This is a key frontline role helping people who are seeking information and advice. Our aim is to provide an effective and efficient advice service to members of the public and our assessors are at the heart of this work.

As a Gateway Assessor, you’ll work as part of a team directly with residents who need advice both face to face in community venues and on the phone. You’ll suggest the appropriate next steps after finding out more about the client’s problem and situation. This might be providing information, making an appointment with an Adviser, or making a referral to another organisation.

How much time do you need to give?

The initial training takes around 1 month if you attend twice a week. We prefer people who can commit to 2 days a week for at least 6 months after completing the initial training.

What do you need to have?

No formal qualifications are required – just the right attitude and dedication. We’re looking for volunteers who:

are friendly, caring and empathetic
are non-judgemental and able to remain impartial
have strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and are a good listener – you’ll need to be able to assess client’s problems using sensitive listening and questioning
have a good level of literacy and numeracy skills, including attention to detail
are comfortable using computers for training, communications and writing up notes
can work as part of a diverse team
can handle challenging situations and use their initiative to solve problems
will commit to the training programme and continuous professional development

We are keen to encourage volunteers who speak a community language e.g. Arabic, Bengali, Farsi or European languages.

You’ll also need to complete an Enhanced level DBS disclosure (criminal record check), which we will arrange. Having a criminal record does not necessarily prevent you from volunteering with us.

What we offer you

Our Volunteer Coordinator will support you throughout your volunteering journey at CAW and ensure that you get any training that you might need
You’ll join a positive, supportive and friendly team of volunteers and paid staff
All our volunteers are an integral part of our team. You’ll be invited to attend regular training sessions, join social events and support group activities
Your line manager will provide regular individual meetings and support
You’ll have access to the national Citizens Advice e-learning, networks and resources.
Reimbursement of agreed out of pocket expenses.

Progression

There may be opportunities to progress into Adviser roles. Advisers explore and discuss clients’ issues and options in more dept and suggest the next steps.

If you are interested in joining the advice team, then you need to be prepared for a longer commitment and training.

Our commitment to inclusion

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from people with physical or mental health conditions, and people from Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) and LGBTQ+ communities.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone, and we expect our volunteers and staff to share this commitment.

Confidentiality

Everything that you see and hear in the organisation is private. All staff and volunteers must sign an agreement to observe a strict rule of confidentiality before they begin their role.

How to apply

You will need to complete the online application form. You can download the

role description here.

Please email us at volunteering@westminstercab.org.uk if you’d like a paper copy of the form.

What happens after I have filled in the application form?

Your application will be acknowledged, and we will let you know when you should expect to hear back from us. Once your application has been reviewed and shortlisted, we will contact you for a conversation about your interest in volunteering at CAW. You may be asked to undertake a basic skills assessment and participate in an interview. The process will be friendly and supportive!

If you have any questions about the volunteer roles prior to completing your application please contact volunteering@westminstercab.org.uk

WESTMINSTER CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE

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What will you do?