Welfare Benefits Specialist (part-time)

Auriga Services Limited; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Auriga Services Limited is seeking a Welfare Benefits Specialist to join our Assist team on a part-time basis. The role involves assessing the financial and wellbeing needs of vulnerable individuals, helping them access welfare benefits and navigate tribunals.

You will work in a hybrid model with some on-site activity in Birmingham City Centre and travel to NHS sites as required. You will support clients of all ages, conduct sensitive interviews, complete initial assessments, and manage a

Qualifications

• Enhanced DBS certificate required.
• Up-to-date understanding of the welfare benefits system.
• Experience providing tribunal representation to customers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and active listening skills.

Responsibilities

• Support vulnerable people to maximise income and wellbeing.
• Carry out initial assessments and plan next steps with clients.
• Assist with applications for welfare benefits and trust funds.
• Represent clients at tribunals where required.
• Maintain accurate case records and manage caseloads.
• Collaborate with NHS, social care and other professionals as needed.
• Attend on-site client consultations and travel for outreach where necessary.

Skills

Enhanced DBS

Welfare benefits knowledge

Tribunal representation experience

Active listening

Organisational skills

Education

GCSE level (or equivalent)

Job description

Welfare Benefits Specialist (part-time)

• Job Salary: £31,194 FTE
• Team: Assist
• Contract Term: Permanent
• Location: Hybrid working (office base is in Birmingham City Centre) expectation to be in the office at least one day a week
• Hours: 30 hours per week

The Welfare Benefit Specialist plays a key role in supporting and assisting vulnerable individuals of all ages and abilities. The role involves assessing the financial and wellbeing needs of individuals based on their circumstances.

Role Purpose:

Accountable to the Assist team manager, the Welfare Benefits Specialist will work with, support, assist and represent vulnerable people of all ages and abilities to improve their financial situation and wellbeing. You will assess people's circumstances and assist them accordingly. This will involve helping people to apply for welfare benefits, completing mandatory reconsiderations and representing them at tribunal. You will work with the elderly, ill, disabled and the young. This may also include on-site consultations with clients, at NHS sites. The role will also involve supporting other advisers to help them reach their full potential and could involve some travel.

Responsibilities:

• Working with and supporting vulnerable people of all ages and abilities to try to maximise their income and improve their financial circumstances and wellbeing. You will establish a relationship based on trust to ensure you provide the necessary support and assistance;
• Develop and manage interviews with clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills in order to allow clients to explain their problem(s);
• Complete an initial assessment of a client’s needs to identify areas where support is required and plan next steps/ provide support throughout the process;
• Actively encourage engagement from clients referred through to the service from both internal and external sources;
• To carry a caseload of enquiries requiring detailed ongoing casework. To maintain accurate and appropriate records relating to each case, recording all activity, interventions and outcomes within the case record whilst ensuring that correct procedures are followed, to ensure quality standards are met;
• Helping people to apply for welfare benefits, trust funds, OT assessments etc. As well as assisting with completing mandatory reconsiderations and representing people at tribunal;
• Manage your own workload, administration and diary commitments;
• Travel off site to attend dialysis units where required;
• To ensure a high-quality service to customers including, but not limited to, face to face, telephone, written and emails;
• Work with colleagues, stakeholders and health and social care professionals to evaluate caseload needs and the progress that has been made;
• To keep up to date and share knowledge with the team on legislation, case law, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training as and when required;
• Able to proactively identify own training and development needs and those of others;
• Ability to work within and adhere to organisational policies and procedures and ensure work meets internal and external SLAs;
• Comply with the requirements of GDPR; and
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the post as required.

Key Skills and Attributes

• Be required to hold an enhanced disclosure barring certificate;
• Have an in-depth and up to date understanding of the welfare benefits system;
• Knowledge of services provided by the NHS, social care, trust funds and/or debt services;
• Experience of providing a specialist tribunal service or other representation to customers; Effective active listening techniques;
• Being able to understand and encourage others to contribute and debate ideas;
• Organisational skills;
• Focused on continuous improvement;
• Adaptable interpersonal skills both in formal and informal situations;
• High level written, verbal and presentation skills;
• Ability to monitor and maintain own performance targets;
• A flexible approach and ability to work as part of a team effectively to meet all objectives and targets;
• Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent by experience);
• At least 2 years’ experience in the advice sector;
• Experience of providing a specialist tribunal service or other representation to customers;
• Excellent and up to date working knowledge of the benefits system.