at all times and in all areas of work.
14. To produce appropriate reports, statistics and data and up to date information for the benefit of the Trustees, to provide data reports to Age UK, and for other reports as requested.
15. To distribute literature and information and to undertake speaking engagements on the work of Age UK Birmingham
16. To work closely with the CEO in a number of areas including:
· contributing to service developments such as policy review and development
· attending key meetings as required
· working with the Chief Executive and Services Manager to secure funding for service development
· promoting and liaising with key stakeholders on behalf of the service
· reviewing and monitoring budgets
17. To provide direct line management to the team including supervision and appraisal of staff members, file review and an overview of any key health & safety issues.
18. To take the lead for Safeguarding on a day to day basis, complete reports and any safeguarding issues to the relevant authorities. Attend meetings with and on behalf of CEO when requested, ensure policies and organisational procedures are up to date and legally accurate
19. To undertake any other duties commensurate to the post not specifically mentioned in this job description. The nature of the job will require some travel and may also call for occasional evening or weekend work.