Information Advice Officer - MacMillan, Jim Walker Partnership Centre, 508.85 - WEL10788

West Lothian Council; Bathgate; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

West Lothian Council, through The Advice Shop, seeks a Welfare Benefits Adviser to support cancer patients and families at the Western General Hospital. You will provide expert welfare benefits advice, advocacy and casework, coordinate with health professionals and partner organisations, and maintain records in a hospital setting.

The role requires strong literacy and numeracy, experience in welfare rights or money advice, and the ability to engage with diverse communities.

Qualifications

• Experience providing welfare rights, money advice or advocacy services.
• Strong literacy and numeracy skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver welfare benefits advice and casework.
• Advocate on behalf of clients with benefit agencies and organisations.
• Maintain accurate case records and provide support via telephone, email and face-to-face at hospital.
• Contribute to service development, information resources, training and monitoring/reporting.

Skills

Welfare benefits advice

Advocacy

Communication skills

Literacy & numeracy

Relationship building

Job description

Job Advert

36 hours per week, 52.14 weeks per year, Fixed Term until 31 May 2027

Are you passionate about helping people through some of the most challenging times in their lives? Do you have experience providing welfare rights, money advice or advocacy services? If so, we would love to hear from you.

The Advice Shop is a free, impartial and confidential service dedicated to alleviating poverty, promoting inclusion and improving outcomes for the people of West Lothian. We are seeking a Welfare Benefits Adviser to join our team, working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to provide a specialist advice service within the Western General Hospital.

This rewarding role supports patients affected by cancer, alongside their families and carers, by providing expert welfare benefits advice, assistance and advocacy. You will work closely with health professionals, hospital staff and partner organisations to ensure individuals receive the financial and practical support they need during difficult circumstances.

Key responsibilities include delivering welfare benefits advice and casework, advocating on behalf of clients with benefit agencies and other organisations, maintaining accurate case records, and providing support through telephone, email and face-to-face appointments within the hospital setting. You will also contribute to service development by helping produce information resources, supporting training activities, and assisting with monitoring and reporting requirements.

The successful candidate will have strong literacy and numeracy skills, experience of providing advice in welfare rights, money advice or a related field, and a sound understanding of social security legislation and practice. You will be customer-focused, demonstrate excellent communication skills, and be able to build effective working relationships with colleagues and external partners.

Experience of advocacy, partnership working, project development or management, and working to performance targets would be advantageous.

In return, you will join a supportive and dedicated team, with opportunities to broaden your knowledge of welfare benefits, local support services, cancer-related issues and treatments through ongoing training and professional development.

We are keen to employ a diverse workforce that reflects the people of Scotland. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly from groups currently under-represented, including people with disabilities, those from minority ethnic communities or from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

This post is considered Regulated Work with Vulnerable Children and/or Protected Adults, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. Preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check prior to a formal offer of employment being made by West Lothian Council.

Join us and make a meaningful difference to the lives of people affected by cancer across West Lothian.