Support Coordinator (Money Matters) - Part time

We are a values-led, charitable organisation that provides more than 60,000 people in Sunderland with a place they can call home. We have a clear vision and a social purpose. We believe that everyone has the right to live in a good quality home that they can afford. We invest millions of pounds every year to keep our existing homes safe and decent. We also play our part in helping to address the UK housing crisis by building hundreds of new, modern homes to rent in Sunderland. We\’d love for you to join us in achieving our vision.

Salary
£18,321.47

Job Description

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people\’s lives? Do you have a strong understanding of welfare benefits and the ability to build supportive relationships? We are looking for a dedicated and empathetic individual to join our Money Matters team as a Support Coordinator.

This part-time opportunity is due to an upcoming retirement, and we are excited to welcome someone who shares our commitment to financial inclusion and community support.

Location: Sunderland City Hall (with flexibility to work across Gentoo offices and in the community)

Hours: Wednesday & Thursday 8:30am–5:00pm, Friday 8:30am–12:30pm (some flexibility required)

Join Gentoo as a Money Matters Support Coordinator and help empower our customers to take control of their finances and sustain their tenancies. In this part-time role, you\’ll work closely with a supportive team of Support Coordinators and Neighbourhood Support Assistants to promote financial inclusion, maximise income, reduce outgoings, and provide debt adjusting support.

We are looking for someone with strong knowledge of welfare benefits, budgeting expertise, and the ability to build trusted relationships. Experience in partnership working, ideally within Sunderland, and a proactive approach to advocating for customers are key. If you\’re passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, we\’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Maximising customer income through Benefit Checks, better-off calculations, budgeting advice, benefit claims, debt adjusting, signposting to other services, and more, to ensure that customers receive the support they need to maintain their tenancy.
• Helping customers to improve their financial wellbeing by providing a personalised service that meets their needs, while increasing customers\’ knowledge, skills, and independence.
• Collaborating with other agencies to ensure that the holistic needs of the individual customer are considered and met.
• Supporting customers to challenge decisions with other agencies, through practical support and guidance with Mandatory Reconsiderations and Appeals.
• Actively staying informed about Welfare Reform, Universal Credit, and other Welfare Benefits and Government initiatives relevant to the role.

A full UK Drivers licence is essential for this position.

The role is subject to a basic DBS check, paid for by Gentoo.

What We Are Looking For

• Strong knowledge of welfare benefits, social housing, and financial wellbeing.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and compassionately.
• Ability to build trust with customers, colleagues, and partners.
• Confidence in partnership working and professional advocacy.
• Organised, self-motivated, and able to thrive in a team environment.
• Strong IT skills with the ability to learn and work across different systems.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• IMA qualification or willingness to work towards it.

Desirable

• Experience working within regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, welfare benefits).
• Experience supporting customers with Mandatory Reconsiderations and Appeals.
• Local knowledge of Sunderland and its support networks.

Some of our great benefits include:

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