Macmillan Welfare Benefits Adviser

Citizens Advice Hounslow is a well-established charity operating in the London Borough of Hounslow, supporting over 15,000 clients a year. We have an exciting new opportunity in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to provide welfare advice to support to people affected by cancer and those who care for them.

This post is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and is aimed at assisting clients on the phone and in person from our offices and outreach venues including local hospitals.

Role purpose:

To provide welfare benefits advice, casework, and assistance in accessing other financial sources, to maximise the income of those living with cancer, their families, and carers. This may include disability benefits and other sources of financial support such as grants and help with health and travel costs.

Training

Successful post holders who are new to cancer, will be provided with Macmillan specific welfare benefits community of practice and learning opportunities once in post.

Delivery locations

A key aspect of the project is to deliver an outreach service at the West Middlesex Hospital, our offices in Hounslow and the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, with regular sessions to be covered by the team of advisers. Clients will also be seen in person for appointments at our offices, while telephone advice and video appointments can be done working remotely.

Main responsibilities

• To provide welfare benefits advice, casework, and assistance in accessing other financial sources to maximise the income of those living with cancer, their families, and carers.

• Assist clients to challenge benefits decisions.

• Liaise and negotiate with other statutory and voluntary organisations to progress the client’s case and ensure they receive all assistance available.

• Achieve good outcomes for clients by helping them access benefits, grants, discretionary payments, schemes and discounts.

• Maintain detailed electronic case records and other data for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.

• Make internal referrals or signpost clients to other organisations as appropriate for specialist help with issues that fall outside the remit of the Macmillan service, including housing, debt, and employment.

• Interview clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills so that clients feel able to explain their problem(s) and empower them to set their own priorities.

• Collaborate with managers and colleagues to ensure the promotion, development and good working of the Macmillan project.