Information and Advice Navigator x 3 Roles

The Methodist Church in Britain; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension option

Life assurance

30 days annual leave pro rata

Job summary

St Michael's Hospice in the West Midlands region is recruiting three Information and Advice Navigator roles within the Social Work, Information and Advice Team of the Supportive Care department.

The posts provide flexible hours: one 30-hour and two 22.5-hour roles with occasional evenings and weekends. A full driving licence is required, and safeguarding concerns must be escalated appropriately.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification in health and social care, community health and wellbeing, advice and guidance, community development, business administration or equivalent relevant experience
• GCSEs or equivalent in English and Mathematics
• Experience in health, social care, hospice or voluntary/community settings
• Ability to give information, advice, signposting and support to individuals and families
• Commitment to continuing professional development and learning

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for patients and families needing practical support and advice
• Complete and support applications such as Blue Badge, Attendance Allowance, grant funding and benefits claims
• Coordinate referrals to internal and external services and track them to completion
• Liaise with local authorities, health providers, housing, benefits agencies and community organisations for patients
• Connect patients and carers with community, voluntary and social prescribing opportunities, sometimes accompanying them to activities
• Maintain regular contact with patients and families to keep support plans on track
• Recognise and elevate safeguarding or statutory issues to qualified social workers
• Undertake delegated casework under social workers' guidance, reducing their administrative workload
• Recruit, induct and develop volunteers, and monitor their activity and feedback to the Lead Social Worker
• Build partnerships with statutory and charitable organisations and represent the hospice at meetings and forums
• Keep accurate, timely and confidential records in line with GDPR, safeguarding and hospice policies
• Support discharge planning and coordination where appropriate

Skills

Communication skills

Needs assessment

Written notes

Negotiation

Time management

Safeguarding awareness

Education

Level 3 qualification in health and social care

GCSEs in English and Mathematics

Job description

Three Information and Advice Navigator posts sit in the Social Work, Information and Advice Team within St Michael's Hospice's Supportive Care department. Post holders are often the first contact for patients and families, helping with benefit and grant applications, referrals and links to community services. The work takes admin from qualified social workers, with one 30-hour post and two at 22.5 hours a week, plus infrequent evening and weekend work. A full driving licence is required, and safeguarding concerns must be escalated appropriately.

What the job involves

• Act as the first point of contact for patients and families needing practical support and advice
• Complete and support applications such as Blue Badge, Attendance Allowance, grant funding and benefits claims
• Coordinate referrals to internal and external services and track them to completion
• Liaise with local authorities, health providers, housing, benefits agencies and community organisations for patients
• Connect patients and carers with community, voluntary and social prescribing opportunities, sometimes accompanying them to activities
• Maintain regular contact with patients and families to keep support plans on track
• Recognise and elevate psychosocial, safeguarding or statutory issues to qualified social workers
• Undertake delegated casework under social workers' guidance, reducing their administrative workload
• Recruit, induct and develop volunteers, and monitor their activity and feedback to the Lead Social Worker
• Build partnerships with statutory and charitable organisations and represent the hospice at meetings and forums
• Keep accurate, timely and confidential records in line with GDPR, safeguarding and hospice policies, and support data collection
• Support discharge planning and coordination where appropriate

What’s required

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification in health and social care, community health and wellbeing, advice and guidance, community development, business administration or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience
• GCSEs or equivalent in English and Mathematics

Experience

• Work in a health, social care, hospice, voluntary or community setting
• Giving information, advice, signposting and support to individuals and families
• Building working relationships with health, social care, voluntary and community organisations to facilitate referrals
• Keeping accurate records, handling confidential information and using electronic databases and administrative systems
• Commitment to continuing professional development and learning

Skills & knowledge

• Good communication and interpersonal skills, working sensitively with individuals and families
• Proven ability to assess needs across financial, physical, emotional and psychological vulnerability and strengths
• Clear written communication for notes, emails and letters
• Ability to negotiate on behalf of patients and families
• Managing own workload and time with support, and acting on own initiative
• Awareness of safeguarding concerns in daily work

Checks & eligibility

• Full driving licence

Other

• Ability to respond flexibly to the demands of the work
• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends, infrequently

Nice to have

• Community Health and Wellbeing Worker qualification or apprenticeship
• Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) qualification
• Mental Health First Aid, counselling skills or a similar emotional wellbeing qualification
• Experience of working within a hospice, palliative care or supportive care setting
• Experience of supporting people affected by life-limiting illness, bereavement or caring responsibilities
• Experience of coordinating referrals between services and agencies
• Experience of developing local networks and partnerships to improve outcomes for service users
• Experience of supporting or working alongside volunteers

What’s offered

• Choice of transferable NHS pension or the hospice's own pension
• Life assurance
• 30 days annual leave pro rata, plus bank holidays
• Generous study leave allowance
• Discounts with local suppliers
• Individualised training needs analysis and advanced communication skills training
• Employee counselling service
• Free tea and coffee