Rugby Foodbank Engagement Officer

This new project aims to target communities in Westminster who may be missing out on financial support or in debt.

We are seeking someone who is passionate about giving an effective service to those most in need. You will thrive in a busy environment and have a positive ‘can do’ attitude. The post holder will need to provide Casework support to North Paddington Foodbank service users with:

• Progressing welfare benefit claims up to the point of tackling independent reviews – including PIP, ESA and Universal Credit – supporting Work Capability applications.
• Basic debt support plus advice on priority debts, apply for specific benefits like Local Housing Allowance, renegotiate key debts and refer on to specialist partners for complex cases.
• Assist clients in the creation of realistic and sustainable budgets and developing client financial capability skills.

Responsibilities

• To provide income maximisation advice and case work to people identified as being at risk of financial hardship through data provided by North Paddington Foodbank
• Work constructively with Head of Foodbank & Customer Support and Advice Officer to analyse data and use insight to identify areas to target for financial support interventions.
• Take a holistic advice approach and maximise income by undertaking benefit checks, applications and backdating, submitting reviews and challenging benefit overpayments, identifying grants and other ways of increasing income.
• Ensure timely and accurate advice, liaise with third parties, signpost and refer to other services as needed.
• Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer to other in-house advisers or specialist agencies as appropriate.
• Provide advice to clients in a range of settings including the NPFB office, outreaches, community settings, phone and digitally where appropriate.
• Co-ordinate and manage outreach clinics and community events, maintaining accurate diaries and working with partners to deliver a successful session.
• Work closely with internal teams, and other referral partners, to respond to queries, take referrals and progress client cases.
• Use multiple channels to support clients including video, email, letter, phones and face to face.
• To maintain clear and accurate case records including case outcomes and funder required data.
• Ensure service and own targets are met, complete funding reports.
• Identify social policy issues and complete evidence forms, case studies and support the organisation with its influencing and media work.

Training and Professional Development:

• Keep advice knowledge and changing legislation relevant to the post up to date to enable you to provide the appropriate level of support to individual volunteers depending on their level of competence.
• Provide occasional small group and skills-based training for Foodbank staff and volunteers on topical welfare rights issues, the use of reference materials and so on.

Administration:

• Ensure that the information sources in use are up to date, maintain accurate case notes so they meet funder and quality standards.
• Maintain statistics and analysis of work, gather statistics and feedback in order to evaluate the service, providing input for reports as required.

Other duties and responsibilities:

• Liaise, as appropriate, with relevant outside agencies (voluntary and statutory), including Citizens Advice offices other stakeholders and support services
• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.
• Any other relevant administrative and support duties required to ensure the smooth running of the North Paddington Foodbank service.
• Demonstrate equity, diversity and inclusion values.
• Support and actively engage in fundraising and promotional activities for NPFB 
• ­­Act as an ambassador for North Paddington Foodbank

Essential

• Recent and relevant experience of delivering social welfare advice
• Recent Money Advice accreditation or specialist welfare benefits training.
• Ability to empower clients experiencing welfare benefits & debt problems through the provision of empathetic information, advice and casework to help improve people's quality of life.
• Ability to research, analyse and interpret complex information and produce clear advice to empower clients to find a way forward.
• Experience of listening with an ability to manage challenging situations.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills with particular emphasis on negotiating, representing and preparing reports and correspondence.
• Experience of taking responsibility to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage a caseload to ensure that all targets are met, and clients are helped in a timely manner.
• Ability and willingness to work both individually and as part of a collaborative proactive team
• Excellent IT skills and able to use this to manage workloads.

Personal attributes

• A demonstrable commitment to quality and continuous improvement
• Able to demonstrate leadership quality and emotional intelligence
• A proven commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion willing to challenge behaviours and discrimination.

Other requirements

• Happy and able to work and travel across Westminster with some occasional weekend or evening work

The successful candidate will also have to:

• Have the right to work in the UK.
• Undergo an enhanced DBS check.

North Paddington Foodbank is an equal opportunities employer. With regards to health needs, we will make any necessary adaptations based on the requirements of the successful applicant and will happily answer any questions regarding individual situations at this stage.