Benefits Advice Caseworker

We are a dynamic, vibrant benefits team based in West Ealing London looking to expand our team with a likeminded person.

We an innovative Advice Consortium of 12 local charities with Nucleus delivering the specialist welfare benefits advice. You will also be a part of our wider benefits team working across West London

We are looking for people with recent experience as a caseworker. to take a lead role in developing casework and helping to advise clients on benefit issues including, but not exclusive of, PIP, Universal Credit, Capability for work assessments, Benefit Eligibility and Housing Benefit.

We are looking for someone to bring the energy and dedication to a team which provides the main advice service to Ealing residents. look for new housing solutions and new ideas.

To be successful you will need good knowledge, experience of providing benefits advice and casework ideally to representation level plus a drive to build your expertise. We are willing to provide additional training to help personal development in these areas for the right person.

Nucleus Legal Advice Centre is an accredited Specialist Debt, Housing and Benefits advice provider.

The post holder will be responsible for

1. Taking a lead role in developing casework and supporting volunteer advisers’ work
2. Helping to advise clients on benefit issues including, but not exclusive of, PIP, Universal Credit, Capability for work assessments, Benefit Eligibility and benefits Benefit
3. Support queries that come through the Advice Line, and occasionally supporting with supervision of the line
4. To provide insight into the benefit system and support systems to help people be independent
5. To take a lead with triaging queries involving benefits and guide caseworkers in each service to access benefits advice to ensure they get to the right person with the correct capability.

Person Specification:

1. To have more than 2 year experience of providing benefits / welfare rights advice and casework

2. To have experience of successfully challenging decisions up to tribunal levels and preferably upper tribunal level

3. Preferably to have experience and knowledge of another area of social welfare law i.e. debt, housing, immigration or general advice work.

4. Knowledge and experience of casework in benefits advice using different or complementary channels i.e. face to face, e mail, telephone, social media

Duties

1. To help provide access to benefits advice service and to take on and maintain a benefits case load (The boundaries of each subject to be agreed with the relevant supervisor(s).
2. Take a casework approach to meet the needs of clients assisting them to access services, take control of their future, maximise their opportunities to prevent or relieve benefits issues.
3. Undertake representation at appropriate courts and appeal tribunals as necessary.
4. To actively participate with and work with both statutory and other NfP organisations to look for solutions to help resolve benefits issue
5. To actively contribute to and encourage cross-team working and problem solving approaches to tackle benefits issues.
6. Work with stakeholders to improve access to advice services.
7. To collate casework data, studies and other relevant information from the advice team for the purpose of funding and writing specialist reports/submissions.
8. Assist in managing and/or contributing to the development of the Nucleus website and other forms of communication.
9. Supervise other relevant staff and volunteers in connection with the duties of the role.
10. Maintain and develop Nucleus case work management systems, and monitoring and evaluation systems and records.
11. Maintain an active current awareness of local and national policy issues relevant to the work of Nucleus.
12. To proactively develop and maintain relationships with relevant local and national policy makers and bodies on relevant issues impacting on benefit rights .
13. Record, monitor, evaluate and report on activities and progress towards agreed outputs and outcomes to line manager.
14. Help to design and deliver training or briefing sessions on innovative and effective benefits solutions.
15. Assist in the collation of evidence on issues impacting on Nucleus beneficiaries; ensure sharing of such evidence both within policy work and wider voluntary sector.
16. Assist in managing and undertaking Nucleus legal, policy, research and campaign work.
17. Undertake any additional duties which will contribute to the smooth running of the Nucleus Centre, services and projects.
18. Contribute to the development of the Nucleus website and other Nucleus communication systems.
19. Work consistently with Nucleus mission, strategic planning and policies, meeting goals and priorities agreed with the line manager.
20. Be self-servicing and carry out own administration and assist other workers when required.
21. Assist in maintaining high standards in all aspects of the organization’s work; this includes complying with and promoting issues of confidentiality, equal opportunities and other policies and procedures of the organization.
22. Attend staff, management, training, supervision and other meetings when required.

Be able to work on your own initiative and as part of a team without close supervision.