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COMMUNITY LAW SERVICE (NORTHAMPTON & COUNTY) FINANCIAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROJECT Funded by British Gas Energy Trust JOB DESCRIPTION POST: HOURS: Energy and Money Adviser Full time – 35 hours per week. FUNDING: Current grant agreement in place until 31 March 2027 PURPOSE OF POST: Main Duties: To work within a team to deliver a holistic, face to face energy and money advice service particularly to vulnerable individuals. The focus will be on providing advice to enable households to manage and afford energy costs, as well as on welfare benefits, debt, financial capability and assistance to access measures to address fuel poverty. ● To provide energy advice, desk-top home energy assessments and facilitate access to utility debt write-off grants, tariff checks and payment assistance. ● To resolve billing problems in relation to energy costs. ● To provide a range of money advice support including Debt and Welfare Benefits advice. ● To provide advice by telephone as appropriate. ● To undertake home visits for housebound clients. ● To refer people to the Priority Services Register as appropriate. ● To refer as appropriate to other CLS advisers for specialist advice funded from other sources e.g. specialist debt advice funded by MaPS and Housing Legal Aid. ● To provide awareness/information sessions to stakeholders as required. ● To assist in the preparation of promotional materials and relevant literature aimed at promoting take-up of the services provided by the Project. ● To make referrals for support from other agencies. ● To comply with Lexcel quality mark standards. ● To keep accurate statistical information on the work undertaken. ● To support the project lead by providing information required for reporting to the funder. ● To closely monitor progress towards targets and ensure targets are met. ● To keep up to date with knowledge and developments in the relevant areas of social welfare law. ● To undertake in-house and external training relevant to the post. ● To represent the Service at meetings as required. ● To undertake any other relevant work as required. Being part of something bigger You will be part of an established charity with a highly skilled and experienced staff team. The organisation provides specialist debt, benefit, housing, immigration and fuel poverty advice across the county. This is an opportunity to help people affected negatively by the energy and cost of living crisis. You will be joining an expert, enthusiastic and hard-working team of advisers. The funding is in place until 31st March 2027 with a new funding round expected later in 2026. The British Gas Energy Trust is a long standing funder of Community Law Service and we hope to maintain this funding beyond the current contract, but at this stage it is too early to have any future grants confirmed. Other things to consider You will work in an office setting primarily, with some home working permitted once you are fully operational. The role is predominantly focused on delivering face to face advice but also may be required to deliver advice remotely via phone, within clients’ homes or at community centres so some travel will be necessary, for which expenses are covered. Parking costs will also be covered on days when you require your car for work. It will be necessary to insure your car for business use if/when you travel as part of your employment. Ongoing training will be compulsory and will be provided through a mixture of inhouse training, shadowing and external training. PERSON SPECIFICATION SKILLS AND ABILITIES - Essential ● Excellent communication skills – the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. ● Proven skills in working with people from a diverse range of backgrounds. ● Non-judgemental attitude. ● Good computer skills and the ability to utilise an internet-based case management system. ● Good time management skills. ● Good administrative skills. ● Excellent advocacy skills. ● A commitment to equality of opportunity. ● Self motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a team. ● Ability to work effectively in partnership with other agencies whilst maintaining the confidentiality and independence of the Service. ● Use of a car insured for business use and must hold a full driving license. KNOWLEDGE – desirable ● Knowledge of energy efficiency measures including behaviour changes, the support available from energy suppliers and wider energy efficiency schemes. ● Knowledge of welfare benefits entitlements and the claiming and appeals processes. ● Knowledge of enforcement procedures in respect of priority and non- priority debt and the remedies available to clients. ● Knowledge of debt counselling practice and procedure. ● A good understanding of services provided by the voluntary and statutory sector. EXPERIENCE - Desirable ● Recent experience of providing social welfare law advice. ● Experience of working with vulnerable client groups. ● Experience of outreach/community work. OTHER REQUIREMENTS All postholders are required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.