Trainee Generalist Adviser - Local Services

Salary scale: £23,226.91 - £24,400.21 - £26,437.12 per annum
Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week - permanent contract
Work base: Based at our city centre office
Closing date: Monday 5th June 2023 at 9am

Our Local Services Department is expanding with the introduction of new projects, and the increase in demand for our existing face-to-face services. We are recruiting for a trainee Generalist Adviser to join the team.

About the role:

Improving Lives Plymouth and Citizen Advice Plymouth are working together in a joint contract with Plymouth City Council to provide a joined-up quality information and advice service across Plymouth, known as Advice Plymouth. The service provides Telephone, Drop in and Casework support. As part of the delivery of Advice Plymouth, a team of co-located caseworkers and generalist advisers will provide a range of advice and casework support needed by Advice Plymouth users.

The role is primarily office based with some outreach work out in the community at foodbanks, job centre etc. You will be advising clients in many different enquiry areas such as benefits, consumer, employment, family, grants, health/social care, housing, and immigration. You will deliver quality advice to clients through 10 appointments per week, either face to face or over the telephone. There is no average appointment – advice is tailored, and each client is treated equally.

You will join a strong, knowledgeable team, with a rewarding environment where we are all supported to provide the best possible service to our clients.

It can sometimes be a challenging role, but you will be fully trained and supported, working as a part of an approachable and supportive team in a rewarding environment to provide the best possible service to people across Plymouth.

Who we are looking for:

You will thrive on working with a diverse range of people and be open-minded, approachable and non-judgmental. You will take an empathetic and compassionate approach to clients. You’ll have a good understanding of mental health, how this affects people, and how you can support people experiencing poor mental health effectively. You will have good critical thinking skills, with the ability to identify and unpick issues.

You will have the ability to manage and support others during times of crisis, be resilient and able to manage difficult and emotional conversations well. Good communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential, as is the ability to effectively communicate with our clients with a non-judgmental approach.

You will be able to competently use a range of Office 365 programmes and keep databases accurate. You will have good prioritisation and time management skills to be able to work efficiently as part of a team to reach as many clients as possible as quickly as possible.

If you would like to apply for this role:

1. Please go to https://citizensadviceplymouth.org.uk/local-services-generalist-adviser/ to download our application pack

2. Please let us know if you need us to adapt our application process so there are no barriers for you to apply.

3. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 9am, Monday 5th June 2023

Working at Citizens Advice:

We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from suitably skilled candidates from all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from candidates who are disabled, or people from Black, Asian and other racially minoritised backgrounds, as these people are currently underrepresented at Citizens Advice Plymouth. We also actively welcome applications from LGBTQ+ candidates.

Benefits (subject to eligibility) include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays & an additional 2.5 days to be taken between Christmas & New Year (pro rata)
• Long term service leave – up to 5 additional days (pro rata)
• Health and wellbeing plan - cashback for dentist, opticians, physio and more
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Death in service cover (2 x annual salary)
• Peer to peer support scheme
• Employer pension contributions

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £23,226.91-£26,437.12 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Cycle to work scheme

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
The safety of our staff, volunteers and clients has been our top priority throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and we have safety measures in place in our office to reduce the risk.

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: 2324 008