At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable clients with financial advice and welfare benefits claims.
- Company: Join a compassionate team dedicated to improving lives across Sussex.
- Benefits: Health cashback scheme, interest-free loans, discounts on travel, and 25 days paid holiday.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a rewarding role.
- Qualifications: Experience in welfare benefits or transferable skills in support roles.
The predicted salary is between 28640 - 28640 £ per year.
Location: Worthing base with travel across Sussex.
Salary: £28,640 per annum
Hours: 37 per week
Could you help change lives? Join our team and support vulnerable people to manage their money, navigate the welfare benefits system and improve their financial wellbeing.
We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a Welfare Benefits Advisor (known internally as a Financial Inclusion Specialist) to join the organisations Financial Inclusion team. As part of Southdowns mental health and learning disability services across Sussex, you will provide one-to-one support to vulnerable clients experiencing benefit or financial difficulties. You will offer advice on welfare entitlements, assist with benefit claims, and work with agencies such as the DWP and local authorities.
You will help clients improve their financial stability and maintain independence through guidance and advocacy, while also contributing to service improvements through feedback and ideas.
We welcome applications from candidates with previous experience such as Welfare Benefits Adviser, Benefits Officer, Money and Debt Adviser, Financial Inclusion Officer, Support Worker, Housing Officer, or Mental Health Practitioner. We also welcome applications from those who are looking for a new rewarding opportunity and have the transferable skills to support people facing financial and mental health challenges: numeracy, compassion, communication and an ability to implement our award winning inhouse training.
What you'll be doing:
- Provide Specialist Advice: Support clients with new and ongoing claims for benefits such as Universal Credit, ESA and PIP. Support clients with benefit appeals.
- Welfare Benefit Calculations: Provide benefit checks and calculations to ensure incomes are maximised and clients are reassured when looking for work.
- Advocate for Clients and Tenants: Liaise with the DWP, Housing Benefit teams and other agencies to resolve issues and ensure accurate claims.
- Facilitate Workshops and Presentations: Inform Southdown staff and clients when relevant updates are needed.
- Prevent rent arrears: Support tenants to manage their tenancies independently through budgeting and education.
- Coordinate Support: Maintain close communication with support workers and other Southdown services to provide holistic and enhanced support.
- Maintain Records: Accurately record casework in line with data protection regulations and organisational procedures.
- Safeguard Clients: Identify and report safeguarding concerns, ensuring all actions follow policy and procedure.
Perks and benefits:
- Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.
- Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.
- Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.
- Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.
- Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.
- 25 days paid holiday.
Welfare Benefits Advisor in London employer: Southdown
Southdown is an exceptional employer dedicated to supporting individuals with learning disabilities, offering a compassionate work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. Located in the vibrant community of Worthing, our Service Manager role provides opportunities for meaningful engagement, ongoing training, and access to a range of benefits including health cost cash-back schemes and interest-free loans, ensuring you can thrive both personally and professionally while making a positive impact in the lives of others.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Welfare Benefits Advisor in London
✨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 Southdown.
✨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 Southdown!
✨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 Southdown, 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 Southdown 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 Advisor in London
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 Southdown:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Southdown! 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 Southdown
✨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.
