Benefits Advisor — Welfare & Benefits Specialist (Cambridge)

Maggies; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Centre exposure to Maggie’s programme

Orientation and onboarding week

Holiday entitlement

Sick leave

Supportive working environment

Learning and development opportunities

Tea, coffee and fruit facilities

Pension and financial advice

NHS pension option if eligible

Travel and cycle loans

Eye test expenses

Enhanced maternity pay

Buddy system

Mental health support

Job summary

Maggie’s Cambridge is recruiting a Benefits Advisor to help people access benefits and other financial support. The role involves drop-in and booked appointments, liaison with statutory and voluntary bodies, and building relationships with clients to enable access to Maggie’s programme and cancer support.

You'll need a degree or equivalent experience and at least 2 years' welfare benefits and money advice experience, with warm, empathetic communication.

Qualifications

• Degree educated in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• At least 2 year’s experience in providing welfare benefits and money advice.
• Ability to think about and understand health related concerns within the wider life context.
• A warm, empathetic manner with excellent communication and listening skills.
• Able to write clear and concise reports.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive advice on benefits using a variety of mechanisms.
• Assist in the completion of benefits claims, maximising an individual’s income.
• Promote and develop benefits advice as a component of Maggie’s programme including participation in teaching and training programmes.
• Recording and maintaining up to date records and reporting of activity data in relation to own activity as required by Maggie’s policies and procedures.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant external agencies, signposting where appropriate and being able to develop beneficial working relationships.
• Responsible for recording data in relation to their own work in accordance with Maggie’s policies and procedures, and will contribute to Maggie’s programme of annual audit, centre review and triennial review.
• Follow up claims for disability benefits and any further benefits triggered by an award.
• Negotiate with statutory bodies, ensuring that people are supported through this process.
• Ensure that centre visitors feel welcome and valued as individuals, and that they feel their concerns have been heard and understood; creating the conditions for ongoing relationships with other members of the team facilitating exploration of what Maggie’s programme may have to offer.
• Contribute to raising awareness of and enabling access to Maggie’s Centres.
• Contribute to centre specific or other specific audits as required.
• Support Maggie’s Centre Head in ensuring that Maggie’s environment is maintained as a welcoming atmosphere.
• Participate in staff support sessions, meetings with the Centre Head and supervision meetings, and staff training as required.
• Maintenance of statistical information and accurate case records.
• Administration and follow up to benefits advice and the submission of claims.
• Assist Maggie’s Centre Head with centre administration as required.
• Occasional overnight stays and some travel will be required along with some evening and unsociable hours working

Skills

Welfare benefits advice

Communication & empathy

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Maggie’s Cambridge is recruiting a Benefits Advisor to help people access benefits and other financial support. The role involves drop-in and booked appointments, liaison with statutory and voluntary bodies, and building relationships with clients to enable access to Maggie’s programme and cancer support.

You'll need a degree or equivalent experience and at least 2 years' welfare benefits and money advice experience, with warm, empathetic communication.