Refugee Resettlement Welfare Support Officer Chichester, England
Job description
Salary: £28,371 to £31,099 per annum
Working Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week
Location: County Hall, Chichester
Interview Date: 1st and 2nd March 2023
In this role you will provide welfare benefits advice and general support with initial integration for refugee families arriving to resettle in West Sussex, as well as financial assessment services, to refugee families in receipt of chargeable services.
This will include visiting people in their homes to provide face to face support and professional advice on Welfare Benefits and assessments, as well as support to complete forms and follow up benefit claims to ensure entitlements are realised, and gathering financial information and undertaking financial assessments to determine individual contributions.
You will also work as part of a team liaising with managers across services and with outside agencies to provide an efficient and effective customer focussed service.
The job involves regularly working with people in their own homes, with subject matter that requires sensitivity and empathy, for example when dealing with people who may be upset, confused or occasionally defensive.
You’ll need to be able to travel independently to various locations around the county on a regular basis, including to areas that may not be easily accessible by public transport. There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public (via interpreters where necessary).
Experience and Skills
Key Skills:
- Good literacy and analytical skills to understand, interpret and work with complex written information (including lengthy forms and financial documents) and to draw together information to develop practical, appropriate approaches and effective solutions.
- Good numeracy skills to make sound and accurate financial calculations with reasonable speed and work with an understanding of finance.
- Developed communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to exercise sensitivity and empathy when working with and advising refugee families on issues which could be sensitive or difficult. Including the ability to explain and guide people effectively to understand technical information and influencing them to make sound decisions which will have a direct impact on their lives.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently on own initiative, managing and prioritising own workload effectively to meet deadlines and objectives.
- Sound and accurate IT and keyboard skills, for general office duties.
Qualifications and/or experience:
- 4 GCSEs at grade C or above (9-4), including Maths and English, or equivalent qualification or experience demonstrating sound levels of literacy and numeracy.
- 3 A levels at grades A-D, or equivalent qualification or experience demonstrating that level of ability, applied knowledge and understanding.
- Knowledge of procedures and policies relating to Welfare Benefits, or similar knowledge which could apply to services related to social care.
- Experience of working independently visiting people in their own homes and providing a specialist service.
- Full, clean driving licence.
Rewards and Benefits
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.
In addition to working within a great team and a competitive salary you will have access to:
- 26 days annual leave + bank holidays.
- A generous pension scheme.
- Training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring.
- A strong supportive management team.
- A range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers with the opportunity to save over £1,000 (Including: Argos, Samsung, Asos, B&Q and many more).
- Free access to employee assistance programmes.
- Discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres.
- Car benefit scheme.
- A range of commuting and business travel discounts and initiatives
For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.
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Further Information
The reference number for this role is CPP00672.
For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Tim Tuckett at [email protected] . For issues or queries regarding your application please contact [email protected].
To apply, please follow the links below upload your CV and cover letter explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.
Job Reference: CPP00672
