Job summary
The Welfare Benefits Team, based in Tooting at Springfield Hospital is part of South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust and provides benefits advice and assistance to service users and carers. We are a team of 3 currently seeking a trainee adviser to join us in delivering a high quality client focussed service. The role is for 37.5 hours per week.
This is a unique opportunity to join us in an innovative, forward thinking Trust in a role that can be extremely rewarding; by making a real, positive difference in people's lives and playing a part in their recovery from mental health issues.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a positive, motivated person, with a passion for supporting potentially vulnerable people and the ability to learn quickly and use their initiative. We do not require any experience of benefits work just a highly motivated person who understands how to communicate and work with people. We will provide internal training in benefits including an apprenticeship and there is potential for a jump in pay band once the apprenticeship period is successfully completed.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To assist colleagues with their casework and enquiry chasing.
- To learn to interview clients in a sensitive, non-judgemental and appropriate manner.
- To learn, by reading and experience about different mental health conditions and medications and the effects these may have on clients.
- To read relevant materials to increase knowledge of the various benefits and benefit systems and to learn where to keep abreast of benefit changes.
- To learn about the different organisations available to consult over complex benefit problems.
- To learn how to make complete, concise and effective case notes.
- To learn how to clearly communicate information over to a range of audiences.
- To learn to liase effectively with relevant organisations in assisting with clients benefits.
- To learn to write comprehensive, detailed submissions and learn how to present them when representing clients at appeal hearings.
- To learn about identifying policy issues and contributing to discussions.
- To learn about systems within the Trust in order to better understand the role of the welfare benefits department and how it can be more effective.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To assist colleagues with their casework and enquiry chasing.
- To learn to interview clients in a sensitive, non-judgemental and appropriate manner.
- To learn, by reading and experience about different mental health conditions and medications and the effects these may have on clients.
- To read relevant materials to increase knowledge of the various benefits and benefit systems and to learn where to keep abreast of benefit changes.
- To learn about the different organisations available to consult over complex benefit problems.
- To learn how to make complete, concise and effective case notes.
- To learn how to clearly communicate information over to a range of audiences.
- To learn to liase effectively with relevant organisations in assisting with clients benefits.
- To learn to write comprehensive, detailed submissions and learn how to present them when representing clients at appeal hearings.
- To learn about identifying policy issues and contributing to discussions.
- To learn about systems within the Trust in order to better understand the role of the welfare benefits department and how it can be more effective.
Person Specification
Training & Qualification
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Paid/unpaid welfare benefits work in the field of mental health.
- Experience with developing policy work
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of the ability to learn complex information within a reasonable time
- The ability to use learning to improve the quality of your work
- Experience of giving information and presenting to a wide range of audiences
- Ability to identify potential issues of policy
- An understanding of mental health issues
- A passion for working with people one to one, ideally with mental health issues
- Ability to put together information materials, eg leaflets and guides
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- A good understanding of issues related to mental health and its impact
- An understanding of the links between poverty and ill health
- A passion to work to improve the situation for people with mental health issues
- Ability to interview and advise users and clients of the service in an appropriate manner
- To be able to gain the trust of clients to give you personal information that may be quite sensitive
- Ability to use word processing packages such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint
Desirable
- Knowledge of Disability Living Allowance and how people with mental health problems may be entitled
- Knowledge of other welfare benefits
- Knowledge of other IT packages
Person Specification
Training & Qualification
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Paid/unpaid welfare benefits work in the field of mental health.
- Experience with developing policy work
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of the ability to learn complex information within a reasonable time
- The ability to use learning to improve the quality of your work
- Experience of giving information and presenting to a wide range of audiences
- Ability to identify potential issues of policy
- An understanding of mental health issues
- A passion for working with people one to one, ideally with mental health issues
- Ability to put together information materials, eg leaflets and guides
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- A good understanding of issues related to mental health and its impact
- An understanding of the links between poverty and ill health
- A passion to work to improve the situation for people with mental health issues
- Ability to interview and advise users and clients of the service in an appropriate manner
- To be able to gain the trust of clients to give you personal information that may be quite sensitive
- Ability to use word processing packages such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint
Desirable
- Knowledge of Disability Living Allowance and how people with mental health problems may be entitled
- Knowledge of other welfare benefits
- Knowledge of other IT packages
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
