At a Glance
- Tasks: Support clients in Reading with financial advice and outreach services.
- Company: Join a community-focused organisation making a real difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for collaboration and community engagement.
- Why this job: Empower individuals to improve their financial stability and resilience.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a passion for helping others.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 27500 £ per year.
This outreach role involves offering general advice and support to people in Reading by:
- Supporting clients via face-to-face outreach at venues across Reading and providing follow-up work via phone and other channels.
- Providing consistently high-quality advice to achieve improvements to their financial stability and longer-term financial resilience.
- Contributing to our research and campaigns work.
- Building relationships with other partners/stakeholders to work effectively in the community.
Location: Minster Street Office and outreach locations across Reading
Hours: Full-time 35 hours (1 FTE) Part-Time considered
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary banding: £25,000 to £27,500 per annum. Pro rata if part-time
Special Requirements: DBS check
Key Duties
- Work independently, but with remote support always at hand, in various outreach venues, for example, Community Centres, NHS settings and other venues across Reading as required.
- Interview clients to understand their situation and how to support and empower them to progress and resolve their issues.
- Use Citizens Advice resources to find, interpret and communicate relevant information and advice to clients.
- Research and explore options and implications so that clients can make informed decisions.
- Use interpretation services to support clients with language barriers.
- Assist clients with income maximisation, reducing expenditure, energy efficiency and improving budgeting skills to help them regain control of their finances and build financial resilience, referring them for casework and digital and financial skills workshops when appropriate.
- Complete benefit calculations to optimise benefit claims and support clients to challenge incorrect benefits decisions, referring for casework when appropriate.
- Support with crisis intervention, including referrals for food, fuel, homelessness, safeguarding and mental health support, including referrals and signposting to partner and other relevant organisations.
- Conduct debt triages and refer clients with problem debt for specialist debt support.
- Provide general advice and refer for more specialist support to internal teams, statutory and other partners when appropriate.
- Give IAA Level 1 Immigration advice and refer for specialist immigration advice when appropriate.
- Manage workload on a case management system ensuring detailed case records are kept up to date and are to required standards.
- Ensure that all work meets quality standards and the requirements of the funder.
- Support our research and campaigns work through various channels including case studies and data collection.
- Follow all relevant policies and procedures.
Team
- Work collaboratively with team members, sharing knowledge and good practice and supporting each other to problem solve and achieve common goals.
- Take shared responsibility for the health and wellbeing of yourself and the team.
Skills and Knowledge
- Complete the required training to comply with quality assurance processes.
- Ensure own ongoing learning and development, including keeping up to date with changes to advice.
- Develop and maintain the digital skills needed to use the tools, software and platforms relevant to your role.
Organisation
- When appropriate attend networking and community partnership meetings.
- Understand and work within the twin aims and principles of the Citizens Advice Service.
- Understand and take shared responsibility for delivering a service that meets the requirements of Citizens Advice Reading and its funders.
- Embed Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in your day-to-day work.
- Attend regular team and staff meetings and training.
- Any other reasonable duties as required by the organisation from time to time.
Person Specification
- Ideally, knowledge of multiple enquiry areas.
- Ability to work in a sensitive, enabling and non-judgemental way with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
- Ability to research, analyse and interpret complex information and present it clearly, both verbally and in writing.
- Confidence to work independently in an outreach setting.
- Ability to prioritise and manage own workload to meet targets in a busy and pressurised environment.
- Confident IT user and a willingness to learn and use new packages, and electronic resources.
Outreach Adviser (Full time, part-time considered) in Reading employer: Citizens Advice Reading
As an Outreach Adviser with us, you'll be part of a dedicated team committed to making a real difference in the lives of individuals across Reading. We offer a supportive work culture that values collaboration and personal growth, alongside competitive salaries and flexible working options. Our focus on community engagement and professional development ensures that you will have the opportunity to enhance your skills while contributing to meaningful change in the local area.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Outreach Adviser (Full time, part-time considered) in Reading
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Citizens Advice Reading.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Citizens Advice Reading.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Citizens Advice Reading.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Citizens Advice Reading. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Outreach Adviser (Full time, part-time considered) in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Citizens Advice Reading. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Outreach Adviser (Full time, part-time considered), ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Citizens Advice Reading
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Citizens Advice Reading. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
