Financial Resilience Support Worker

Bridges To Wellbeing; Chard Town; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

Bridges to Wellbeing is recruiting a Support Worker to provide practical, person-centred assistance to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship in Chard, Crewkerne and surrounding villages. The role involves helping people access crisis payments, welfare benefits and local services, with an emphasis on dignity and independence.

You will work across partner organisations, manage caseloads, complete monthly reporting and participate in safeguarding and professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals and families.
• Experience providing information, guidance or signposting.
• Five GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and Maths.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals and families experiencing sudden financial shocks.
• Receive referrals, check eligibility, and meet clients in suitable settings.
• Build trusted relationships with people through strengths-based, trauma-informed and person-centred practice.
• Undertake an assessment to identify issues contributing to financial hardship.
• Support people to access crisis payments, welfare benefits, grants and housing support.
• Provide accurate information, guidance and practical support.
• Monitor progress and adapt support plans as circumstances change.
• Promote the service effectively.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the role.

Skills

Communication

Listening

Relationship-building

Time management

IT skills

Education

GCSEs including English and Maths

Tools

Frontline platform

MS Office

Job description

Do you want to help people infinancial hardshipfind the support they need?If you are experienced at giving information,adviceand supportto people,we'dlike to hear from you.

The Support Worker will provide practical, person-centred support to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship or who are at risk of financial instability. As part of the Bridges to Wellbeing partnership, the Worker will support local people to access crisis payments where eligible, build financial resilience and connect with longer-term solutions that improve wellbeing and independence.

The role is mainly direct client support with some partnership working and will require robust case management and accurate monthly reporting.

Two part-time or one fulltime post, totalling 37.5 hours per week.Fixed term until April 2029

£28,300 per annum

You will berotatingbetweenour partners locations and public settings in Chard & Crewkerne.This post is funded by the Somerset Crisis & Resilience Alliance.

Flexibility of hours may occasionally be required, including evenings and weekends, depending on needs.

Working across multiple locations in Chard, Crewkerne and neighbouring villages, with an office base in Chard. Occasional attendance at meetings across Somerset may be required.

Key Tasks& Responsibilities

• Support individuals and families experiencing sudden financial shocks, including loss of income, unexpected costs, illnessor housing difficulties.
• Receive referrals,checkeligibilityand manage your diary to meet clients in the most suitable setting (this could be at our bases, public venuesor online)
• Build trusted relationships with people through strengths-based, trauma-informedand person-centred practice, for up to 9 hours per client.
• Undertakean assessment toidentifyissues contributing to financial hardship, including poverty, housing instability, debt, welfare issues, healthinequalitiesand caring responsibilities.
• Support people to access crisis payments, welfare benefits, grants, housing support, debtadviceand wider community resources, using the Frontline referral platform where needed.
• Provide accurate information,guidanceand practical support.
• Monitor progress and adapt support plans as circumstances change.
• Promote the service effectively.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the nature of the role.

Partnership Working

• Build and maintain effective relationships with Alliance partners, statutory agencies and community groups.
• Plan and deliver engagement activities that raise awareness of available support and encourage referrals.
• Promote access to support among marginalised and harder-to-reach groups.
• Maintain knowledge of local services available across the Chard & Crewkerne area

Case Management, Monitoring and Reporting

• Maintain accurate case management records and in line with funder requirements.
• Notice and share stories, learning and impact from your work.
• Effectively manage workload and competing priorities.
• Contribute to service evaluation.

Safeguarding and Professional Practice

• Work in accordance with safeguarding, confidentiality, GDPR and organisational policies.
• Safeguard the wellbeing of vulnerable adults and children.
• Maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information appropriately.
• Participate in supervision, training and ongoing professional development
• Uphold organisational values and commitment to equality, dignity and inclusion.

Person Specification

Values & Approach

• Commitment to person-centred, inclusive practice.
• Belief in the potential of people and communities.
• Warm, approachable and non-judgemental manner.
• Commitment to promoting wellbeing, resilience and independence.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals and families, ideally within community, voluntary or health settings.
• Experience providing information, guidance, advice or signposting.
• Understanding of local communities and available support services, or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly.
• Experience working in a person-centred support role.
• Five GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and Maths.

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent communication, listening and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to build trust and work effectively with people facing difficult circumstances.
• Good organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage a varied and demanding caseload.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to identify creative solutions.
• Good IT skills and ability to maintain accurate electronic records.
• Ability to work independently and also work effectively in a small team.

Personal Qualities

• Empathetic, patient and non-judgemental.
• Resilient, with emotional maturity.
• Reliable, professional and adaptable.
• Self-motivated, proactive and committed to continuous learning.
• Passionate about supporting people and strengthening communities.

Other Requirements

• Full UK driving licence.
• Access to a vehicle insured for business use.
• Access to reliable broadband and a suitable home-working environment.
• Enhanced DBS check required.

This job description indicates the general level of responsibility and standards expected of the post. The detailed duties may vary or develop over time according to needs without changing the nature or level of responsibility of the post. This job description does not form part of your contract.

About Bridges to Wellbeing

Bridges to Wellbeing is an exciting and collaborative project between WATCH CIO, ARK atEgwood, Open Doors Somerset and Chard Community Hub funded by The National Lottery. The partnership promotes all aspects of wellbeing including physical, emotional, mental, social and financial wellbeing. The programme works to reduce isolation and loneliness, strengthen community connections and empower individuals to reconnect with their own resilience and sense of hope.

Interviews will take place in Chard, in week commencing 2nd November.