Money Adviser - Portsmouth in Southsea

Great opportunity to join Portsmouth Homes as a Money Adviser and make a real difference!

The Social Housing Sector has seen considerable change in the last 2 years with the addition of new and revised regulations including a new set of consumer standards. Portsmouth Homes is undertaking a programme of change to respond to the new environment and changes in expectations from our tenants and leaseholders.

The Money Adviser role provides a proactive, needs-led service to Portsmouth Homes residents and their households, focusing on complex financial, welfare benefit, and debt issues. The aim is to help residents sustain their tenancies, improve financial resilience, and complement the support offered by generic Housing Officers. Money Advisers work collaboratively within Housing Offices and the wider community, offering specialist expertise in welfare benefits, debt management, and budgeting. You will be required to manage your own caseload, assisting tenants with complex situations requiring specialist intervention, such as mandatory reconsiderations, appeals, Debt Relief Orders, and bankruptcy processes.

Who is the person?

• You must be able to demonstrate a good working knowledge of welfare benefits and local and national policies and legislation regarding Money Debt and Welfare Benefit advice.
• Preferably with experience of supporting and advocating for customers.
• You should have experience of supporting customers with budgeting advice and advising on priority and non-priority debts; you may hold a relevant qualification, though applications are welcomed from those willing to obtain qualification whilst in post.
• Be approachable, supportive and non-judgemental, and able to foster positive working relationships with customers, colleagues and other professionals.
• Be able to listen well and use effective questioning skills and professional curiosity to understand the root causes of customers' problems.
• You should be competent at understanding complex information and relaying this to customers in clear and simple terms, with a focus on the best outcome for the customer.
• You should have strong written and verbal communication skills to enable effective negotiation with creditors or other professionals where appropriate.
• Have experience in developing others, supporting them to perform effectively in their role, with the confidence to reflect with them on the quality of their interactions.
• Be self-motivated with the ability to work without support, and with a willingness to keep your knowledge updated through your own research.
• You should have an awareness of the wider social issues that affect our customers.
• You should hold an awareness of departmental budget constraints and the need to minimise expenditure and ensure that appropriate support is proportionate and timebound.
• Be able to utilise good negotiation and persuasive skills to ensure action plans are met and customers and their households are supported appropriately.
• Be able to work closely with all teams within Portsmouth Homes to ensure tenants with the most complex needs are supported effectively for them to be able to maintain their tenancies.
• You should understand and demonstrate the importance of working collaboratively with Housing Benefit Teams, Council Tax Departments, the Department for Works and Pensions and other Money advice organisations to ensure Money Advice is consistent and in the best interests of the customer.
• You should hold or be prepared to obtain and maintain accreditation with the Institute of Money Advisors, and Debt Relief Order Intermediary status.
• Be competent with using Microsoft Software including Excel, Word and Outlook and be able to use IT systems to keep clear, accurate, concise and methodical records.
• Be flexible as you may be required to work from Area Housing Offices, Community Bases and in customers' homes. You may also be required to carry out visits outside of normal working hours.
• You should hold a current driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

If you would like to discuss the post further or have any questions, please contact Tracy Robinson - Money Advice Manager or Danny Ardrey - Head of Sheltered Housing and Support Services.

When completing the application form, please thoroughly tailor your application to the 'Who is the Person' points with the use of examples from your experience. This is really important or you are likely not to be shortlisted.

About Portsmouth City Council

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