Context of role: Project based

Line manager: Operations Manager

Role purpose: As part of Citizens Advice Brighton & Hove's commitment to provide advice in community locations & reach clients who may not be able to otherwise access advice

Key work areas and tasks: To coordinate the Warmth for Wellbeing project and deliver advice to vulnerable clients across the city as part of the city wide approach to fuel poverty 

Salary £25,964.40 per annum Hours: 37 hours per week - Fixed term to 31 March 2018 2 days Project Coordination/ 3 days Advice Casework

Job Description

Project Coordination

•              To lead the strategic development of the Warmth for Wellbeing partnership ensuring effective input from Brighton & Hove City Council, direct delivery partners and any other key partners that are identified.

•              Manage

•              To ensure effective publicity and promotion of Warmth for Wellbeing aims, objectives and services (including representation at public events and liaison with the media).

•              Develop a cost effective brand and supporting publicity campaign

•              To develop monitoring and evaluation systems that enable evidence of impact on fuel poverty and wellbeing to be collected and shared.

•              Facilitation of Warmth for Wellbeing partnership meetings to ensure joint working and best practice.

•              To facilitate training opportunities for Warmth for Wellbeing partners and wider city stakeholders as described above.

•              In partnership with the Project Board, lead the development of Warmth for Wellbeing business case for sustainable provision.

•              In partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council ensure that Warmth for Wellbeing meets the wider objectives of the council's new Fuel Poverty Strategy.

•              Act as the central Warmth for Wellbeing liaison and contact point for stakeholders and the wider partnership

•              Work with partners to secure additional income to support the development and sustainability of the Warmth for Wellbeing fuel poverty partnership.

•              Implement effective performance management mechanisms to ensure the effective delivery of the Advice and Education Services by multiple agencies

Advice work

·         Main focus of role will include -

o    Advice and casework around welfare benefit issues

o    Advice and casework around debt &  budgeting Issues

o    Advice and Casework around housing and warmth issues

o    Signposting and/or referring to appropriate services

o    Signposting and/or referring to appropriate services providing support with health and wellbeing

·         Act for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters and telephoning.

·         Negotiate with third parties as appropriate

·         Liaise with other agencies to ensure client receives holistic support (using the online referral tool as appropriate)

·         Ensure income maximisation through the take up of appropriate benefits

·         Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer to other advisers or specialist agencies as appropriate.

·         Ensure that all casework conforms to the bureau's Office Manual and Quality Mark standards

• Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of advice and casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.
• Ensure that all work conforms to the bureau's systems and procedures

Social policy

• Provide statistical information on the number of clients and nature of cases and provide regular reports to bureau management and as required by funders.
• Monitor service provision to ensure that it reaches the widest possible client group.

Professional development

• Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to Welfare Benefits and debt and undertake appropriate training.
• Read relevant publications.
• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions, appraisals and team meetings as appropriate.

Administration

• Use IT for statistical recording, record keeping and document production.
• Keep up to date with policies and procedures relevant to bureau work and undertake appropriate training.
• Attend internal and external meetings as agreed with line manager.
• Maintain close liaison with relevant external agencies.
• Maintain a library of reference material and case law.

Public relations

• Liaise with statutory and non-statutory organisations and represent the Service on outside bodies as appropriate.

Other duties and responsibilities

• Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.
• Demonstrate commitment to the aims and policies of the CAB service.
• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.

Person specification

Coordination Skills and Experience

1.    Understanding the impact of Fuel Poverty and current citywide strategies which address this issue

2.    Ability to be an effective ambassador and manage key relationships

3.    The ability to commit to, and work within, the aims, principles and policies of the CAB service

4.    Experience of effectively managing services, preferably within a related field (e.g. Advice or Community Development)

5.    Understanding of the issues involved with managing services delivered by a multi-agency partnership

6.    Good troubleshooting skills, with the ability to identify and resolve issues at an early stage

7.    Ability to provide leadership around Fuel Poverty in the city, to influence and affect positive change

8.    Ability to evaluate the impact of the partnership and make effective, evidence-based arguments for change

Adviser Skills and Experience

9.    Two years' experience advising on areas of debt, benefits or housing

10. Understanding of fuel poverty issues and solutions

11. Experience of working to quality assurance systems relevant to the provision of advice services (e.g. Advice Quality Standard).

12. Experience of working with external agencies and/or services to ensure clients receive holistic support

13. Ability to use relevant IT systems for the delivery of advice services

14. Ability to travel within the Brighton and Hove boundaries as required by the post

15. Good interpersonal skills, in particular tact and sensitivity in dealing with vulnerable clients & working with partner agencies

16. Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equal opportunities policies. 

Closing date: 16th October 2017

Interviews: W/C 23rd October

We are ideally looking for someone that could start as soon as possible. 

Closing date Monday, October 16th 2017