At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide person-centred casework support to disabled individuals and vulnerable adults.
- Company: Join a dedicated team focused on empowering those in need.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, competitive salary, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth and development in a meaningful role.
- Why this job: Be a vital part of supporting vulnerable communities and advocating for their rights.
- Qualifications: Good education, experience in advice/support roles, and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 12999 - 12999 £ per year.
Under the direction of the Service Manager and Team Leader, to provide an effective and efficient person-centred casework support service to disabled people, vulnerable adults and people with mental ill health. The postholder will be required to be compliant with and adhere to DRC’s contractual arrangements in place for the delivery of IAG Physical Disabilities/Neurological Conditions Service.
16 Hours per week
Fixed Term Contract until September 2027
Salary (16 Hours) £12,999.08 per annum
Key Tasks:
- To provide an effective information and advice service, comprising telephone and online enquiries received via email and the website, for disabled people – vulnerable adults and people with mental ill health, working to agreed organisational & contractual standards and ensuring that all targets and outcomes are met.
- To deliver effective information and advice support by telephone, email, virtually, face to face, home visits and via outreach.
- To work effectively with the service commissioner and/or the lead provider and with DRC to provide high quality, impartial information and advice to clients that comply with Matrix and other organisational standards – supporting and empowering them to address presenting issues relating to housing, welfare benefits, debt, personal budgets, health, employment, access to statutory services, discrimination, and social exclusion.
- To provide IAG casework to clients accessing the service.
- To ensure that the information and advice service stays current, and up to date with disability related legislation and policy guidance.
- To establish and maintain strong contacts with other partners to maintain an effective information and resource bank to support clients.
- To develop DRC’s online information resources and ensure these are kept up to date and continue to meet clients’ needs.
- To provide person-centred support across a range of presenting issues relating to housing, welfare, income maximisation and welfare benefits, debt, personal budgets, grant applications, Personal Independent Payments, social care and health, safeguarding, employment, advocacy, access to statutory services, energy efficiency, discrimination and social exclusion.
- To support the establishment and maintenance of external referral procedures with relevant statutory and specialist Third Sector providers to achieve positive outcomes for clients.
- To establish and maintain internal referral and joint working with other DRC teams and services where this is appropriate to meet client need and achieve effective outcomes.
- To maintain accurate and up to date client records and statistics through DRC’s CRM system, including details of advice, casework, attendance, monitoring of progress against client action plan and SMART targets, supporting the provision of service reports and key performance indicators information to DRC’s Executive Team, Board of Directors and funders.
Personal Specification:
- Good standard of education including English & Maths - Essential
- NVQ 3 in Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) or willingness to complete a qualification within first 12 months of employment – Essential
- Degree or equivalent qualification – Desirable
- A minimum of 12 months’ experience working in an advice/support/legal setting with disabled people or other socially excluded groups - Essential
- Proven track record of advocating on behalf of excluded groups, supporting them to achieve positive outcomes in relation to housing, welfare, debt, personal budgets, health, employment, access to statutory services - Essential
- Experience of caseload management, including developing and maintaining client case files - Essential
- Experience of working in a multi-faceted role within a small organisation - Essential
- Proven track record of meeting targets and working to deadlines - Essential
- Proven track record of networking and undertaking outreach work - Essential
- Proven track record of working with disabled people - Desirable
- Excellent ICT skills and the confidence to use ICT Packages to coordinate events and communications and record beneficiary data - Essential
- Awareness and understanding of equal opportunities - Essential
- A clear understanding of the issues affecting disabled people and/or their families and carers - Essential
- A good knowledge and understanding of housing, welfare benefits, personal budgets, education, health and social care legislation and its impact on the rights and entitlements of disabled people - Essential
- A good knowledge and understanding of the support services available to the client group and referral processes to the statutory and non-statutory agencies - Essential
- A good understanding of safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults - Essential
- Communicates clearly and is able to effectively remove barriers to communication - Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills - Essential
- The ability to produce correspondence, reports and written documentation using Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook - Essential
- An understanding of the purpose of outcomes monitoring and project evaluation and the ability and willingness to capture outcomes data - Essential
- Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritise workload and effectively multi-task - Essential
- Understanding of the Social Model of Disability - Desirable
IAG Caseworker in Birmingham employer: BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE
Birmingham Disability Resource Centre is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its staff. With a strong commitment to inclusivity and community impact, employees benefit from a supportive work culture, opportunities for continuous learning, and the chance to make a real difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities. Located in Birmingham, this role not only offers meaningful work but also a collaborative environment where your contributions are valued.
Contact Details:
BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land IAG Caseworker in Birmingham
✨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 BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE.
✨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 BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE!
✨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 BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE, 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 BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE 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 IAG Caseworker in Birmingham
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 BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE! 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 BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE
✨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.
