Caseworker - Barnwood Trust

Gloucester

North & West Gloucestershire Citizens Advice are looking for an enthusiastic individual to
join our advice team and make a real difference to their community.

This is an opportunity for you to join an established charity that has an excellent reputation
for the provision of high-quality advice and is a great place to work. You’ll be part of a team
committed to working together and with partner agencies to achieve the best outcomes we
can for our clients.

This role is supported by Barnwood Trust, a longstanding Gloucestershire charity which
supports and promotes the rights of disabled people and people with mental health
conditions.

This collaboration with Citizens Advice is an exploration of the way we are able to work with
Barnwood Trust Community Partners and others. To provide a wrap-around advice and
guidance service best suited to the client needs and the skills and resources of the
partnership organisations.

The purpose of this role is to tackle issues faced by clients by focusing on income
maximisation and support for funding. This role will include working with partner
organisations to deliver a holistic service for clients, it is a fixed term appointment as this is
a one year Pilot, although we envisage that funding for the role will continue beyond this
date. If the pilot is successful.

If you do not have the experience for this role, we are considering trainees. We have a
training programme which will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and experience to do
the role as well as a career opportunity which could lead to professional progression within
the service.

Please note, this job specification applies to fully trained Caseworker. Trainee will be working
towards gaining those qualification.

The role

Pension: Contribution of 7% based on 4% employee contribution
Location: Gloucester
Type of Contract: 1 Year fixed term – extension subject to funding

Employee Assistance

Scheme: Health Assured

Application deadline: When suitable candidate(s) found

Role purpose

To assist and direct client to access the most appropriate advice and support for their
needs, with a focus on information and funding support for disabled people and people
with mental health conditions.

Clients may be referred internally for specialised advice relating to benefits, debts, housing
and other areas of expertise, they will also be supported in making funding applications for
immediate need and for enrichment purposes.

You will manage referrals from Triage Advisers, BT Community Partners and others to
provide a holistic casework service to clients with the focus on addressing issues relating to
disability and mental health.

Role profile

Casework
• Provide casework covering the full range of benefits, debt advice, housing and other
relevant advice.
• Identify where clients need energy advice and make referrals to partner agencies.
To help clients register with Priority Services Register etc. to ensure energy support.
• Act for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing
letters and telephoning.
• Negotiate with third parties as appropriate.
• Prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals 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.
• Support clients to make appropriate funding applications via Barnwood Trust and other funders.

• Ensure that all casework conforms to the bureau's Office Manual, the Advice Quality
Standard and/or the Specialist Quality Mark and Citizens Advice practices and procedures
• Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information
retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.

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 bureau management for the purposes of reporting to
funders.
• Monitor service provision to ensure that it reaches the widest possible client group
and work with funders and partners to develop referrals.
• To record return referrals and to inform Development Lead of any relevant changes
within Barnwood Community Partner organisations.

Professional development
• Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to
Welfare Benefits and Money Advice and undertake appropriate training.
• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions/team meetings/management team
meetings as appropriate.
• Assist with initiatives for the improvement of the project and wider bureau services.

Administration
• Maintain local information systems.
• Use the Citizens Advice national case recording system for statistical recording,
record keeping and document production.
• Keep up to date with policies and procedures relevant to bureau work and
undertake appropriate training.
• Maintain close liaison with Triage Adviser and Development Lead and relevant
external agencies where necessary.

Public relations
• Liaise with partner organisations and funders and represent the Service on outside
bodies as appropriate.

Other duties and responsibilities
• Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the
effective delivery and development of the service.
• Demonstrate commitment to the aims and policies of the CAB service.

Person specification

Experience, specific knowledge and Education
1. Recent advice work experience.
2. Qualified to Caseworker Adviser level as a Generalist Adviser.
3. Experience of assisting clients with applications to various funding organisations.
4. Understanding of the particular challenges of accessing support services for disabled
people and people with mental health challenges.
5. Experience and ability to implement new projects and work with funders to ensure
appropriate and accurate outcomes.
6. Good level of general education
7. Citizens Advice accredited (desirable)

Knowledge and Skills
8. Ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow and develop
agreed procedures.
9. Understanding the needs of clients with complex health issues
10.Effective communication skills with emphasis on negotiating and representing and
preparing reviews, reports and correspondence.
11.Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage complex caseload.
12.Ability to use IT in the provision of advice and the preparation of reports and
submissions.
13.Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to
challenge constructively.
14.Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.
15.Demonstrate understanding of social trends and their implications for clients and
service provision.
16.Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice
service and its equality and diversity policies.

Want to chat about this role?

If you want to chat about the role further, you can contact Penny Hulbert via the email or telephone number to the right of this advert.

Applying for this post

To apply for this post, please complete our application form, which can be found on our
website, by clicking on Apply Now. Completed application forms should then be emailed

In accordance with Citizens Advice national policy, we may require the successful candidate
to be screened by the DBS. However, a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to your
being able to take up the job.

Salary: FTE Salary: £24,684 - £28,764 (dependent on experience)

Hours Per Week: 37

To Apply simply click the 'Apply Now' button below and complete the online form including attaching an up-to-date CV.