Part-Time Welfare & Benefits Advisor
Farnworth Baptist Church
Responsible to: Senior Welfare & Benefits Advisor
Responsible for: Providing information, advice, guidance and support to clients on a range of welfare & benefit issues to help maximise income.
Salary: £13,582 per year plus company pension (£25,467 FTE)
Hours: 20hrs/week (the service is open Mon- Fri, 9.00am – 5pm. Hours to be worked are negotiable during these days/times)
Location: The Well, Farnworth Baptist Church
Job Context: The Well, located at Farnworth Baptist Church, provides a range of services including Jeremiah Welfare & Benefits advice, Farnworth and Kearsley Foodbank, Jeremiah Project (work club, adult education, and money skills), ESOL Classes (English for Speakers of Other Languages), a befriending project for older people, and a mental health drop-in with wellbeing support. The project operates within a Christian ethos.
** Please note: There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a Christian **
Main Responsibilities
1. Client Support
- Assess clients' entitlement to benefits effectively.
- Provide information, advice, and support on welfare and benefit issues, ensuring a high-quality, responsive, and sensitive service.
- Assist clients with benefit checks, claims, and follow-up procedures to maximise income.
- Negotiate with statutory bodies on behalf of clients.
- Collaborate with the Senior Welfare & Benefits Advisor in preparing cases for appeal.
2. Record Keeping
- Maintain accurate records of client activity and interventions, ensuring follow-up procedures are adhered to.
3. Collaboration and Networking
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with professionals and agencies to ensure consistency and avoid duplication of effort.
4. Professional Development:
- Keep up to date with relevant benefit changes and legislation.
- Work within the values and ethos of Farnworth Baptist Church.
5. Teamwork and Compliance:
- Work as part of the staff team to maintain a warm and welcoming environment.
- Support the project's work and outcomes.
- Commit to ongoing training and development.
- Comply with all policies and procedures, including equality and diversity, health & safety, and data protection.
- Adhere to confidentiality and best practice guidelines when dealing with vulnerable individuals.
- Undertake any reasonable tasks required by the Senior Welfare & Benefits Advisor.
6. Meetings and Participation:
- Attend and participate in daily prayer meetings, weekly staff meetings, and quarterly retreat days with Christian teaching.
7. Staff Development:
- All staff undergo an induction program outlining the organisation's aims, values, acceptable standards of performance, and behaviour.
- The postholder will receive regular one-to-one supervision and staff development sessions with the Senior Welfare & Benefits Advisor.
- Further training opportunities for professional and personal development will be provided as appropriate and according to identified need.
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Welfare & Benefits Advisor Person Specification | 467.82 KB |
Please send your CV and a covering letter explaining why you are suitable for the role (based on the Job Description and attached Person Specification) to Mark Whittington: markwhittington@farnworthbaptist.org.uk. Mark will be happy to provide more details about the role and answer any questions you may have.
Please note:There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a Christian.
Applications close on 17th May 2024, and interviews will be held in the week commencing 20th May 2024.