Welfare Benefits Caseworker

Organisation: Oxfordshire Welfare Rights
35 hour per week
Location: Barton, Oxford
Deadline: 22 December, 2023

Oxfordshire Welfare Rights (OWR) was originally formed in 1984 to provide a second-tier countywide welfare rights service based in the centre of Barton, which is in the top 20% of areas of deprivation nationally. We are experts in social security law and provide specialist advice, casework and representation in welfare benefits and representation at Tribunal. Clients can access this service through referral from another advice or support agency. Over the last 10 years OWR has generated an average income of £2.7 million per year for Oxfordshire residents.

Our team also provide a specialist debt service which has an authorised intermediary for Debt Relief orders. They give generalist advice in consumer, family law, housing and employment. We offer telephone consultancy for other advice and support organisations throughout Oxfordshire.

Our team can also provide training throughout the UK on a remote basis.

Position

• Location: Barton, Oxford
• Salary: Starting salary £30,281 dependent on experience plus 5% contribution to the NEST pension
• Hours: 35 hours per week (days negotiable)
• Contract Term: Permanent

Following a successful application to the Access to Justice Foundation Oxfordshire Welfare Rights are seeking a Welfare Benefits Caseworker to join our small experienced team providing telephone and face-to-face advice and casework and tribunal representation to eligible clients, delivering training on welfare benefits to service providers across the County of Oxfordshire and providing technical support to the regional benefits advisers on legal, statutory and best practice matters through our consultancy telephone service.

This is a fantastic opportunity to help clients in a constructive way when they are often feeling most vulnerable and would suit someone who has a passion for positivity and resolution.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Provide welfare benefits advice, casework and representation face-to-face, by telephone or digitally
• Represent clients or support clients/other advisers to represent at Tribunal
• To provide welfare benefit advice throughout Oxfordshire through the consultancy line
• To contribute to the development of systems and processes to maintain/improve/develop quality of advice provision
• Ensure that file reviews and quality checks on your own cases are carried out on a regular basis and that any training needs are identified.

The ability to travel is essential as the role will include some external meetings, training and tribunal representation.

Training will be given to the right candidate.

Requirements

Essential:

• A minimum of 3 years extensive and current welfare benefits knowledge which may include tribunal representation
• Ability to prioritise work effectively and work to deadlines
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail
• Good communication and problem-solving skills
• Flexible attitude to duties
• Ability to work independently and as a supportive member of a team Experience of working with disabilities and an understanding of how care and support services
• Ability to use IT systems; Word, Excel, Databases/MIS, internet and email
• Ability to travel

Desirable: A full clean drivers licence.

Other information

For an application pack, please contact Sarah Darby on 01865 744165 or email at sdarby@oxfordshirewelfarerights.org.uk.

The closing date for this position is Friday 22nd December 2023. Interviews will be held the week commencing 8th January 2023.