2016

Housing benefit Worker

information pack

Full TIME: 35hrs

salary: £18,816 per annum

Contents

  1. Letter
  2. Guidance on Completing the Application Form
  3. Child Protection Statement
  4. Principles of Practice in supporting and protecting Vulnerable Adults
  5. Job Description
  6. Person Specification
  7. Application form
  8. Disclosure of Criminal Convictions
  9. Equal Opportunities Form

September 2016

Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in applying for a post at Dundee Women’s Aid. Please find enclosed the following documents:-

  • Job Description and Person Specification
  • Application form and guidance notes (electronic version available by e-mail on request.
  • Equal opportunities form
  • Disclosure of Criminal Convictions
  • DWA Commitment to Service Users

Please do not send a curriculum vitae as this will not be considered.

Should you wish receipt of your application to be acknowledged, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope with your returned application form (or ask for an email acknowledgement). Please note, all applications and relevant recruitment documents will be held confidentially and destroyed after 6 months, apart from documents relating to the successful applicant.

The closing date for applications is noon onWednesday 12th October 2016.

If you are not contacted by31st October 2016we regret that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We look forward to receiving your completed application form.

Yours faithfully

Mary Miller

Manager

2. Guidance on Completing your Application Form

As part of Dundee Women’s Aid’s commitment to equal opportunities, candidates for each post are treated equally. Application forms are the only basis on which the first selection is made to decide whom to call for interview. Therefore only information, which appears on the form (and continuation pages), can be considered. It is very important that your completed form contains both the information we want about your skills and experience and the information you want to give us. These advice notes are intended to help you to complete your form effectively.

1Read all the information provided especially the job description and person specification. These outline the duties you would be expected to carry out in this post and lists the skills, knowledge and abilities that the short listing/interview panel will be looking for.

2The application form will be photocopied so the form should be completed in black ink.

3Question 3 asks you to note down your general experience and is the most important part of your application. This is your chance to explain why you are suitable for the job. It is not enough to say you have the experience – you must demonstrate experience and skills with specific examples. Relevant experience may be from your current or previous jobs or from out with formal employment.

4Should you need to use an additional sheet of paper, please indicate the name of the post on the top of the sheet. Do not send your CV in addition to or in place of a completed application form as it will not be considered by the short-listing panel.

5A Protection of Vulnerable Groups is required as part of the job. Return the completed criminal records form and it will only be considered by the interviewing panel if you are short-listed.

6Completing the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form is voluntary but the information requested here is useful as it allows us to monitor the effectiveness of our policy of equal opportunities in employment.

7All applicants must complete all parts of the application form. Remember: sign, date and return Section 7. Application Form by post to: Recruitment Administrator, Dundee Women’s Aid, Enterprise House, 45 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1PW or by email to:

9Application forms must arrive before noon on the closing date unless otherwise stated. Please allow time for any possible delays when sending emails. Forms arriving late will not be considered.

10References are normally taken up for the short listed applicants before interview. If you do not wish one or both references to be taken up at that point please indicate on the relevant page. It is our policy not to make a job offer without taking up references.

3. Child Protection Statement

Dundee Women’s Aid (DWA) is committed to promoting the rights of children and young people. We are committed to upholding their right to be protected from abuse and harm and upholding their right to be involved in decisions that affect their lives. We believe that the welfare of children and young people should always be the most important consideration in decisions that affect them.

Policy Aims

Our Child Protection Policy has been produced by DWA to help encourage and maintain an environment where all children are valued and their right to safety is upheld and to ensure that the risk of children being harmed or abused is reduced.

Safe Recruitment

DWA will take all reasonable steps to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children through the use of safe recruitment processes. DWA Recruitment and Selection Policy provides more information on the steps that DWA will take to achieve this.

Child Protection

Child protection is about protecting children from intentional or unintentional abuse and harm. Some forms of abuse include neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

All DWA workers have the following responsibilities:

  • Respecting and promoting the rights, wishes and feelings of children
  • Recognising and being alert to the signs that children may need protection
  • Taking appropriate actions to protect children who are at risk
  • Work with families, within DWA and across agencies to support and protect children who are at risk
  • Maintaining up-to-date records that detail concerns and risk factors in a child’s file
  • Actively managing the sharing of information with other agencies when a child is in need of protection
  • Keeping informed of current developments and understanding information about data protection, confidentiality, and other legal issues that impact on child protection
  • Attending appropriate training in relation to child protection.

Confidentiality in Child Protection

Where DWA workers have concerns in relation to child protection, they will act in accordance with DWA child protection procedures. This may mean that confidentiality between the service user and worker cannot be maintained

We will make every effort to discuss child protection concerns with the service user/s involved, any actions that we plan to take, and will seek the service user’s consent about disclosing information before instigating any child protection procedures. However, there may be instances where this is not feasible or where failure to act immediately could further endanger a child.

4. Principles of Practice in Supporting and
Protecting Vulnerable Adults

Dundee Women’s Aid aims to provide the best possible service to the women, children and young people we work with. We believe that service users have the right to live a life free from abuse or harm and are committed to providing services that empower service users. Our Protecting Vulnerable Adults Policy defines Dundee Women’s Aid’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable adults who use Dundee Women’s Aid’s service.

Dundee Women’s Aid is committed to:

  • Actively work within the principles defined in national care standards: dignity, privacy, choice, safety, realising potential, equality and diversity;
  • Actively work together within an inter-agency framework;
  • Actively promote the empowerment and well-being of vulnerable adults through the services we provide;
  • Act in a way which supports the rights of the individual to lead an independent life based on self-determination;
  • Recognise people who are unable to take their own decision and/or to protect themselves and their assets;
  • Recognise that the right to self-determination can involve risk and ensure that such risk is recognised and understood by all concerned, and minimised whenever possible;
  • Ensure the safety of vulnerable adults by integrating strategies, policies and services relevant to abuse within the legislative framework (ie the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984, the Public Disclosure Act 1990, the Regulation of Care Act 2000, the National Assistance Act 1948, the Human Rights Act 1998, the Adults with Incapacity Act 2000, the Mental Health Care and Treatment (Scotland) Act 2003, the Data Protection Act 1998, and the introduction of the Care Standards by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation 52 of Care 2002).
  • Ensure that, wherever possible, vulnerable adults are protected from criminal acts;
  • Ensure that when the right to an independent lifestyle and choice is at risk the individual concerned receives appropriate help, including advice, protection and support from relevant agencies (e.g. independent advocacy);
  • Ensure that the law and statutory requirements are known and used appropriately so that vulnerable adults receive the protection of the law and access to the judicial process.

5. Job Description

Housing Benefits Worker

Job Title: Housing Benefit Worker

Accountable to: Team Leader, WSS

Salary: £18,816 per annum

Location: Dundee

Other: Flexible working including very occasional evening and weekends

JOB PURPOSE

To ensure all Housing Benefit is collected and followed through to award of benefit and ensure that other ancillary costs for refuges are collected. To liaise closely with the Housing Benefit Department in all issues pertaining to refuge rents, ensuring that all relevant documents are completed and submitted timeously. To collect monies from women as required and keep accurate documentation. To provide regular reports, and to work alongside other team members.

JOB OUTLINE

  1. Housing Benefit

•Provide accurate and practical assistance in the completion of Refuge Housing Benefit forms and ensure that all documentation is duly and timeously submitted including application forms (short and long), supporting information/proof of income and requests for information

•To regularly follow up all applications and requests for information

•To collect payments of rent, heating, lighting and TV license and ensure that all payments are kept up to date, lodged and recorded appropriately and to pursue payment of arrears as per approved guidelines

•Ensure that all Housing Benefit payments are correctly assigned and reconciled with our own Finance Department and Dundee City Council’s Housing Benefit Department

•To implement the warning system where there are arrears of any monies due to us by a service user

•To undertake office administration relating to these duties, including the provision of statistical information as required

•To manage housing benefit applications ensuring that the maximum possible progress is achieved in relation to Refuge

•To maintain an up to date understanding of Housing Benefit and related legislation

•Admit women, children and young people to refuge

•Weekly Checks of flats and refuges for Health & Safety purposes and ensure that flats are properly maintained by residents and report any difficulties to the Facilities and Safety Team Leader as and when required

•Maintain and check before and after admission the inventory of furnishings, bedding, crockery, kitchen utensils, etc. pertinent to each flat as and when required

•Assist in the Update of Welcome Packs for refuge properties as and when required

  1. Services to Women

•To ensure women are provided with accurate information about the rent and housing benefits entitlement via our information packs and through initial assessments for refuge

•To make refuge visits to provide direct support to service users in respect of Housing Benefit and other relevant tasks such as payment collection

3. Internal

•Work within the policies, standards and procedures required by the law, DWA or funders.

•Assist with the development, monitoring and evaluation of the service.

•Perform administrative tasks timeously to ensure a seamless service.

•Provide financial reports/information as necessary

•Liaise closely with the Finance Worker

4. Working Approach

•Work collaboratively and assist as appropriate, other DWA workers. This includes regularly attending team/other relevant meetings and keeping colleagues up-to-date on relevant work issues.

•Support the Manager and Directors in creating a positive, supportive and participatory working environment which fulfills the aims and objectives of DWA.

•Reflect on practice to ensure delivery of a professional service and positive learning experience.

•Support the Manager and Directors in creating a continuously improving organisation focused on service users.

•Take a proactive role in promoting equality and anti-discriminatory practice throughout all aspects of the work.

•Assist the Facilities team as and when required

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the scope of the post. The post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with the duties as detailed above.

6. Person Specification

Housing Benefit Worker

Accountable to: WSS Team Leader of DWA

NB: Where the assessment method indicates application, we ask that you specifically provide evidence of these criteria in your application form.

What Dundee Women’s Aid is Looking For / Essential / Desirable
Experience & Qualifications
Knowledge and experience of the Housing Benefit system and occupancy/tenancy agreements / 
Experienced in working within an office administrative role / 
Experience of working with service users from diverse backgrounds and varying needs and abilities / 
Ability to quickly build rapport and collaborative working relationships with other agencies / 
Skills and Knowledge
Demonstrates a good working knowledge of Housing Benefits system and tenancy management, including occupancy agreements and dealing with arrears / 
Ability to plan and deliver own workload effectively in the short, medium and long term. / 
Ability to show initiative and work without close supervision. / 
General knowledge of benefits system / 
Ability to communicate with service users and staff in a range of formats, oral and written, depending on the needs and abilities of the audience / 
Fully competent in the use of computers – including the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email and internet. / 
Good office administration skills / 
Ability to work with service users who may display challenging behaviors in an appropriate and safe manner / 
Sound knowledge and understanding of confidentiality and Data Protection / 
Demonstrate understanding of Equalities Issues / 
Other
Commitment to own Continuing Professional Development / 
Resilience of working in a crisis led service and the ability to manage own stress / 

7. Application Form

Please refer to guidance notes before completing this application Form

Post Applied For
Applicant Number

PERSONAL INFORMATION

(Confidential, the top 3 sheets will be removed and not used for short listing purposes)

1. Personal Details

First Names / Surname
Address
Post Code / Telephone Numbers
Work
Home
Mobile
Email

2. General

Please give two referees. One must your current or most recent employer, the other could be a personal reference. Please indicate if they can be contacted prior to interview. References from relatives will not be accepted.

Contact prior to interview: Y / N
Name:
Job title:
Email:
Address:
Post Code:
Tel. No.:
Relationship: / Contact prior to interview : Y / N
Name:
Job title:
Email:
Address:
Post Code:
Tel. No.:
Relationship:
  1. Current Post Title:
  1. Period of notice required by current employer?
  1. Are there any dates when you will be unavailable for interview?
  1. Are there any adjustments that DWA will need to make, should you be invited to interview? Please state what these are.
  1. Are there any restrictions to your residence in the UK, which might affect your right to take up employment? Yes/No

If Yes, please provide details

  1. If you are successful in your application will you require a work permit prior to taking up employment? Yes/No

Data Protection Statement

The information that you provide on this form and that obtained from other relevant sources will be used to process your application for employment.

The personal information that you give us will also be used in a confidential manner to help us monitor our recruitment process. If you succeed in your application and take up employment with us, the information will be used in the administration of your employment with us and to provide you with information about us or third party via your payslip. We may also use the information if there is a complaint or legal challenge relevant to this recruitment process.

We may check the information collected, with third parties or with other information held by us. We may also use or pass to certain third parties information to prevent or detect crime, to protect public funds, or in other ways as permitted by law.

By signing the application form we will be assuming that you agree to the processing of sensitive personal data, (as described above), in accordance with our registration with the Data Protection Commissioner.

DECLARATION
I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information given (pages 1-7) is correct and complete. I understand that DWA reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment or to terminate employment already commenced if the information given to us is inaccurate or misleading in any way. Any job offer is conditional upon receipt of satisfactory references and, if required by DWA, any medical reports or disclosure check.
Signed ______Date

DWA is an Equal Opportunities Employer

All Women’s Aid work involves direct contact with women in fear of male violence. Women only need apply under Section 7 (ii) (d) & (e) of the Sex Discrimination Act.