Community Support Advocate

Future Projects; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused charity in Norwich seeks a Community Support Advocate to provide person-centred support to local residents. The role includes developing support plans in welfare, housing, health, and wellbeing, with a flexible working environment. Ideal candidates will have experience in welfare rights and a strong commitment to community service, embodying empathy and resilience.

Benefits

Real Living Wage

Disability Confident

Four Day Working Week

Qualifications

• Experience in providing effective support to individuals facing social exclusion.
• Ability to assess needs and develop outcome-focused support plans.
• Knowledge of welfare rights and benefits advice.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice and support to clients in welfare, housing, and wellbeing.
• Develop and deliver tailored support plans promoting independence.
• Work with colleagues and partner agencies to meet community needs.

Skills

Experience in providing advice and support

Understanding of welfare rights and benefits

Empathy

Resilience

Ability to build trust quickly

Collaborative teamwork

Job description

Community Support Advocate

Location: Baseline Centre, Knowland Grove, Norwich, NR5 8YD
Hours: 20 per week (subject to Four Day Week scheme after probation)
Contract: Permanent (subject to funding)
Salary: £13,988 (FTE £25,878)
Leave: 23 days p.a. (pro rata) + bank holidays
Application Deadline: Friday 28th November
Start Date: ASAP
Reports to: Assistant Support Manager

There are two positions available for this role.

About the Role

As a Community Support Advocate within the Future Support service, you'll provide practical, person-centred support to local residents in Norwich. You'll assess needs, agree support plans, and deliver compassionate, outcome-focused guidance across welfare, housing, health, employment, finance, and wellbeing. The role is based at the Baseline Centre, with a mix of office, community, and home working.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide advice and support to clients across welfare, housing, health, finance, and wellbeing
• Specialise in welfare rights and benefits advice, including complex cases
• Develop and deliver tailored, outcome-focused support plans promoting independence
• Work closely with colleagues, volunteers, and partner agencies to meet community needs
• Maintain accurate case notes, risk assessments, and client data
• Deliver group sessions, outreach, and home visits where needed
• Ensure safeguarding, data protection, and health & safety compliance
• Support service improvement by identifying client needs and feedback

About You

You're experienced in providing advice and support, ideally in welfare rights and benefits. You understand the barriers faced by people on low incomes and can help them overcome challenges through effective support planning. You're empathetic, resilient, and confident applying appropriate challenge when needed. You can build trust quickly, work collaboratively within a team, and independently when required.

About Future Projects

We are a Norwich-based charity helping people transform their lives through education, health & wellbeing, skills, and employment services. Our work focuses on supporting those facing social exclusion and poverty through tailored, community-based services.

We are a Real Living Wage, Disability Confident, and Four Day Week Gold Standard employer. Our staff work the 100:80:100 model of the 4‑day working week, meaning they deliver 100% of their output in 80% of their contracted hours while receiving 100% pay. The role holder will be eligible to opt into this scheme following successful completion of probation and a six‑month review.

Additional Information

• No line management responsibilities
• DBS check and right to work in the UK required
• Evening/weekend work may be required occasionally
• Induction and safeguarding training provided
• We are a Living Wage, Disability Confident, and Equal Opportunities employer
• Four Day Working Week