I am excited to be working with an amazing membership organisation for an experienced and dedicated Grants Case Worker. Your role will be to provide an effective casework service by maintaining an individual caseload at the required level and standard to ensure the delivery of a responsive, consistent and high-quality service.

Key responsibilities

You'll need to consistently manage a demanding caseload in a timely, efficient and effective manner, ensuring a quality service and in line with targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Reviewing and assessing grant applications, analysing information against criteria and interpreting financial information, you'll collaborate with welfare volunteers and other professionals to reach recommendations on financial assistance.

It'll be down to you to ensure members receive the highest level of service, including:

• Advice on income maximisation

• Advice on any additional support which may be available

• Assisting members in accessing this support or their contact with authorities, welfare providers and other organisations.

• Advocating and negotiating in consideration of individual circumstances and vulnerability.

• Co-ordinating applications to other grant giving charities and organisations

You'll also provide advice and guidance to volunteer branch welfare officers in relation to their role and cases they are dealing with.

• Authorising the payment of crisis and other grants within levels of delegated authority.

• Drawing on all available resources to inform the support offered to members.

• Producing clear assessment summaries for internal review or, reports for Trustee decision making meetings.

• Maintaining detailed and accurate case and financial records (paper and electronic) recording data received and actions taken in line with current policies and procedures so that we hold a solid picture of the work we do.

• Maintaining confidentiality in all areas of the role in line with procedures and, Data Protection regulations.

• Supporting the Team Leader in identifying trends and ongoing development of grant making policy and casework procedures.

• Sharing in team related tasks including daily case prioritisation, first line assessment, emergency applications and payments and, bank transactions.

• Maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of all areas relevant to the role and develop specialist knowledge related to the role as directed.

• Proactively keep abreast of developments within the wider organisation and issues affecting members.

• Contributing to the Volunteer Training, Development and information Programme through:

• Delivering the welfare officer induction training and, the planning or delivery of other presentations, training as directed.

• Advising welfare volunteers and others in the organisation on issues such as debt/money management, benefit entitlement, policy as it affects casework and alternative sources of help.

• Drafting materials such as factsheets and bulletins.

• Identifying potentially suitable beneficiary cases that could be used to encourage support and understanding of the charity's work or wider organisation campaigns.

• Collaborating with colleagues to foster a co-operative, flexible and team-working environment

• Attending meetings, contribute to projects, the development of annual work plans etc as required

• Participating in training as required to maintain and improve the relevant level of knowledge and skills needed to deliver a quality service.

• Undertaking other duties appropriate to the grade and relevant to key tasks and responsibilities of this post.

Who we're looking for: specialist and technical knowledge

You'll need substantial experience of working in a welfare related environment - possibly gained in the voluntary sector, ideally as a charity grants officer or, as a specialist or generalist advisor. 

You'll have up to date knowledge of the following, and be able to explain them in clear terms (due to the holistic nature of the service, the role will involve giving generalist information and advice across all subject areas):

• The key principles of income maximisation/debt advice/money management

• Welfare benefits and statutory funding

• The main recovery proceedings used by creditors, the legal implications and strategies for responding

• Ombudsman relevant codes of practice e.g. Financial Services

You'll also need a keen awareness and understanding of the impact that financial hardship can have on individuals and families, with demonstrable understanding of the need for confidentiality and data protection requirements.

Having successfully done so before, you'll relish the opportunity to develop strategies, solutions and/or plans to solve difficult problems requiring:

• Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills

• Skills in scrutinising complex information including financial data and, asking probing questions, where needed

• Identifying other organisations that can help and working with them when appropriate.

• Experience of taking responsibility for recommendations and decision-making.

Who we're looking for: interpersonal and communication skills

Among your highly developed communication skills will be the discretion and capacity to deal efficiently and effectively with people experiencing traumatic or difficult circumstances, and/or from different cultural backgrounds, to include:

• Giving advice, information and guidance

• Providing telephone support responding calmly, sensitively and positively to people who may present a range of emotions

• Writing skills ability to produce concise reports, comprehensive case records and high quality correspondence

• Proven experience in advocacy, representation and negotiation

• Experience in giving presentations and the confidence and ability to train our volunteers.

• Ability to work effectively and accurately within the administrative arrangements and timetables set ensuring that files and records (paper and electronic) are properly maintained.

If you have the above skills and experience and are immediately available, please apply online today!