This is a great time to join GamCare as we are growing the reach of our services. We are looking for a Gambling Support Practitioner with qualifications or experience in health or social care, and an empathic style to enable people to change their behaviour through skilled intervention.

Crucially, you will ensure that psychosocial, and recovery support interventions are delivered as part of a cohesive recovery plan while working collaboratively with external and partner organisations to achieve positive outcomes for service users.

There will be opportunities to participate in service promotion, networking activities and events to support the visibility of the service, as well as developing relationships with local services and communities to strengthen pathways into the service.

We are looking for an individual to work full-time which will currently include 4 days 9-5pm and 1 day 12-8pm per week (fixed), Monday to Friday, however due to possible requirements of the service, occasional Saturdays (9-2pm) may be required, although another day off would be agreed on during the week.

About You

Are you passionate about supporting others to make positive changes in their lives? Do you want to make a difference by providing interventions to people impacted by gambling? If this sounds like you, and you would like to be part of a committed, dynamic, and highly supportive team, providing exceptional support, then we would love to hear from you!

You should have significant experience in individual client work in the field of addictions, mental health or a social care setting with adults or young people. You should be flexible in using a range of low and high-intensity interventions and modalities including Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) tools.

The successful candidate will be expected to be able to work from home thereby having the space for a confidential setting whilst also being able to travel within the region to attend events and offer localised in person support as required.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing face to face and online advice, assessment, brief and structured interventions to help clients achieve their recovery goals, using motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural approaches
• Provide safe and effective support to individuals whilst managing safeguarding issues in line with safeguarding procedures and policies
• Development of collaborative working relationships with external agencies, professionals and groups to facilitate multi agency approach and holistic support
• Development and maintenance of relationships with local services and communities to support identification of gambling harms and pathways into service
• Participation in service promotion, networking activities and events to support visibility and ongoing development of the service, and to proactively respond to the needs identified within the region

About Us

Founded in 1997, GamCare is the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms. We operate the National Gambling Helpline, provide treatment for anyone who is harmed by gambling, create awareness about safer gambling and treatment, and encourage an effective approach to safer gambling within the gambling industry.

Benefits You Can Enjoy

• 33 days basic annual leave entitlement per annum including bank holidays which increases with service
• A generous Pension Scheme - we contribute 6% and you contribute 2%.
• Discretionary company sick pay from day one of service.
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24-hour support
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• We also have a vibrant and diverse event calendar full of monthly initiatives and webinars to support the ongoing physical and mental wellbeing of our people.

This post requires a PVG check.

GamCare are committed to offering the best support to people affected by gambling harms, as such we welcome applications from candidates with lived experience.

This is an exciting opportunity for a permanent part time Dementia Advisor position within our Western Isles Services.

The role of the Dementia Advisor is to work in close collaboration with key stakeholders to shape positive outcomes for people living with dementia, their families and carers across the locality.

To be successful in the role the candidate will be required to adopt and demonstrate a proactive leadership approach that will influence a positive culture of engagement. You will enable carers, of people who are living with dementia, to access information, know their legal rights, provide them with advice, practical support, activities and resources that allow them to live well with their diagnosis. In doing this you will encourage carers to have an active voice for themselves and those they are caring for, who are living with dementia.

You will act as the first point of contact for people living with dementia, their families, and carers to find their way through the health and social care system throughout their journey and have meaningful conversations with decision makers in the local community. You will work with a range of external partners and colleges to promote and develop broader understanding of and positive attitudes to dementia across the locality.

The Dementia Advisor will join an established team and have a specific focus delivering carers support across the Western Isles. The successful candidate will be able to shape the way our localities develop and evolve so you will be playing a key role in developing this role.

This is a very flexible role aimed at meeting the needs of people with dementia and their carers throughout the geographical area of the Western Isles. The focus and location of the post holder’s activity will vary from time to time depending on the needs of the people we support, although he/she will have a fixed office base.

Successful applicants will have a positive approach to dementia. You will also have good communication skills and a caring attitude. A willingness to learn and participate in training is essential. Relevant qualifications and/or experience of working with people with dementia would be an advantage.

Background information

Clackmannanshire Citizens Advice Bureau, based in Alloa, is an independent and innovative advice organisation providing holistic advice to the residents of Clackmannanshire at the bureau premises and outreaches at various partner locations. We have been delivering a valuable, high level service to the community of Clackmannanshire for over 50 years, dealing with issues including benefits, debt, energy and housing. Last year we dealt with over 33,000 issues. We currently have 27 paid staff and 25 volunteers working to deliver the general advice service and our projects and as Board members.

All bureaux are members of Citizens Advice Scotland (the Scottish Association of CABx), and as such must meet specific conditions of membership related to standards of service and other matters. Each operates as an independent charity. This bureau is a limited company as well as a registered charity, governed by a board of directors/trustees.

We offer additional working benefits, such as 5% employer’s pension contribution, free membership of an employer health plan, annual performance related salary increases, a flexible working scheme, ability to buy and sell annual leave, an e-bike loan scheme and a retail perks scheme.

About the role

This is a new role which offers an exciting development opportunity for the right applicant. You will work as part of a dedicated team providing support to the finance and HR functions of the bureau. Working closely with the Finance and Personnel Officers you will ensure that we maintain high standards in administrative and financial processes. The Administration Officer will ensure that finance processes are accurate and that tasks are completed on time and that HR systems work effectively and staff and line managers are supported. The post holder will also assist with other resource management activities. This is an evolving role therefore responsibilities are expected to change as it develops.

We are looking for a self-motivated, conscientious individual who has attention to detail, excellent organisational skills and ability to act with confidentiality and discretion. They should be able to demonstrate relevant experience but training can be provided for a candidate with the required skills and attributes.

SUMMARY OF MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The Highland Macmillan CAB Partnership, established in 2004, provides a welfare benefits advice service across the Highland region (excluding Lochaber) to people affected by cancer and their families. Based at Raigmore Hospital, our award winning team works alongside the Macmillan Person Centred Care Project and other professionals, such as Clinical Nurse Specialists and GPs, to provide holistic, high quality advice and assistance to our clients at any point in their cancer journey.

We are seeking to recruit an additional welfare benefits caseworker to join our friendly team.

The successful candidate will provide holistic advice to our clients on a range of welfare benefits issues, offer advice and information to maximise their income and ensure they are receiving the correct entitlements. This will include conducting full benefit checks, carrying out better-off calculations, assisting with revisions, supersessions and appeals of benefit decisions and also assisting client to navigate their benefit claims. The role will require the candidate to provide advice on all areas of entitlements for clients such as energy, grant applications or assistance with health costs for example. The post will require someone who has in-depth experience or understanding of the benefits system, ideally in provision of advice, information and representation.

This role will suit a resilient and empathetic person who is able to work under pressure but enjoys the challenges of advice delivery and is able to work in a non-judgmental and impartial, confidential manner.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1) Service Provision

• Provide a full welfare benefits casework service to people affected by cancer, including UK and Scottish disability benefits, and other sources of financial support, such as charitable grants, energy advice and help with health and travel costs.
• Assist clients to prepare for benefit appeals and provide representation at Tribunals as required.
• Liaise and negotiate with other statutory and voluntary organisations to progress the client’s case and ensure they receive all assistance available.
• Ensure that all work conforms to the bureau's Quality Standards at the appropriate level.
• Assume responsibility for the day-to-day management, maintenance and prioritising of own case load.
• Maintain, to a high standard, detailed (computerised) case records for the purpose of continuity of case work, statistical monitoring, information retrieval and report preparation in line with the requirements of Citizens Advice Scotland and Macmillan Cancer Support.
• Refer 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.
• Provide advice, information and cancer-specific benefits awareness training to colleagues and other health and social care professionals working with the client group as required.
• Support Citizens Advice Scotland and Macmillan Cancer Support’s social policy work by providing case studies and feedback on issues of concern for people affected by cancer.

2) Service Design and Development

• Gather statistics and feedback in order to monitor and evaluate the service, provide information to the Health Projects Manager for reports to advisory groups, funders and partners.
• Assist with initiatives for the improvement of services to people affected by cancer
• Develop working relationships with health professionals supporting the client group
• Network with other professionals in the advice work field
• Represent the project at meetings with other agencies as appropriate

3) Professional Development

• Maintain an up to date knowledge of the benefits system and policies and procedures relevant to the post.
• Identify your own personal strengths and weaknesses, including identifying personal training needs, and attending in-house and external training courses and meetings as appropriate
• Undertake training and personal development in order to develop skills and increase knowledge and understanding of cancer and its treatments, and its impact on people affected by cancer and their ability to access financial help.
• Prepare for and participate in internal team meetings, supervision and appraisals.

4) Adherence to Citizens Advice Scotland Policies and Procedures

• Have responsibility to uphold the Aims and Principles of the Citizens Advice Scotland Service and its Equal Opportunities policies.
• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.
• Any other duties commensurate with the post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following:

• Considerable recent experience (paid or unpaid) in advice work or related field
• Recent representation experience (paid or unpaid), or willingness to undertake training
• Good current knowledge of the UK and Scottish benefits systems, particularly that relating to people affected by cancer, sickness and disability benefits
• An understanding of the issues affecting people affected by cancer
• Experience of managing a complex caseload
• Ability to work under pressure, on your own initiative, but also to be part of a team
• Ability to work in a systematic manner and plan own workload
• Excellent organisational, communication and report writing skills
• Good IT skills – especially word-processing, and database entry
• Good working knowledge of the statutory and voluntary agencies in the area
• Understanding of community care issues
• An ability to deal with clients and other professionals in a sensitive manner
• Evidence of ability to carry out training in benefit issues to CAB staff and outside agencies or equivalent experience
• Commitment to the principle of a client driven, volunteer led service
• Commitment to the aims and principles of the CAB service
• Commitment to CAB & Macmillan Cancer Support equalities policies

Responsible to: Health Projects Manager