Senior Advice Worker - Education

Adviser / Caseworker

Job Title: Adviser / Caseworker

Work base: Lewisham Irish Community Centre

Hours: 35 hours weekly

Salary Scale: £30,000

Reporting to: Centre Manager

Purpose of the Role

The Advice Worker post contributes to the strategic aims of the Lewisham Irish Community Centre by meeting the needs of the older and disadvantaged Irish community living in Lewisham and the surrounding boroughs. The postholder will be required to respond to one off enquiries and to manage ongoing casework to maximise clients’ income through claims for welfare benefits, addressing housing issues and homelessness.

The postholder will be based onsite at the Lewisham Irish Community Centre, establish satellite services throughout the borough and carryout home visits as required.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

To provide advice to clients on a range of welfare-related issues including welfare benefits,

housing, access to healthcare and supported accommodation, returning to/moving from

Ireland, Irish state pensions, Irish passport and birth certificate applications.

- To offer advice via a range of methods, including face-to-face, onsite and/or via home visits and outreach at third party locations.

- To act on client’s behalf by representing their interests to third parties by letter, telephone, email, or in person.

- To prepare documentation in support of mandatory reconsiderations and tribunals

- To enable and empower clients to act for themselves as appropriate

- To record and report on work carried out, via use of case-recording software and paper files, as required.

- To comply with the requirements of the Advice Quality Standard and GDPR in relation to case and file management

- To identify own training needs in response to changes in external policies and practices

General Responsibilities

- To attend relevant training and events as required

- To attend staff meetings, service development and promotional activities, including some organisation-related events

- To be aware of and adhere to organisational policies and procedures particularly those relating to equal opportunities, client confidentiality and health and safety

- To adhere to safeguarding policies and practices

- To carry out all administrative tasks associated with duties

- To undertake other related tasks as and when required

This post is supported by the Irish Government Emigrant Support Programme.

To Apply

To apply please submit the following:

Your CV detailing your education and work experience and a cover letter detailing how you meet the job specification requirements. The cover letter should be no more than 2 pages.

Application Deadline – Sunday 03 March 2024 11:59pm