Welfare Rights Officer (2 posts)

Welfare Rights Officer (2 posts)

THIS IS A CATEGORY "E" POST.
Please note that in all cases written references will be taken up and made available to interviewers BEFORE the final selection stage; even if you indicate otherwise

Ref:

AS234(e)

Full time

£32,020 - £35,411 per annum

1x permanent post

1x fixed term post (up to 31st March 2024)

37 hours per week for both posts

The Welfare Rights Officer (WRO) post is in Newcastle City Council’s Welfare Rights Service (WRS), sits within the Active Inclusion Service. The WRS provides the direct delivery of welfare rights advice aspects of our citywide approach to wherever possible, preventing homelessness and financial exclusion at the earliest stage to help residents to sustain the foundations for a stable life: somewhere to live, an income, financial inclusion and employment opportunities.

The primary aim of our WROs is to provide specialist advice to help Newcastle residents to maximise their income by securing their full welfare benefits entitlement. In 2020-21 the WRS secured £16,376,215 in annualised benefit gains for 5,548 residents. We hope this opportunity will attract interest from experienced WROs who are committed to preventing homelessness, promoting financial inclusion and improving the wellbeing and health of Newcastle residents.

We are seeking experienced Welfare Rights Officers who can demonstrate that they:

• Have a full understanding of the current relevant welfare benefits (and welfare reforms) and the ability to explain this clearly, both verbally and in writing;

• Have a background in providing advice in the areas of welfare benefits. The post holders will take on a caseload;

• Have experience of giving specialist welfare benefits and income maximisation advice to the public as well as an ability to complete case notes and keep records;

• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills;

• Are able to deal effectively with challenging behaviours or situations and liaise with people at all levels;

• Are able to represent clients at tribunals;

• Undertake triage duties;

• Participate in take-up campaigns as required;

• Are able to identify and describe opportunities for improvements to the administration of benefits and the co-ordination of support to respond to the demands of welfare reforms.

Apply online at www.northeastjobs.org.uk or email jobs@newcastle.gov.uk for a form.

For further discussions please contact Gary Webb on 07505401623 or Andrew Young 07970626437.

Please See Advert Text

Closing date:

4 April 2023