Join to apply for the Caseworker role at The Welcome Centre, food bank and more
The Welcome Centre is a large, independent food bank in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. We’re one of the largest independent food banks in the UK. We have a team of staff working across two sites, supported by 140+ volunteers. Each year we support thousands of people in crisis in our community. Everyone we support is referred to us from one of our frontline partner agencies, and once people are referred to us we provide practical support including food, toiletries, and other essential items. We also offer people one to one advocacy, guidance and support to help them address any underlying or ongoing issues to support them to get back on their feet.
Job Summary
We work with individuals and families who are experiencing crisis. As a caseworker, you will be expected to understand the individual’s/families needs and concerns and assist them with addressing these through sign posting, advocacy and supporting them into services.
You will keep an ongoing caseload of individuals/families and build a solid foundation when working with them so that they know they have somewhere to turn to during their time of hardship. The role requires you to keep up to date in relevant support pathways and other organisations and ensure these are shared with the wider Advice, Guidance and support team.
Main Duties and Tasks
* Providing one to one support to individuals and families using our services
* Confidently completing action plans to support individuals and families towards their needed outcome
* Assessing their situations, current capacity and problems to determine what services are appropriate to meet their immediate and long term needs and supporting referrals in to appropriate services
* Consistently delivering a high‑quality standard of advice, and information on topics such as income maximisation, benefits, housing, employment, health and social care, services for families and mental health and wellbeing
* Helping people to access specialist support – e.g. Debt, Mental Health, Addiction
* Building and maintaining strong working relationships with users of our services to review support plans and changes of need
* Applying for grants on behalf of individuals and families to meet their needs
* Look for innovative ways of support and sharing updates with wider AGS team
* Ensuring all record keeping is detailed and accurate and completed within agreed timescales, and that all records are kept and maintained in accordance with current legislation, policies and utilising best practice
* Continually develop appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills through regular reading of information and attending training courses
Person Specification
* Strong empathy and compassion with a commitment to supporting and empowering individuals to identify their needs
* Experience of assessing individual need and responding professionally and sensitively
* Experience in working with variety of people who may be vulnerable
* Good level of communication skills and able to communicate with a wide range of audiences, written and verbally
* Flexible with a calm approach
* Resilience to emotionally demanding situation
* Ability to work well both in a team and independently
* Strong team player – offering support to those around them
* Good organisation skills
* Good IT skills, and able to use MS Office packages competently
* Educated to A level (or equivalent) or with equivalent relevant experience
* Strong alignment to values, aims and objectives of The Welcome Centre
* Knowledge of food poverty and previous experience of working or volunteering in the charitable sector
* Experience of benefits and experience in delivering social welfare advice
* Experience of working in an environment supporting trauma informed practice and knowledge of the principles
* Understanding of the principles of safeguarding including vulnerable adults
* Understanding of the principles of grant funding and applying for grants (or other funding)
* Experience in working in a wider advice or support setting
* Supporting and working with volunteers
Seniority Level
Entry level
Employment Type
Part‑time
Job Function
Other
#J-18808-Ljbffr