BROMLEY ADVICE PARTNERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Reference No .______Application No.______/ CONFIDENTIAL
APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT
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Where necessary continue your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
For which post are you applying?
How did you learn of this vacancy?
Surname: Forenames:
Address: Telephone: Home:
Work:
May you be telephoned at work? YES/NO
Email:
Name, address of present/most recent employer:
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Current post title and brief description of duties:
Date appointed: Current salary:
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References: Please give names and addresses of two professional referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer.
  1. 2.
Telephone: Telephone:
Email: Email:
May referees be approached prior to interview? YES/NO

General Education (from age 11+)

Subjects: / Level: / Grade: / Year Obtained:

Further education/professional qualification:

Course: / Qualification: / Grade/Class

Employment History

Name and address of employer
(most recent first) / Dates
From: To: / Position / Salary/
Wage / Reason for
Leaving
Please state any public service/duties. (Your application will not be affected by completing this section.)
Do you hold a current full driving licence? YES/NO
Do you have use of a car? YES/NO

Working in the European Union

Are you eligible? YES/NO
Do you have a work permit? YES/NO
Health
Please state the number of days absent from work during the past 12 months.
Is there anything in your medical history, such as a serious illness, surgery or disability which may affect your ability to do this job? If so, is there anything we could provide to assist you? Please give details.
Are you, to your knowledge, related to any Management Board member or employee of any of the Bromley Advice Partnership members:Age UK Bromley & Greenwich, Bromley Citizens Advice, Bromley Mencap, Bromley Mind and Carers Bromley? If so, please give details.
Please state briefly why you are interested in applying for this post.
Key Additional Information
This is an opportunity for you to demonstrateyour skills, experience and knowledge which make you suitable for this post. You should order this against the key points of the Person Specification. Please attach additional sheet/s if necessary.
The information given in this application is, to the best of my knowledge, true and accurate.
Signature of applicant: Date:
REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT 1974(EXEMPTIONS) ORDER 1975
Because of the nature of the work for which you are applying, you are exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975 and are, therefore, not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are 'spent' under the provisions of the Act. In the event of you becoming an employee of a member of the Bromley Advice Partnership any failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal. Any information given will be completely confidential.
Details of 'spent' convictions are as follows:
I should like to discuss at interview
 None
DECLARATION
Data Protection Statement: I consent to this information being processed and stored for the purpose of recruitment and selection at Age UK Bromley & Greenwich and if appointed, for the purposes of employment by the employer.
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge, the information I have provided on this application form is true and correct. I understand that if appointed on the basis of false information contained in this form, I may be summarily dismissed.
If you are sending your application form by e-mail, please mark this box
(as a substitute for your signature) to confirm that you agree to the above declaration.
Signed: / Date:

BROMLEY ADVICE PARTNERSHIP

JOB DESCRIPTION

This new role is funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund.

Job title:Specialist Universal Welfare Benefits Coordinator

Hours of Work:35 hrs per week

Location:Bromley Mencap

Salary:£28,000 pa + 5% pension contribution

Contract: Two year fixed term contract

Responsible to:Chief Executive, Bromley Mencap

Job purpose: We are looking to recruit an experienced welfare benefits caseworker to work on an exciting new project funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund. Bromley Mencap is a partner of Bromley Advice Partnership (BAP) – Advice Services Transition Fund.

The aim of the post is to provide universal welfare benefits advice to the residents of the London Borough of Bromley and to train and support a team of volunteers to deliver a universal form completion service. To liaise with BAP agencies effectively to increase the range of channels for accessing information and advice.

You will be delivering specialist universal welfare benefits advice face to face to residents and workers both in Bromley Mencap’s office and at outreach locations within the London Borough of Bromley.

Key work areas and tasks:

Casework

  • To provide welfare benefits support for a range of people to help them maximise their benefits entitlement including: adults 18 years and older, people with learning and or physical disabilities, older people, people withmental health problems and carers
  • To provide an accessible welfare benefits support service, with key access points across the borough, with flexible hours and telephone, email and internet access
  • To provide information on benefits connected with housing including the council tax support schemeand the benefit cap.Enable people to access and register on the housing website and support them to bid for properties
  • Where appropriate and at clients request challenge welfare benefits and other decisions, supporting the client through the appeals process as necessary and representing at Tribunal if necessary
  • Keep accurate records for case recording and monitoring both manual and computerised
  • Carry out research or admin resulting from specific enquiries, as directed
  • Responding effectivelyand efficiently to enquiries from the public and other professionals

Service Development

  • To develop a universal form completion service with access across the borough including tovulnerable and socially excluded groups
  • To provide training, support and supervision for volunteers delivering the service

Publicity and Social Policy work

  • Work with colleagues to promote the service throughout the borough
  • Liaise with statutory and non-statutory organisations and represent the service on outside bodies as appropriate
  • Contribute to BromleyMencap’s social policy work in relation to welfare benefits
  • Provide statistical information on the number of clients and nature of cases and provide regular reports
  • Monitor service provision to ensure that it reaches the widest possible client group.
  • Alert other staff to local and national issues
  • Contribute to the development of the Transforming Bromley Advice Project as required

Professional Development

  • Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to welfare benefits
  • Undertake professional & personal learning & development through training, self-study and research
  • Keep informed of new technology and information systems relevant to the post.
  • Read relevant publications
  • Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the Chief Executive
  • Build and strengthen relationships and referral pathways with other staff recruited by the Bromley Advice Partnership
  • Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service

Other Duties

  • Ensure that service delivery, development and training is underpinned by equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice
  • Undertake necessary administrative tasks associated with the job, including own correspondence and reports
  • To provide written reports for the monitoring of the Transforming Bromley Advice Project including relevant data such as case studies
  • Prioritise own areas of work and meet agreed deadlines and targets
  • To travel independently throughout the borough to provide outreach support and home visits as required
  • Work flexibly within the broad remit of the post

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

  • At least2year’s experience of providing a specialist welfare benefits casework to a

range of people including those who are vulnerable and socially excluded

  • Experience of representing clients at tribunals with a proven track record of

successful outcomes

  • Experience of service development
  • Experience of working in the voluntary sector and training/managing volunteers is desirable

Knowledge and Skills

  • Extensive and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of welfare benefits with the ability to advise accurately and comprehensively on the whole range of benefit entitlements and the ability to assist clients to make benefit applications
  • Effective oral communication skills with particular emphasis on negotiating and representing
  • Effective writing skills with particular emphasis on negotiating, representing and preparing reviews, reports and correspondence
  • Ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow and develop agreed procedures
  • Understand the issues involved in interviewing clients
  • Numerate to the level required in the tasks
  • Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage caseload
  • Ability to use IT in the provision of advice and the preparation of reports and submissions
  • Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to challenge constructively
  • Ability and willingness to work as part of a team

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Salary: £28,000 pa

Pension: Bromley Mencap hasits own Pension Scheme and

on satisfactory completion of the three-month probationary period,

you will be eligible to join either the Pension’s Trust, or another personal

pension scheme (employer’s contribution 5% + minimum 5% personal

contribution).

Hours: 35 hours per week. Some occasional evenings may be necessary for which time

off in lieu may be requested. Overtime is not paid.

Holidays: 25 days per annum and public holidays.

Location: The job is based at Bromley Mencap’s office at Rutland House and Community

House in central Bromley but will require working across the borough.

BROMLEY ADVICE PARTNERSHIIP (BAP)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

BROMLEY ADVICE PARTNERSHIP

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Bromley Advice Partnership (BAP) comprises of the five independent, principle advice giving organisations: Age UK Bromley & Greenwich, Bromley Citizens Advice Bureau, Bromley Mind, Bromley Mencap, and Carers Bromley.

BAP is one of 226 local advice provider partnerships around the country that have been awarded funding through the Big Lottery Fund under the Advice Transition Fund for two years. This was a new £65m fund for not-for-profit advice organisations to develop new ways of working in partnership with other organisations in their area so they can share expertise and provide a better service for the vulnerable people they help.

Last year BAP members provided independent welfare benefits, debt, housing and employment advice to more than 56,000 people, of all ages and backgrounds.

With the funding, BAP will develop and implement a strategy to bring about a co-ordinated, sustainable approach to the delivery of local advice services. The aim will be to increase access for all, specifically for vulnerable and socially excluded groups, create effective links between the initial entry points and those organisations providing specialist services, including legal advice and representation. BAP will also develop Bromley Advice and Information Network (BAIN) as a model of best practice in promoting quality information and advice services across the borough.

The five key new positions funded through the Big Lottery Fund will be employed by the BAP members on fixed 2 year contracts.

  • Specialist Universal Benefits Officer (fulltime) - employed by Bromley Mencap, reporting to the Chief Executive. For further information about the charity:
  • Debt Advice Caseworker (p/t) – employed by Bromley Citizens Advice Bureau, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. For further information about the charity:
  • Housing Advice Caseworker (p/t) – employed by Bromley Citizens Advice Bureau, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. For further information about the charity:
  • Programme Development Officer (p/t) – employed by Age UK Bromley & Greenwich, reporting to the Director. For further information about the charity:
  • Outreach Advice Caseworker (p/t) – employed by Age UK Bromley & Greenwich, reporting to the Information & Advice Manager. For further information about the charity:

BROMLEY ADVICE PARTNERSHIP

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

OUR STATEMENT

Bromley Advice Partnership work with a range of people across the client groups, their families, carers and with partners, volunteers, supporters and staff. For Bromley Advice Partnership members, Equality and Diversity goes beyond meeting legislation, it has a clear moral basis as our organisational beliefs reinforce the values of equality. There is however a similarly compelling business case for valuing Equality and Diversity because we believe that embracing the skills, experiences and perspectives of a diverse group of people can enhance our effectiveness in pursuing the organisation’s purpose and objectives.

As independent charities, we are committed to developing and maintaining organisations in which differing ideas, abilities, backgrounds and needs are fostered and valued, and where those with diverse backgrounds and experiences are able to participate and contribute.

Why we monitor

We want to be sure that we are meeting our strategic principles, which include reaching all potential users including the growing ethnic minority community. We undertake strategic analysis of service provision and this helps us to address any unmet needs. We also ask questions relating to disability, gender, religion, and supplementary questions on dependent relatives and age as we wish to monitor all areas so that we can plan to meet the needs of the wider community and uphold our commitment to equal opportunities.

Your contribution to helping us plan for the future

We have detailed overleaf our monitoring form and the information you provide will be entirely anonymous. This information will be used solely for monitoring purposes, will be treated as confidential and will be separated from the rest of the application form upon receipt. Consequently, those involved in short listing and interviewing applicants will not have access to this monitoring form.

MONITORING FORM

Please return this completed form in the freepost envelope provided. Do not include it with your application

ETHNICITY

(A) White

British
Irish
Any other White Background
(B) Mixed
White & Black Caribbean
White & Black African
White and Asian
Any other Mixed Background
(C) Asian or

Asian British

Indian
Pakistani
Bangladeshi
Any other Asian Background within (C)
(D) Black or
Black British
Caribbean
African
Any other Black Background within (D)
(E) Other ethnic
groups
Chinese
Any other Ethnic group

Post Applied for ………………………………………………………………………

(please also advise where you saw this advertised)

1. WHICH OF THESE CATEGORIES BEST DESCRIBES YOUR ETHNIC ORIGIN?

Please note that ethnic origin is not about nationality, place of birth or citizenship. They are about colour and broad ethnic group – UK citizens can belong to any of the groups indicated.

The categories are those used in the 2001 census, and so allow easy comparison with national statistics.

If you feel that none of these categories adequately describes your ethnicity please advise below

2. GENDER Male/Female (Delete as appropriate)

3. DISABILITY

You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.

I do not consider myself to have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

I do consider myself to have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010. If so, please give details.

4. RELIGION

None Christian Sikh Buddist Hindu

Jewish Muslim Other, please state ______

5. DEPENDENTS Do you have any caring responsibilities? If so, please specify

______

6. AGE Please indicate below which age category applies to you. (Please tick appropriate box):

Under 20 / 20/35 / 36/45 / 46/55 / 56/60 / 60+

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