Advice Worker (E2834) - GIPSIL

Job Title: Advice worker (12 months maternity cover starting ideally in March 24)

Team: Engage Leeds - Advice & Engagement Service (West)

Responsible to: Advice Services Manager

Responsible for: N/A  

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: £26,428

Benefits: Hybrid working, Flexi time, Cycle to work scheme, Tech scheme, Healthcare scheme.

Leave: 29 days plus bank holidays, rising to 33 after 5 years

Location: co-located with partner organisation Barca,Northside Exchange, LS5

Engage Leeds is a nationally recognised service for best practice - supporting people at risk of homelessness throughout our city. We provide a wraparound housing service for some of the city’s most disadvantaged adults, and are looking for somebody compassionate, committed to social justice and resourceful to join our Advice team. We have a small team of knowledgeable workers who provide advice, casework and consultancy support in respect of welfare rights and housing issues to those accessing ENGAGE Leeds services and to colleagues involved in ENGAGE Leeds service provision. 

GIPSIL is committed to all aspects of safeguarding. We believe that all children and adults, who are at risk of harm, have the right to be protected from abuse. GIPSIL aims to ensure that all staff and voluntary workers who seek work at GIPSIL and who have access to children and adults are safe to do so.

GIPSIL is a community based organisation providing housing, counselling, advice and support to young people and adults in Leeds.

As an organisation we are committed to the following principles in recruitment to ensure we can effectively achieve our aim of providing equal opportunities and safer recruitment; 

• We recruit for potential, not perfection
• We are a values based recruiter
• We value lived experience as a demonstration of capability for a role
• We only utilise truly “essential” criteria in recruitment
• We are committed to safer recruitment practice

When we refer to Values we are talking about our organisational Values, found here. 

We are a disability confident employer. 

The main responsibilities of the post include:-

• To provide accurate and timely income maximisation, benefits and housing advice to service users and colleagues.
• To manage own caseload with minimal supervision, including casework and advocacy up to and including representation at appeal tribunals.
• To provide an advice service which is flexible to need and which will likely include delivery via surgeries, home visits, email and telephone as well as face to face appointments.       
• To have and continue to develop a wide knowledge base in relation to welfare rights and housing law for the benefit of the people you support, the Advice Team and the organisation as a whole.
• To assist people we support, to maximise their income, including through the take up and maintenance of welfare benefit claims.
• To liaise with ENGAGE Leeds partners, Leeds Benefits Service, the Dept. for Work & Pensions and other relevant external organisations and funding agencies. 
• To engage in and assist in the provision of ongoing training in welfare rights and income maximisation, especially in light of the development and ongoing implementation of Universal Credit and other welfare reform. 
• To compile and maintain full, timely and accurate case notes in respect of work undertaken and to the standard expected from an AQS Quality Marked organisation.

To apply for this role please see or website Gipsil-Current Vacancies for a full application pack 

To arrange an informal conversation about this role please contact Patricia Vespucio via email: patricia.vespucio@engageleeds.org.uk
Please note that GIPSIL will not accept CV’s. No agencies.

• Deadline for applications: 27/02/2024
• Shortlisting Date: 29/02/2024
• Interview Date: 06/03/2024

You will be informed within 5 working days of the Shortlisting Date if you have been successful or not.

The above post is not a Leeds City Council vacancy and has been advertised on behalf of the relevant organisation. To apply please follow their application instructions.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.