Finance, Benefit and Debt Advisor
Salary: £27, Pro Rata (£22, for 30 hours)
Location: Reading with cover across the wider region as required
Contract: Part time Permanent
Rebuilding your life whilst on probation is one of the toughest challenges a person can face. Financial difficulties can often create additional barriers to moving forward. But with the right support, its possible.
Were looking for a Finance Benefit and Debt Advisor someone with a rare mix of practicality, compassion, organisation and flexibility. We understand that rehabilitation isnt just about offering advice; its about pro-actively supporting someone to break down their financial barriers enabling them to move forward.
This is a demanding role; you'll be working in a challenging environment with people who have complex needs and who can be reluctant to engage. But when you help someone break the cycle and you see them take real steps forward, its a great feeling.
About the Role:
Primarily based out of the probation office, youll provide information, advice and support to individuals helping them regain control over their finances.
This is a busy role, youll support multiple individuals at once, ensuring each person gets the focused support they need, while keeping meticulous records of every interaction to measure progress and ensure effective interventions. You will be chasing responses from stakeholders, following up benefit applications and keeping across all aspects of money management for each person, It can be a juggling act but for those you are working with, this support is invaluable.
What Youll Be Doing:
1. Advice and Support: Covering budgeting, arranging payment plans, accessing and applying for benefits, support with opening bank accounts and supporting them to gain an understanding of their finances.
2. Working with external agencies Such as local councils and charities, housing providers, utility providers and probation to provide practical support and guidance.
3. Administration: You will keep meticulous records of every interaction ensuring effective interventions at each appointment.
4. Group & Delivery: Delivering support in various settings, either through tailored support sessions or utilising set interventions and learning materials. Deliver workshops on financial literacy and money management alongside interventions
What Were Looking For:
5. Relationship Building: Youre able to connect with people at all levels, engaging with key stakeholders within Probation and building relationships with Service Users in a way thats genuine and promotes trust.
6. Compassionate, non-judgemental approach: You will be supporting vulnerable people who may have complex needs, mental health challenges, or addiction.
7. Organisation and time management: You can handle a busy caseload and stay on top of detailed records by effectively planning and managing your own diary.
8. Safeguarding awareness: You are supporting complex individuals at a challenging time in their lives and will need to be able to identify any safeguarding risks. You will be fully supported following any challenging interventions.
9. Flexibility: Youll need to be comfortable with change and be able to think on your feet.
Whilst we welcome those with lived experience, this role requires an enhanced DBS check. As we wait for background checks to be completed, youll have opportunities to shadow your colleagues, ask questions, and learn the ropes.
What We Offer: