The postholder will provide specialist information, advice and support to people in Midlothian in or who are facing financial hardship, with a focus on addressing issues with benefits and maximising home energy efficiency and cost-saving. They will provide the service flexibly, by phone, email at the CAB and local community venues as required.

Experience of advice-giving and managing a complex caseload and an up to date understanding of the Scottish and UK benefits system are essential. Awareness of services to support people facing financial hardship and experience of using a case management system are and advantage.

The Cost of Living crisis is unprecedented in social history and continues to have a devastating impact on the lives of many Stirling citizens. The need for advice, information and crisis intervention support around money, debt, shortages of fuel and food is huge and continues to grow.

The Cost of Living Support Worker is responsible for supporting volunteer advisers deal with the increase in casework / demand due to Cost of Living drivers.

The post holder will increase volunteer advisors capacity to deal with cost of living driven enquiries & support the main Bureau volunteer led generalist service to deal with the increased volume of enquiries.

The post holder will act as support and mentor to both office-based and remotely enabled advice volunteers ensuring they have the necessary support to deal with enquires effectively and efficiently.

General Responsibilities

• To act as the main point of contact and mentor for all advice volunteers seeking casework/advice support on Cost of Living driven enquiries

• To support bureau based & remotely enabled volunteers to assist in the delivery of the core advice service

• To provide advice support for remote & bureau based volunteer workers particularly in relation to complex/crisis Cost of Living crises driven client enquiries.

• Provide advice for maximising income & support volunteer advisers in the provision of advice & assist people maximise their income by accessing such support as is available to them (e.g. benefits and grants).

• Provide advice & support volunteer advisers in the provision of advice for managing debt. Helping people identify their options and strategies, enabling them to get control of their borrowings or removing the burden of debt entirely.

• To undertake supervisory roles within the office – e.g. 2nd tier technical support on complex Cost of Living driven enquiries

• To communicate frequently with volunteer advisers to ensure they are satisfied, well-placed and any concerns are addressed.

• To help ensure the purpose of the Stirling CAB, its actions, policies, procedures and the role of the volunteer is clearly communicated, understood and implemented.

• To help represent and present the views of volunteers and volunteering related matters to senior management.

• Help ensure that the required monthly CAB statistics are provided to the Deputy Manager

• To carry out any other reasonable task requested by CAB management or required by the Board of trustees.

Accountability

• Provide written reports to monthly supervision sessions with Deputy Manager

• Attend annual appraisal

• Attend Annual General Meeting and quarterly reviews of role with CEO

Main Purpose:

To provide immediate holistic person centered advice, information and representation to vulnerable individuals/families with young children (pre-birth to 3) & support to colleagues working with vulnerable families and where necessary, refer and support clients to access appropriate advice agencies

The advice and representation offered will focus on the consequences of the Welfare reform Act and the economic downturn – seeking to resolve the practical barriers and stressors that inhibit attachment, primarily (but not exclusively) Money, Benefits, Debt, and Housing

This new innovative service has three specific outcomes/ objectives:

• To build the resilience of families
• To support and empower parents to deal with problems before they escalate into a crisis
• To empower parents to address underlying problems that can cause (or may already be causing) mental health issues.

To represent clients at Social Security Appeal Tribunals and Disability Appeal tribunals focusing on those which are a consequence of Welfare reform and the economic downturn.

Delivering a series of training sessions/information sessions to front line family workers & parents primarily, (but not exclusively) on Money, Benefits, Debt, Financial capacity, Employment rights and Housing

Project Delivery

The Rural Parents Advice Project worker covers Stirling District and access to advice on the frontline is essential and the worker would construct their availability and geographic location to maximise opportunity for vulnerable families to engage with the minimum of obstacles.

Appointment to this post is conditional on two satisfactory references and a current PVG certificate.

Organisational Responsibility:Directly line managed by the Stirling District Citizens Advice Bureau CEO

Universal Credit is a fundamental part of our social security system and improving the support available to people making a claim is vital. Our Help to Claim service guides people through the claims process - this will include identifying suitability, helping clients to start their claim and providing support with their first payment. The service is helping clients through the managed migration process from the legacy system to Universal Credit.

We are looking for two new team members with knowledge and experience of welfare benefits to join our existing Help to Claim team.

As a help to claim adviser you will provide end to end telephone and web chat for Universal Credit claimants. This will include carrying out benefit checks to ensure that Universal Credit is the best option for the client and supporting them through the application process.

You’ll be joining a remote team which provides a supportive and collaborative work environment which empowers staff to deliver the best possible service for our clients.

If you’d like to discuss the role further please get in touch with our Benefit Lead Fraser.Miller@perthcab.org.uk for an informal chat.