Welfare Rights Advisor
Salary £ 29000
Stafford Centre, Edinburgh
Vacancy listed 27/09/2024
Application deadline 01/11/2024
Details
Change Mental Health is a leading national mental health charity providing unique support to people with severe and enduring mental ill health. With over 50 years’ experience across Scotland, we believe people affected by poor mental health and illness deserve the highest quality of support in the community and that every person has the right to be valued and to share in the opportunities, challenges, and joys of everyday life. 

 

About the Service

The Stafford Centre is the central place where we support people with their mental health in Edinburgh.  This drop-in enables you to relax in the company of others in a safe environment and begin to build supportive networks. We want to help you as soon as you walk through the door and ensure you are directed towards the best activity or support for your recovery.  We have many welcoming and supportive groups where you can feel valued. We deliver change at The Stafford Centre by building resilience to improve your skills, confidence and enable you to take a step forward in your life. There are many creative and wellbeing activities, from art sessions to our outdoor walking group, and a main café area where you can chat and feel welcomed by building supportive networks.

 

About the Role:

The Welfare Rights Advisor is a specialist role, providing one to one support to clients, managing a case load and structured face to face appointments. This role is based at the Stafford Centre in Edinburgh, and in this Thrive funded post you will support people experiencing or impacted by mental illness, providing specialist advice, advocacy and representation. Assisting to maximise client’s disposable income by ensuring they receive all appropriate benefits and services, liaising with statutory bodies when required.

You will adhere to rigorous guidelines and regulations ensuring that people receive the highest quality service possible and are committed to working to Type 3 SNSIAP.

The Welfare Rights Advisor will work with a degree of autonomy and is a team player and will play a role in developing and promoting the service. The role supports the relevant Service Managers to meet national and funder criteria, contributing to analysis, reviews and consultations to gather evidence and highlight the issues that our client base face.

 

Key Responsibilities:

·        Work closely with Service Managers at the Stafford Centre and at the Advice and Support Service to achieve strategic and operational outcomes

·        Assess service user needs and entitlements and provide specialist help and support to maximise income through claiming welfare benefits and accessing grants

·        Represent at tribunals as and when required

·        Liaise with a range of specialist agencies to achieve the best outcomes for service users

·        Set up appointments and case records and signpost and refer to other services as needed

·        Maintain high quality case recording adhering to SNSIAP

·        Maintain accurate and confidential records and report on outcomes following regulations and quality standards

·        Review client support needs to ensure that wider health and wellbeing outcomes are being achieved

·        Gather and help to collate statistics to build an evidence base for policy development and influence

·        Meet targets set by line manager/ Change Mental Health

·        Focus in ensuring continuity of service within the context of Change Mental Health values and strategic outcomes

·        Ensure that careful and ongoing review systems are in place and maintained

·        Build positive working relationships with local partners to better support our service users and to promote the work of Change Mental Health

·        Contribute to Research and Development at a local level in support of National objectives to promote service improvements

·        Ensure that all Health and Safety responsibilities within practice settings are fulfilled

 

Essential Criteria:

·        Experience working in mental health and advice settings

·        A recognised professional money/welfare advice training or qualification such as Wiser Advisor or CPAG

·        Experience of providing welfare advice directly to clients in a face-to-face setting

·        Work well in a team setting but can also work autonomously

·        Rigorously maintain a client centred approach

·        Work in a timely and conscientious manner

·        A value base consistent with the aims and objectives of Change Mental Health

·        Ability to apply an analytical approach to problems in order to find solutions

·        Competent in planning and reviewing development plans and taking appropriate action if needed

·        IT skills are of a high standard and experience of working with electronic case management systems (such as Advice Pro or CASTLE)

·        Recognition of the importance of professional support and supervision and fully take part in the processes that Change Mental Health establish

·        Keen to develop knowledge and skills and attend training as required

 
-            Desirable Criteria

·        A sound knowledge of Health and Social care policy in Scotland and ability to apply this to the role

·        A sound theory base of social care interventions including risk assessment.

 

This job profile and list of duties is not exhaustive and serves only to highlight the main requirements. The line manager may stipulate other reasonable requirements and projects commensurate with the general profile and grade of the post.
 
Successful applicants for this post will require a PVG Membership. (this will be arranged by Change Mental Health before you start your role). Please be aware that it is classed as an offence if you apply for this role and are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children or vulnerable adults 
Benefits

• 24/7 access to an award-winning Employee Assistance Programme providing free legal, financial, and medical advice as well as support with life’s challenges.
• A 35-hour working week, enhanced sick pay & season ticket loan.
• A great work life balance with flexible and blended working environment.
• Access to purchase a Blue Light Discount Card
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Enhanced sick pay and leave entitlements.
• Generous 37 days’ holiday.
• Paid Mental Wellbeing days.
• Professional development including funded opportunities.

Notes

To apply please submit your CV and Cover Letter by clicking 'Apply' below.

Please note all applications must be received by midday on 01/11/2024. Interviews are due to be held on 19/11/2024.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.

If you consider yourself to have a disability, please inform us of any arrangements that we may make to the interview process.

We reserve the right to close this advert earlier or later than stated. Please don’t delay your application to avoid any disappointment.

If you have any questions or would like an informal chat, please reach out to John Philp at john.philp@changemh.org

Attached documents
Title File
CMH Welfare Rights advisor JD Welfare_Rights_Advisor_Stafford_Centre.docx

This vacancy has now been closed