Citizens Advice Braintree and South Essex

Vacancy at Citizens Advice Braintree and South Essex

Generalist Adviser Canvey Job Centre & Basildon Foodbank

Salary £ up to £29,000

Canvey Island & Basildon

Vacancy listed 05/10/2026

Application deadline 23/10/2026

Details

Generalist Adviser

Canvey Job Centre & Basildon Foodbank

Job title | Generalist Adviser
Location | 2 days Canvey Jobcentre / 3 days Basildon Foodbank
Hours | 37 hours per week
Salary | Up to £29,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Contract | Fixed term initially until April 2027, with potential to extend
Closing date | 23 October 2026
Interviews | Week commencing 26 October 2026
Further information | Contact Rachiel Cabrelli for more information; rcabrelli@cabse.org.uk

Make a difference every day

We’re looking for a skilled and motivated Generalist Adviser to join our team – and this is a role with a difference.

Working across Canvey Jobcentre and Basildon Foodbank, you’ll have the opportunity to support people at two important points in their lives: when they need help understanding their rights and options, and when they are experiencing financial hardship and need someone to help them find a way forward.

You’ll spend 2 days a week at Canvey Jobcentre, providing generalist advice to local residents, and 3 days a week supporting people accessing Basildon Foodbank.

It’s a varied role, but there is one constant: you’ll be helping people solve problems and make positive changes to their lives.

What will you do?

2 days a week – Canvey Jobcentre

As a Generalist Adviser, you’ll provide free, independent and impartial advice to people in the Castle Point area.

You’ll help clients understand their situation, explore their options and take practical steps to resolve their problems. Your work will cover areas including:

Housing related advice
Benefit entitlement & issues - incl face to face Universal Credit application
Debt management
Health & wellbeing
Family
Consumer
Employment

You’ll provide advice face-to-face, by telephone and through digital channels, undertaking casework where appropriate and ensuring that clients receive accurate, effective and timely support.

3 days a week – Basildon Foodbank

For three days a week, you’ll work alongside Basildon Foodbank, supporting people who are experiencing financial hardship.

For many people, needing to use a foodbank is a sign that something more fundamental is going wrong. Your role will be to look beyond the immediate crisis and help people understand what is driving their financial difficulties.

You’ll provide practical advice on issues such as benefits, debt and income maximisation, identify wider support needs and connect people with the appropriate Citizens Advice services.

You’ll listen, ask the right questions, identify the underlying issues and help people take realistic steps towards improving their circumstances.

About you

We’re looking for someone who combines excellent advice skills with empathy, resilience and a genuine commitment to helping people.

You’ll ideally have experience of providing generalist advice and casework and a good understanding of areas such as benefits, debt, housing or employment.

You’ll also have:

Excellent interviewing, listening and communication skills.
The ability to build trust quickly with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Experience of working with people who may be vulnerable or facing difficult circumstances.
Strong IT and digital skills.
Good organisational skills and the ability to manage your own caseload and competing priorities.
The ability to work independently while also being part of a supportive team.
A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
A commitment to providing a high-quality, client-focused advice service.

Why join us?

At Citizens Advice Braintree & South Essex, no two days are the same. You’ll work with people facing real challenges and have the opportunity to make a tangible difference to their lives.

Whether you’re helping someone understand their benefit entitlement, supporting a person struggling with debt, helping someone resolve a housing problem or simply being the person who listens and helps them work out what to do next, your advice can make a real difference.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced adviser who enjoys variety, values partnership working and wants to use their skills where they can have the greatest impact.

If you’re passionate about advice, committed to helping people and want a role where what you do genuinely matters, we’d love to hear from you.

Interested?

For further information about the role, please contact Rachiel Cabrelli rcabrelli@cabse.org.uk

Closing date: 23 October 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 26 October 2026

Role Profile

Interview clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills in order to allow clients to explain their problem(s) and empower them to set their own priorities.
Use the Citizens Advice public site and AdviserNet website to find, interpret and communicate the relevant information.
Research and explore options and implications so that clients can make informed decisions.
Act for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters and telephoning.
Negotiate with third parties such as statutory and non-statutory bodies as appropriate.
Ensure that all work conforms to the organisation’s office manual and the Advice Quality standard / Money Advice Framework, as appropriate.
Ensure that work reflects and supports the Citizens Advice service’s equality and diversity strategy.
Maintain detailed case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.

Research and Campaigns

Assist with research and campaigns work by providing information as appropriate.
Alert clients to research and campaign options.
Professional Development
Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training.

Administration

Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with line manager.
Prepare for and attend regular team meetings/staff meetings as appropriate.
Use IT for statistical recording of information relating to research and campaigns and funding requirements, record keeping and document production.
Ensure all work conforms to the organisation’s systems and procedures.

Other

Complete required training to comply with quality assurance processes.
Carry out any task that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Ability to commit and work within the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service.
Proven understanding of equality and diversity and its application to the provision of advice.
Proven ability to interview clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills to get to the root of issues and empower clients, whilst maintaining structure and control of client appointments.
Proven ability to provide information and advice to help resolve client issues and support the client when required to achieve the best outcome.
Understanding of the issues affecting society and their implications for the client and service provision.
Proven ability to research, analyse and interpret complex information on a wide range of advice topics for clients.
Ability to understand and complete benefit calculations.

What we give our staff

Performance related pay
33 days holiday (including bank holidays) for a full time role (pro rata part time)
Birthday Leave
Long service leave entitlement
Enhanced auto enrolment pension scheme
Salary Sacrifice Scheme for pension contributions
Be spoke training and on-going support from skilled supervisors and trainers

To apply please download the application form first. Once you've completed the application form and have everything ready to submit, click the "Apply" button.
Please refer to the 'Guidance notes for applicants' on how to upload your application form.

You will receive an automatic acknowledgement of your application however only applications with a filled in application form will be considered.

CVs will not be accepted as a substitute for an application form.

Benefits

Performance related pay

33 days holiday (including bank holidays) for a full time role (pro rata part time)

Birthday Leave

Long service leave entitlement

Enhanced auto enrolment pension scheme

Salary Sacrifice Scheme for pension contributions

Bespoke training and on-going support from skilled supervisors and trainers

Notes

Initially fixed to 31/03/27, potential to extend

Attached documents

Title	File
Application Form	Application_Form_-_October_26.docx
Application Form guidance	Application_Form_guidance_-_October_26.docx

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