Benefits Advisor - West London

Maggie'S; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Centre experience

Orientation week

Holiday entitlement

Sick leave

Supportive environment

Learning & development

Free beverages

Pension & financial advice

NHS pension option

Travel loans

Eye care support

Maternity pay

Buddy system

Stress management

Job summary

Maggie’s is seeking a Benefits Advisor to help people access available benefits and other financial support within our UK centres. You will handle drop-ins and booked appointments, liaise with statutory and voluntary bodies, and build lasting relationships to enable access to Maggie’s cancer support programme.

Interviews will take place on 20 November. The role involves travel, some evenings and unsociable hours, and contributing to audits and centre performance while supporting visitors with

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• At least 2 years’ experience in providing welfare benefits and money advice.
• Ability to think about and understand health-related concerns within the wider life context.
• 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, maximizing an individual’s income.
• Promote and develop benefits advice as part of Maggie’s programme including teaching and training.
• Record and maintain up-to-date records and reporting of activity data.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of external agencies, signposting where appropriate.
• Record data in relation to own work and contribute to audits and reviews.
• Follow up claims for disability benefits and any further benefits triggered by an award.
• Negotiate with statutory bodies, ensuring support through the process.
• Ensure visitors feel welcome and that concerns are heard; foster ongoing relationships with team.
• Contribute to raising awareness of Maggie’s Centres and access to Maggie’s programme.
• Support Centre Head in maintaining a welcoming environment.
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, and training.
• Maintain statistical information and accurate case records.
• Admin and follow up to benefits advice and submission of claims.
• Occasional overnight stays and some travel; evening and unsociable hours may be required.

Skills

Welfare benefits

Money advice

Communication

Report writing

Empathy

Education

Degree or equivalent

Job description

As Benefits Advisor, you will advise and assist people to access available benefits and other sources of financial help.

This support may be provided on a ‘drop in’ basis and through a programme of booked appointments.

You will be responsible for liaising with other statutory and voluntary bodies as required.

You will also have responsibility for creating the conditions for maintaining ongoing relationships with people accessing the centre, and in collaboration with colleagues for enabling people to access all aspects of Maggie’s programme to ensure ongoing and effective cancer support.

Interviews will take place on 20 November.

Key responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive advice on benefits using a variety of different 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 Maggies 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, knowledge and expertise

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

Job benefits

• You’ll spend time at one of our incredible centres to experience our programme of support and see first‑hand the difference we can make.
• A structured orientation week will cover everything you need to get settled in your new role.
• Holiday entitlement that helps you create a manageable work life balance.
• Generous sick leave cover.
• A supportive and friendly working environment.
• Tailored learning and development opportunities.
• Kitchen facilities with free tea, coffee and fruit bowl.
• Workplace pension and free financial advice from an independent financial advisor to help you plan for your future.
• Option to keep a pre-existing NHS pension if eligible.
• Travel and cycle loans.
• Eye test expenses and money towards glasses.
• Enhanced maternity pay.
• Our buddy system links you with a colleague to give you extra support in your first few months.
• Facilitated stress management courses and access to our clinical psychologists for support.

We provide free practical and emotional support for people living with cancer, and their family and friends. We have centres across the UK and a growing international network, with more planned for the future.