Welfare Rights Officer - Bolton, United Kingdom - Triumph Consultants Ltd

Triumph Consultants Ltd
Triumph Consultants Ltd
Verified Company
Bolton, United Kingdom

3 weeks ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

What's involved with this role:


Temporary Welfare Rights Officer - Housing

Reference no:
Bolton DF / 1

Pay Rate:
£14.16 per hour PAYE

This opening assignment is for 2-3 months

Office based The purpose of the role is to provide comprehensive and specialist welfare benefits casework, advocacy and tribunal representation to benefit claimants. To provide support and training to internal staff and other agencies.


Key Responsibilities:


  • Provision of a comprehensive welfare benefits advice service to benefit claimants, carers, social care service users and their representatives.
  • Provision of a Welfare Rights consultancy service to staff in the Council and staff in external organisations and peer support to colleagues in the team.
  • Provision of associated advice and information e.g., money advice, housing advice order to assist in conjunction with ongoing benefit cases. Identifying additional advice and social care needs and signposting and referring to appropriate services.
  • Delivery of casework and advocacy on behalf of benefit claimants including the management of complex casework. Assessment of case prospects and advice on merits and risks. Undertaking negotiation with other services to get the best outcomes for clients.
  • Preparation of appeal cases, researching legislation and caselaw. Preparation of written submissions and delivery of tribunal representation in person at the First tier and Upper tribunal and Valuation tribunal.
  • Management of information and maintenance of accurate, comprehensive and timely case records in writing and using relevant ICT and data collection systems.
  • Delivery of technical benefits support, and training and information sessions to appropriate audiences.
  • Maintaining a current knowledge of benefit changes and planned welfare reform and the consequences of these in an advice context.
  • Design and development of information and factsheets on benefits and related policy and practice issues for the public and team and other professionals.
  • Publicising and promoting the takeup of benefits through public campaigns and events and contributing to Anti
  • Poverty and Financial Inclusion initiatives.

Experience:


  • Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation.
  • Substantial recent welfare rights casework experience including tribunal work.
  • Considerable experience of direct contact with the public providing advice or information services in a problemsolving context.
  • A high standard and extensive knowledge of individual contributory, noncontributory and means tested Social Security Benefits, Housing Benefits and Council Tax /Support and Tax Credits including Universal Credit and the Welfare Reform agenda.
  • Knowledge of the process for challenging and appealing decisions. An ability to professionally and confidently represent and advocate for claimants at Tribunal hearings, employing negotiation and influencing skills whilst maintaining the reputation of the Welfare Rights Service and responding appropriately to any new issues arising in the course of the hearing.

Skills & Abilities:


  • An ability to identify and analyse complex problems and work cooperatively with customers and partner staff and agencies to identify options and achieve solutions with mínimal supervision and support.
  • An ability to independently manage and organise a varied and complex caseload and other duties, to prioritise work appropriately and meet deadlines and keep accurate and timely case records, in accordance with service standards.
  • Good numeracy skills in order to calculate entitlement to benefits and tax credits, prepare income and expenditure schedules and understand and challenge benefit and charging assessments and overpayment schedules.
  • An ability to work sensitively with vulnerable customers in stressful situations and manage their emotional demands and expectations.
  • An ability to identify and use effectively, relevant information resources including primary legislation, caselaw and guidance to research and prepare cases.
  • The possession of a high standard of verbal and written communication skills in English in order to present complex issues in a clear manner and to a standard appropriate for the audience concerned i.e., customers, other staff and the judicial arena.
  • An ability to work sensitively with vulnerable customers in stressful situations and manage their emotional demands and expectations.
  • An ability to identify and use effectively, relevant information resources including primary legislation, caselaw and guidance to research and prepare cases.
  • An ability and willingness to acquire additional knowledge regarding; other discretionary schemes e.g., Local Welfare Provision/Discretionary Housing payments; relevant Council policies and processes e.g. the fairer contributions assessment process and health conditions/disability awareness.
  • An abili
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