Macmillan Welfare Benefits Adviser

This post is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and is offered hybrid or fully remote. This post will work alongside three other part time benefits advisers to deliver full casework service for people affected by cancer, including disability benefits and other sources of financial support such as grants and help with health and travel costs.

Role purpose:

To provide welfare benefit advice, casework, and assistance in accessing other financial sources to maximise the income of those living with cancer, their families, and carers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide a full income maximisation service for people with cancer and their families, including applying for disability benefits and other sources of financial support, such as grants, help with health and travel costs.

• Provide advice and casework service to a specialist level for people with cancer and their families.

• Assist clients to challenge benefits decisions, including preparation for benefit appeals.

• Liaise and negotiate with other statutory and voluntary organisations to progress the client’s case and ensure they receive all assistance available.

• Maintain detailed electronic case records and other statistics for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval and statistical monitoring and report preparation.

• Refer or signpost clients on to colleagues or other agencies as appropriate for specialist help with issues that fall outside the remit of the service, including housing, debt, and employment.

• Interview clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills so that clients feel able to explain their problem(s) and empower them to set their own priorities.

Essential

1. An in-depth knowledge of welfare benefits including those relating to disability and sickness.

2. An understanding of the issues facing people affected by long-term illness and disability, including cancer.

3. Ability to empower clients through provision of information, advice, and casework to help improve peoples’ quality of life.

4. Knowledge of, or willingness to gain and understanding of Macmillan Cancer Support’s services and policies, and others which are relevant to people with cancer and their families.

5. Experience of listening and questioning with an ability to manage challenging situations in a calm, sensitive and effective manner.

6. An ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow set procedures concerning casework and file management.

7. Ability to make clear and concise case records using a computerised case recording system.

8. Ability to produce reports and statistics.

9. Effective communication and interpersonal skills with an emphasis on negotiating, representing, and preparing reports and correspondence.

10. Experience of working autonomously and taking responsibility to prioritise work and meet deadlines.

11. Willingness to participate in opportunities for training and professional development.

12. An understanding of and commitment to the Aims and Principles of the Citizens Advice service including the services Equal Opportunities policies.

Desirable

13. Recent experience of delivering social welfare law advice particularly regarding welfare benefits/tax credits/Universal Credit.

14. Completion of Citizens Advice basic training programme.

In accordance with Citizens Advice national policy we will require the successful candidate to complete an enhanced DBS check. However, a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to your being able to take up the job.