Outreach Worker

Applications are invited from a highly motivated, enthusiastic and experienced individual to join the Council's Advice Team within the Benefits Service, based at the Municipal Buildings, Blackpool. The purpose of the role is to assist Blackpool residents to promote the take up and access welfare benefits and signpost to general advice for example education, training, grants, housing and employment. Main duties of the role include:

• Work to statutory and legal requirements in relation to Welfare Benefits legislation
• Provide accurate information, advice, support and assistance on welfare benefits and other financial support available
• Undertake individual welfare benefit checks for residents including complex benefit calculations for example, better off calculations and benefit forecast calculations
• Provide a face to face advice service via outreach work at regular advice sessions, home visits and appointments in other convenient locations
• Provide telephone appointments/advice in response to customer contact
• Assist customers with form filling, including online and telephone applications
• Signpost and engage clients with other appropriate services, for example, debt advice, employment, education, legal advice and housing
• Be responsible for a full personal caseload and undertake follow up work
• Promote good practice in welfare benefits provision and ensure a high level of customer care, confidentiality and consistency in all cases
• Work in a problem solving context and maintain effective partnerships with internal and external agencies
• Promote resident's rights and responsibilities
  
  Applicants should have excellent communications skills, both written and verbal, be IT literate with substantial recent knowledge and experience in welfare benefits work and a considerable knowledge of other local/national support, grants and schemes available to support residents., We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/vulnerable adults. This post is subject to satisfactory reference history of at least two years, Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, medical clearance, evidence of any essential qualifications and proof of Right to Work in the UK in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.