At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide tailored welfare benefits advice and support to clients in need.
- Company: Join Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton, a leader in social welfare law advice.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusion and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community by helping individuals navigate welfare benefits.
- Qualifications: Experience in delivering advice and excellent interpersonal skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton (CABB) is a leading provider of social welfare law advice and information, supporting thousands of clients every year. We are a busy, client focused and dynamic service with a track record of delivering high quality advice face to face, over the phone and digitally. Our communities are facing unprecedented challenges with continued rising costs. The rising cost‑of‑living continues to directly impact individuals and families, with more people than ever in negative budgets, debt and housing crises.
Our Welfare Benefits team provide a professional welfare benefits advice service, which enables clients to understand their entitlement to welfare benefits, eligibility criteria, help with applications and ensure clients have maximised their income where possible. There’s no ‘average’ day for our team, each client and case is different. You will work as part of a well-established team, providing a reliable and effective welfare benefits advice service, across all face to face and telephone advice channels and access points, utilised by Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton.
To be successful in this role you will be able to work in a trauma informed manner, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, exhibiting excellent listening and questioning skills.
About you
- Experience in delivering advice (preferably welfare benefits)
- Excellent interpersonal skills to engage with a diverse range of clients
- Organisational skills with the ability to adapt, prioritise deadlines and competing tasks in a fast-paced environment
- A genuine passion for continual professional development
- Be empathetic, compassionate and resilient, understand how to use trauma informed approaches and be adaptable to client needs
- Be resilient and adaptable
Key Elements and Tasks
- Provide high quality tailored Welfare Benefits advice to clients through effective interviewing – using sensitive and questioning skills
- Offer comprehensive benefit checks, exploring and advising on eligibility
- Identify emergency advice issues, advising/supporting on dealing with these emergency issues including determining if food bank referrals are required
- Assess if grants/one-off support is available to client and advise on how to apply/support where possible
- Empower clients to set their own priorities
- Identify vulnerable clients who require additional support and act for them where possible
- Work closely with colleagues within the organisation and external partners to provide holistic advice and support to all clients
- Ensure that all work meets quality standards and the requirements of funders
- Maintain detailed case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation (using national case management system Casebook)
Key information
- Employer: Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton
- Locations: Hybrid
- Role Type: Permanent
- Working Hours: Full Time
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDI&B): We believe inclusion is a social justice issue – a principle that underpins our EDI&B work. To that end, we particularly welcome applications from local individuals who are representative of the local communities we serve. This is not just a matter of diversity but of strategic importance to ensure our services are grounded in the realities of our communities.
Welfare Benefits Adviser in Bury employer: Action Together
Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community by providing vital welfare benefits advice. With a strong focus on employee growth and a supportive work culture, we offer opportunities for professional development while fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity and empathy. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility, ensuring that our team can effectively support clients facing unprecedented challenges in a compassionate and trauma-informed manner.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Welfare Benefits Adviser in Bury
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Action Together.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Action Together!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Action Together, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Action Together or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Welfare Benefits Adviser in Bury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Action Together:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Action Together! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Action Together
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
