Welcome Newham Specialist Benefits and Debt Lead

Welcome Newham Specialist Benefits and Debt Lead
£39,951 - £42,840 per annum

Fixed Term until end of march 2026

We are looking for a Welcome Newham Specialist Benefit & Debt Lead to join our Welcome Newham Team. 

You will provide support to those newly arrived or recently granted their leave to remain in the form of benefits and debt advice including casework to support them with income maximisation and reduce the threat of homelessness by way of face to face/video and telephone appointments; making relevant applications on their behalf and follow up work as required to improve their financial resilience.

Attending the Welcome Newham One Stop Shop and other “drop in” surgeries for debt and benefits advice.  To act as specialist and mentor to others in the Welcome Newham Team, imparting knowledge on benefits and debt advice to increase capacity in the team.

You will be the first point of contact for Welcome Newham Officers to support in queries and applications in relation to accessing benefits. 

Attendance at the Welcome Newham One Stop Shop and other “drop in” surgeries to provide debt and benefits advice. 

To identify Universal Credit / Housing Benefit / council tax reduction entitlement and other issues for all newly arrived residents known to Welcome Newham, to submit applications as appropriate for residents, remaining involved until the claim is determined.  The post holder will have expert knowledge and experience of dealing with such claims in accordance with relevant legislation and council procedures. 

As appropriate, to encourage residents to get paid employment, providing estimates of In Work benefits and signposting or referring to employment services.  To support the resident (through direct work) in gaining the knowledge and skills to be able to manage their finances and develop their independent living skills. 

To, wherever possible, encourage and enable clients to self-help and improve their personal and economic resilience.

To act as specialist Benefits & Debt advisor, mentor and trainer to the Welcome Newham team to build team capacity in this specialist area of work.

To work in a co-ordinated and joined up way with other officers, Council services and external services, to help improve clients’ financial capability and overall resilience.

This role is office based, from Our Newham Money offices, Stratford Library and Newham Dockside, but you could be required to work from other Newham based offices as deemed appropriate.

This is a temporary role on Fixed Team Contract or Seconded role, until 31^st March 2026.

IMPORTANT: If you are an LBN member of staff and applying for this role as a secondment you should note that secondments are subject to the agreement of your current employing service. Please ensure that you inform your line manager of your intention to apply for the post in the first instance.

Please view JD here

Closing date: 4th December 2024

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.