Job Description: MONEY ADVICE WORKER

Job Description:Housing and Debt Advice Caseworker

Conditions: Full time: 37 hours per week.

Rate NJC Scale SO1 pt 30 £25, 472pa

Holiday 25 days pa + 11 statutory days.

Located at the Burley Lodge Centre

Duration:6 month contract in the first instance

Responsible to: Advice ServiceManager

Job Purpose:To provide an effective and efficient face to faceHousing and Debt Advice Service within the aims, policies and principals of The Burley Lodge Advice Service,working to the Advice Quality Standard - Generalist Quality Mark (GQM).

This post is subject to an enhanced CRB check

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Casework

1. Provide face to face housing and debt advice and casework, covering the full range of housing advice and debt advice including housing rights, homelessness, possession, disrepair, housing benefits,landlord/tenant, bankruptcy, priority and non priority debts

1. Act for the client where necessary by calculating, drafting financial statements, negotiating, drafting or writing letters and telephoning

1. Negotiate with third parties as appropriate, both orally and in writing.

1. Ensure income maximization through the take up of appropriate benefits

1. Prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals and courts as appropriate

1. 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

1. Ensure that all casework conforms to the Burley Lodge Centre Advice Service office standards and policies, and the Advice Quality Standard requirements.

1. Meet targets as set by funders and BLC organizational objectives

1. Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring, and report preparation

1. Work as part of the Burley Lodge Advice Service Team, to deliver advice through appropriate methods of service delivery, including face to face, email, letter, telephone and outreach as required

Social Policy

1. Assist with social policy work by providing information about client’s circumstances, statistical information and nature of cases.

1. Assist the line manager to monitor service provision to ensure it reaches the widest possible client group

1. Alert other staff to local and national issues

Professional Development

1. Keep up to date with legislation, case law, polices and procedures and attend appropriate training

1. Read relevant publications

1. Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager

1. Prepare for and attend supervision sessions, actively participate in staff meetings

1. Contribute to the development of the advice service

Administration

1. Be self administrating and comply with existing procedures for statistical recording, record keeping and document production using IT based case management systems

1. Maintain reference material and local information systems

1. Ensure that all work conforms to service administrative policies and procedures

Other duties and responsibilities

1. Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service

1. Actively support and promote the principals of equal opportunities

1. Uphold the aims and principals of The Burley Lodge Centre Advice Service and ensure that statutory requirements are met and observe agreed policies on child safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality etc.

1. Maintain close liaison with relevant external agencies, and represent the service as appropriate

1. Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends

1. Undertake relevant training as agreed though the supervision process.

Person Specification: Housing and debt advice caseworker

How Assessed

Experience

Skill

Knowledge

Attitude

Page 1 of 4 16/08/12