Citizens Advice in Dorset working with SVPP August 2017
Income Maximisation Caseworker
Job Description
Overview
Stour Valley and Poole Partnership (SVPP) are seeking to ensure adequate support is available to people claiming Universal Credit from October 2017. By working in partnership with Citizens Advice there will be access to in-depth support on Universal Credit and other welfare benefits, and other ways to ensure income maximisation. Funding is being provided for a one year period from 0ctober 2017 to support 2 part-time Caseworkers (18.5 hours each) based in Local Citizens Advice offices.
The role will focus on supporting claimants as they claim or move on to Universal Credit, and will ensure income from all sources is maximised. This will include: checking benefit entitlement, applying for benefits, dealing with benefit problems, looking at personal budgets and identifying ways of saving money and /or spending less on essential services. Advisers will assist clients to apply for discretionary payments, charitable grants and access Emergency Local Assistance. Advisers will also identify where a client may need to be referred to other projects (internal and external) for other support eg. debt advice, disability benefit appeals, energy efficiency measures.
Role purpose
To provide welfare benefits and income maximisation advice for those claiming or migrating to Universal Credit. .
Context of role
This role is funded by SVPP through Citizens Advice in Dorset. Caseworkers will be directly employed by a Local Citizens Advice office, but will provide services across several areas as required.
Casework
· Provide casework covering the full range of income maximisation issues: checking benefit entitlement, applying for benefits, dealing with benefit problems including mandatory re-considerations and appeals, identifying other sources of financial help (discretionary payments, grants and emergency assistance).
· Act for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters, telephoning, supporting the management of on-line applications.
· Negotiate with third parties as appropriate.
· Identify cases where other specialist casework is required (eg debt advice including Debt Relief Orders, sickness/disability benefit appeals where other projects can take these on) and refer to other advisers/services as appropriate.
· Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case, and refer to other advisers or specialist agencies as appropriate.
· Make home/outreach visits as necessary.
· Ensure that all casework conforms to the Local Citizens Advice Office Manual and the Advice Quality Standard and/or the Specialist Quality Mark as appropriate.
· Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.
· Record client data in a specific format as required by the funder.
· Ensure that all work conforms to the local office's systems and procedures.
· Provide and/or contribute to briefings to internal and external staff as required.
Research and campaigns
· Assist with research and campaigns work by providing information about clients' circumstances.
· Provide statistical information on the number of clients and nature of cases and outcomes, and provide regular reports to local office/project management staff.
· Monitor service provision to ensure that it reaches the widest possible client group.
· Contribute to on-going work on UC through the ‘Intelligence Hub’ and Cluster Group.
Professional development
· Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to Universal Credit and general benefits advice, and undertake appropriate training.
· Read relevant publications.
· Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
· Prepare for and attend supervision sessions/team meetings/management team meetings as appropriate.
.
Administration
· Use IT for statistical recording, record keeping and document production.
· Keep up to date with policies and procedures relevant to Local Citizens Advice work and undertake appropriate training.
· Attend internal and external meetings as agreed with the manager.
· Maintain close liaison with relevant external agencies.
· Maintain a library of reference material and case law.
Other duties and responsibilities
· Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the project.
· Demonstrate commitment to the aims and policies of the CAB service.
· Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.
Person specification
1. Knowledge and experience of benefit issues and income maximisation.
2. Understanding of the Universal Credit claiming process, potential advice issues, and the interaction between UC and other benefits.
3. Effective oral communication skills, including ability to negotiate and represent clients, and provide subject-based briefings to colleagues.
4. Effective writing skills, including ability to negotiate, represent, prepare reviews, reports and correspondence.
5. Ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow and develop agreed procedures, including statistical recording of casework and outcomes.
6. Understand the issues involved in interviewing clients.
7. Numerate to the level required in the tasks.
8. Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage caseload.
9. Ability to use IT in the provision of advice, recording of data, and the preparation of reports and submissions.
10. Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to challenge constructively.
11. Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.
12. Ability to monitor and maintain own standards, and willingness to attend relevant training..
13. Demonstrate understanding of social trends and their implications for clients and service provision, particularly in relation to the roll-out of Universal Credit.
14. Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the CAB service and its equality and diversity policies.