Job details – Financial Inclusion Adviser

Job title:Financial Inclusion Adviser

Reporting to:Projects Manager

Locations:The project involves home visits to clients in the Edinburgh Postcode areas of EH1-EH11 and regular working from the following office/partner hub locations:

Citizens Advice Bureaux, In Leith - 23 Dalmeny Street, EH6 8PG, Gorgie/Dalry - 137 Dundee Street, EH11 1BG and Pilton - 661 Ferry Road, EH4 2TX

Circle - 18 West Pilton Park, EH4 4EJ

The Haven Project -Craigroyston Primary School, Muirhouse Place West, EH4 4PX

Edinburgh Young Carers Project, 57 Albion Road, EH7 5QY

Employer:Citizens Advice Edinburgh, 58 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QZ

Salary: £26,649

Benefits:25 days annual leave and 10Public Holidays and a 7% employers contribution pension

Hours:35 hours per week

Term:June 2017 – June 2018

Financial Inclusion Project

Background

Citizens Advice Edinburgh, CircleEdinburgh Young Carers are working in partnership to deliver a Financial Inclusion Outreach Projectproviding advice and advocacy primarily on Debt (including fuel debt), Energy Efficiency, Income Maximisation and Welfare Entitlement. The project will support families affected by a range of issues including parental substance use, poverty, homelessness, mental health issues and criminal justice issues. Advice can be accessed via CAE’s advice bureaux, Circle’s Harbour and Haven Projects, and the Edinburgh Young Carers Project. Home visits will also be offered to break down barriers of access for service users. The central goal of the project is to engage with vulnerable clients who may not otherwise seek, access, or maintain engagement with an office-based advice service.

Summary of Advice Role

The Financial Inclusion Adviser will engage with clients in their homes and at locations throughout the city. They will provide assistance with:

Debt: Including fuel debts, bills, switching and accessing the best tariffs, affordable payments and energy efficiency measures.

Welfare Entitlement: Benefit checks, submitting claims and appeals, grant applications and advocacy.

Housing:Managing a tenancy, fuel efficiency and budgeting.

Advocacy:Empowerment and advocacy will be at the heart of this project’s approach. All partners believe that the best outcomes can be achieved when we work with the whole family, enabling them to draw upon their strengths and providing them with information, advice and support to access their rights.

The post holder will have experience in at least one of the key advice areas above and be willing to develop the necessary knowledge and skills in other areas through the training provided. They should be experienced in outreach working and engaging with vulnerable and hard-to-reach clients.

Responsibilities

1. Advice work and support

  • Liaise with staff in partner agencies to identify appropriate clients
  • Engage hard-to-reach clients and build trusting relationships
  • Find solutions to engaging with clients if and when uptake is low
  • Deliver high quality advice on debt, welfare entitlement and energy issues
  • Carry out home visits as required
  • Refer and sign-post clients on to suitable support services, both internal and external to CAE, when further assistance is required

2. Project reporting and statistics

  • Record case notes and statistics accurately and comprehensively
  • Input data into case management recording system (CASTLE)
  • Collate information from CASTLE, project data and client feedbackto produce reports for funders and to inform and influence internal and external social policy
  • Work closely with senior management team to demonstrate successful outcomes and develop service

3.Other duties

  • Promote project to Circle/Edinburgh Young Carers service users and to other agencies working with similar client groups
  • Provide training and information, as required, to colleagues within the partner agencies on the project outcomes and learning
  • Maintain close communication and good relationships with partner agencies to ensure effective delivery of project
  • Attend meetings and forums within Edinburgh to raise awareness of project and to ensure that work complements that of other services
  • Attend training to stay abreast of current legislation and policy
  • Liaise with CAE Projects Manager regarding operational matters
  • Meet all audit requirements
  • Implement organisationalEquality Policies
  • Any other reasonable tasks as requested by the senior management team

Person Specification

Essential criteria

  • Completion of or willingness to complete CAB generalist adviser training or equivalent at the outset of the project
  • Completion or willingness to complete “Giving Good Debt Advice” Training
  • City and Guilds Level Three Energy Efficiency Qualification or willingness to complete this at the outset of the project
  • Recent experience of delivering advice
  • Excellentcommunication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to understand and empathise with vulnerable clients, including those facing addiction and health issues
  • Ability to work independently at outreach locations
  • Ability to establish good relationships with other agencies
  • Ability to accurately research, record and report information
  • Ability to work under pressure with limited resources
  • IT proficiency

Desirable Criteria

  • Specific experience of delivering debt, welfare entitlement and/or energy advice
  • City & Guilds Level 3 Energy Efficiency Qualification
  • Experience of CASTLE recording system
  • Experience and understanding of the voluntary sector
  • Demonstrable commitment to the aims and principles of Citizens Advice and the partner agencies