We are seeking to recruit 1 x Maternity Cover (12 months) BGET (British Gas Energy Trust) Financial Capability Adviser
Hours: 29.5hrs per week
Salary: £23,000 (pro- rata)
Closing date: 27th August 2024 @ 5pm
Interview date: 9th September 2024
Contract: Fixed Term Maternity Cover - 30th September 2025
Service: Budgeting Buddies - Funded by British Gas Energy Trust
Background:
Financial wellbeing is defined as the feeling of being secure and in control, being able to pay the bills today, having capacity to deal with the unexpected, and being on track for a healthy financial future. A key component of financial wellbeing is financial capability, which is the ability to manage money well, both on a day-to-day basis, and through significant life events. The BGET Project supports clients living in Sandwell and Walsall to become more financially secure.
The Role:
Your role will be to support members of our local community who are in or facing fuel poverty as a result of the current cost of living crisis. You will be required to offer budgeting advice, information around understanding energy bills, benefit calculations, support with grant applications and to work closely with other teams within the organisation/local partnerships in order to provide clients with detailed and holistic advice.
The role requires you to have a level 3 in energy awareness or to have completed this by 1st October 2024.
Primary Duties:-
- Work with clients to identify individual financial capability needs
- Interview clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills in order to allow clients to explain their problem(s) and empower them to set their own priorities
- Research and explore options and implications so that clients can make informed decisions
- Maintain detailed case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation
- Negotiate with third parties such as statutory and non-statutory bodies as appropriate
- Build and promote good internal/external partnership links to encourage referrals into the service and signposting clients where required
- To encourage good teamwork and lines of communication between members of staff and volunteers
- To attend and participate at meetings for staff and volunteers
- Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training
- Participate in structured supervision and support sessions
- To carry out other tasks within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service
- To conform to health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for your own safety and that of colleagues
- To endorse the aims, policies and principle of the CA service
Person Specification
Experience
- Experience of recording detailed, accurate information.
- Experience of IT systems and packages.
- Experience of working in a customer facing role.
Knowledge
- Ability to commit to and work within the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service.
- A good up to date understanding of equality and diversity and its application to the provision of advice.
- Some knowledge of the issues faced by people due to the cost of living crisis.
Skills and Attributes
- Ability to use sensitive listening and questioning skills to get to the root of the issues and empower clients, whilst maintaining structure and control of meetings with them.
- A good standard of written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to interpret information and present options to clients, thereby assisting, not serving them.
- Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.
- A commitment to continuous professional development, including a willingness to develop knowledge and skills in financial advice topics.
Qualifications
You will be required to hold the C&G Energy Awareness Level 3
In accordance with Citizens Advice policy we may ask the successful candidate to be screened by the DBS. However, a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to your being able to take up the job.