Food Bank Outreach Caseworker – Stratford-upon-Avon
Fixed Term from commencement date – 37 hours per week .
Between £22,455 – £26,575 depending on experience
Introduction from Julie Robinson, Chief Executive
Thank you for taking the time to consider applying for a job at Citizens Advice South Warwickshire. As part of a national network of Citizens Advice offices, we work to make society fairer by helping our clients find a way forward whatever individual problems they may be facing. We do this through our core advice services available by telephone and email, and through all of our projects which are funded by a range of local funders. We also help to champion change at a local and national government level through our research and campaigning work.
We are committed to ensuring our services are accessible and open to everyone who needs us. More and more people are facing hardship, whether that be through unemployment issues, debt and benefit challenges, housing and food and fuel poverty. This was always the case pre Pandemic, but our services are now in more demand than ever. Consequently we are looking for people who are committed to thinking creatively about how we deliver our services now, and ways in which we can do things differently. We keep our clients at the centre of our work, and you would be joining a team of highly motivated and professional advice workers dedicated to making a tangible difference to the people in South Warwickshire. More on our projects and areas of work can be found on our website https://www.casouthwarwickshire.org.uk/
Our people
Citizens Advice South Warwickshire has a Trustee Board of twelve people who are all volunteers. Our Trustees bring a wide range of professional skills and knowledge and insight of the district to the planning of the service. The Trustees, in conjunction with the CEO, are ultimately responsible for setting the strategy and budget for the service. Day-to-day running and further development of the organisation is the responsibility of the CEO who, alongside a senior management team, oversees the delivery of our services.
CASW has 30 paid staff members and is proud to have over 40 volunteers working in various roles, with more joining our training programs all the time. These roles include reception, administration, generalist advice, money advice, research and campaign work, and more. These volunteer roles have expanded in recent years and the service is actively developing volunteers to support its offer.
Our clients
On many indices of deprivation, South Warwickshire can be defined as a low-need / high-income area. This masks significant pockets of deprivation, rural challenges of isolation, access to services and work, significant fuel poverty, and affordability, especially in relation to housing.
The difference we make
We make an amazing difference to the lives of the people of South Warwickshire. What we do is often life-changing and sometimes life-saving. In 2020-21 we delivered our advice and advocacy to over 4,800 people and advised on over 25,000 issues.
Our funding and projects
We have a wide range of funding sources. This includes income from Warwickshire County Council, Warwick and Stratford District Councils and a number of town and parish councils. This income is awarded via direct grants and through commissioned contracts.
We have also been very successful at drawing down further income from grant and project funding bodies including the Big Lottery Fund, Henry Smith Trust, Oken Trust, Orbit Housing, Money Advice Service, and many more.
Our local research and campaigns (R&C)
The stories our clients tell us provide us with a unique insight into the problems faced by people living in South Warwickshire. We are able to spot developing trends and this helps us to create campaigns and speak up for our clients to those in decision-making roles. By raising issues nationally we can create a public debate, change things for the better, and help many more people than those that contact us.
Our R&C team also works with clients on the co-design of our service delivery, which has helped us to understand and remove potential barriers to our service in relation to access.
I hope you decide to submit an application for this critical role with Citizens Advice South Warwickshire. The very best of luck with your application
How to Apply
Instructions
The closing date for applications is Thursday 12th October at midnight.
Interviews: to be held: W/c 16th October 2023
South Warwickshire Citizens Advice interviews will draw out the skills and competencies required for each role. As part of our recruitment process for this role, we MAY ask you to undertake a Technical Test on the day of the interview, the details of which you will receive on the day. We will use the Technical Test as part of the overall scoring for the recruitment process and consider the score an integral part of our decision-making.
Please complete the Application Form. Please note that when shortlisting we base our scoring and decision-making on the answers you provide. Please take the time to ensure that you address each aspect of the Person Specification, providing examples from your working life, previous roles, or volunteering experience. We do not accept CVs.
If you are unable to make an electronic application, you may submit your application on paper and post to:
Recruitment
Citizens Advice South Warwickshire
10 Hamilton Terrace
Leamington Spa
CV32 4LY
Please ensure your application arrives before the deadline.
Selection Process
After the closing date, we will consider all applications carefully and invite those candidates who appear, from the information available, to be the best-suited for the post to interview.
It is important therefore that your application gives a full but concise description of the nature, extent, and level of the responsibilities you have held.
If selected, details of the interview process will be sent to you by email or letter.
Data Protection
We will use your application only to inform the selection process. Your application will be kept on record for 12 months after which we will destroy it. If you are successful, it will form the basis of your personnel record with us and we will store it in a manual file. We will hold any data about you in completely secure conditions with restricted access.
We will include data that you provide on the diversity monitoring form in a general database for statistical monitoring purposes only enabling us to monitor the effectiveness of our policy on Equal Opportunities and Employment. Individuals will not be identified by name.
We shall consider that by submitting the enclosed forms you are giving your consent to the processing of your data in the ways described above.
Religious Divergence
We respect the diversity of our employees and that they come from a variety of religious backgrounds. Our policy is to respect all religious faiths and we will, where reasonably practical, be supportive when staff want to follow their regular practices connected with their religion.
Policy on Employing Foreign Nationals
Under United Kingdom immigration rules, it is a criminal offence to employ a person who is subject to immigration control and who has not been granted leave to enter or remain in the UK, or does not have permission to remain in the UK.
Citizens Advice South Warwickshire therefore has a legal obligation to carry out document checks to ensure that you have a legal right to work in the UK. It is also a requirement that we retain copies of the relevant documents.
To avoid potential unlawful discrimination claims we will carry out appropriate checks on all candidates.
Job Description & Person Specification
Stratford Food Bank Outreach Caseworker 37 hours
Salary: Up to 26,575£ depending on experience
Hours: 37 per week
Type of contract: Fixed term until the end of September 2024
Responsible to: Targeted Services Manager
Employed by: Citizens Advice South Warwickshire
Main Office: 10 Hamilton Terrace Leamington Spa
The role will be based within the food banks, venues TBC
The project Funded until September 2024
Overall Purpose of the role
The post holder will deliver a community outreach program to provide targeted support to help individuals/households with issues regarding housing, social care, debts, maximizing income, options around food/fuel poverty, and referrals for other types of support based on identified needs. The service will operate from various food banks within the Stratford upon Avon area.
The post holder will work closely with Stratford Foodbank, other external organisations, and internal teams to provide a holistic approach and will signpost and refer as appropriate.
Job Description
- Be committed to the vision of Citizens Advice South Warwickshire (CASW) and carry out work within the spirit and intention of the core values of this organisation.
- To be accountable for delivering the work of the project to reach, engage with, and provide targeted support to clients who are unable to engage with other existing services.
- To be proactive in seeking opportunities to network and develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders and raise the profile of the project.
- To represent CASW and its partners at meetings, creating and maintaining links with relevant outside organisations, and presenting a professional and open-minded approach at all times.
- To make use of technology available to communicate openly and effectively both internally and externally.
- Support a team of food bank volunteers to deliver this service and carry out all the work within the spirit and intent of relevant legislation and CASW and its partner’s policies and procedures, e.g. Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, Customer Care etc.
- To work in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Lone Working Policies and participate in CASW’s Lone Working policy and procedure
- To undertake personal development commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the job.
- To comply with the Data Protection legislation including GDPR.
Person Specification
|
PERSON SPECIFICATION |
|
CRITERIA |
Essential/ Desirable |
|
|
1 |
Experience or willingness to learn to deliver casework to engage with vulnerable people who are experiencing crisis situations in their lives, via home visiting or community venue appointments and attendance at community events. |
E |
|
2 |
Experience in dealing with people living with mental health issues |
D |
|
3 |
Knowledge and ability to provide financial inclusion support including, but not limited to, help with money management skills, income maximisation and options to address fuel/food poverty and their underlying conditions. |
E |
|
4 |
Provide advocacy advice, support and assistance – depending on the circumstances and needs of the client. Develop and agree client action plans with those supported through the project with regular monitoring of progress. |
E |
|
5 |
Excellent verbal and non verbal communication skills with the ability to deal with a complexity of issues and be able to simplify the information to the client, in a way they can understand. |
E |
|
6 |
Ability to interpret and monitor data for specific outcomes and areas/postcodes in order to maintain performance against targets. |
E |
|
7 |
Work as part of a multi disciplinary team engaging with external organisations and internal teams of staff and volunteers. Support a team of foodbank volunteers. |
E |
|
8 |
Promote the project via raising awareness events to increase the visibility of the work of the project and the service as a whole. |
D |
|
9 |
Work collaboratively and in partnership with other organisations and teams to develop effective working relationships, providing an holistic approach. |
D |
|
10 |
To have an awareness and understanding of issues surrounding poverty and vulnerabilities of residents and make referrals as needed e.g. child protection, drug and alcohol misuse, mental health, domestic violence etc. |
D |
|
11 |
Maintain detailed and accurate case records in accordance with GDPR and quality of advice standards. |
E |
|
12 |
Assist in the evaluation, using appropriate data, of the effectiveness of the project making recommendations for improvement if required. |
E |
|
13 |
Contribute to maintaining the delivery of the project including providing updates on the project as and when requested to do so. |
D |
|
14 |
Maintain an up to date knowledge of the welfare benefits legislation, including training and development courses relevant to the role, mental health/suicide awareness, safe guarding etc. |
E |
|
15 |
To undertake such other duties appropriate to the grading of the post. |
E |
Notes on Special Conditions of Service
- Valid and up to date driving licence and business insurance together with access to a car is essential as regular driving is necessary to carry out this role. Expenses will be paid in accordance to CASW’s policies.
- Enhanced DBS required
- The post holders will be required to work across designated areas of Stratford upon Avon and surrounding areas.
- Some occasional evening work may be required together with a flexible approach where necessary.
Other benefits
We also offer a range of additional benefits:
- Flexible working arrangements
- Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies
- Regular professional development
- Health & Wellbeing services provided through Occupational Health
- Free eye tests and contribution towards lenses/spectacles for Computer use.
Health Clearance
Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory completion of a Health Questionnaire and should you disclose any health issues, then any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory assessment by Occupational Health. Occupational Health will identify whether there are any reasonable adjustments which can be made to support you at work.
References
All job offers are subject to receipt of satisfactory references