Wiser£Money
“Progress through Partnership”
JOB DESCRIPTION
Title:
Salary:
Hours:
Report To:
Place of Work:
Money Advice Case Worker
£22,500 – £24,213 dependent on experience
2 x 18 hours per week (pro rata)
Advice Service Manager
West Devon & South Hams
Money£wise
Money£wise is a strategic partnership between Wessex Resolutions (C.I.C) and Encompass Southwest (a
registered charity & company limited by guarantee) that is governed by a formal partnership agreement.
Money£wise operates across Devon and Somerset providing services for people living in rural/remote and
coastal and market town communities who are experiencing poverty, hardship and financial exclusion.
Encompass Southwest (Encompass) & Wessex Resolutions (Wessex)
Encompass is a community based charity that provides a range of services to people across Devon.
Encompass works to prevent and resolve homelessness & rough sleeping and to reduce the impact of
poverty and financial exclusion.
Wessex is a community interest company providing a range of financial inclusion services across Devon,
Somerset, Dorset and West of England. Wessex work to improve the quality of people’s lives through the
provision of affordable finance and effective money management advice.
Context and Main Objectives of Post
The Money Advice Intervention Service is delivered in response to an increasing concern over the effects
of Welfare Reforms and the wider economic downturn on the residents of the district. Many clients
approaching the Authority with a housing issue have experienced an income shock and the Council is
committed to the provision of a robust response in the face of increasing negative changes to the income of
many households across the area. The overarching intention of the service is to provide appropriate
interventions to those households and individuals facing both short-term and chronic budgeting/income
crises.
Typically, the service will provide debt and money advice, welfare benefits fuel poverty advice and deal with
housing issues, however this is not exclusive. The service will focus heavily on financial capability. The
project will build the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to enable people to make better decisions
around budgeting, borrowing, savings and banking. Many of the clients who present to the service will have
complex and multiple needs. The post-holder will work in a client focused manner that aims to empower
them to make decisions, understand responsibilities and develop skills to aid control of their lives.
The post-holder will operate from within the local authority and will be required to work in a highly
collaborative way with the Housing Options and Revenues and Benefits teams and other departments, and
to develop close working relationship with agencies across the area, building robust referral pathways with
all relevant statutory and third sector organisations to facilitate delivery of the money advice service and
local welfare support.
Main Duties
1. Working closely with key stakeholders, establish and maintain a successful local welfare support
service. Operate drop-in surgeries, appointments, financial capability workshops and home visit
services.
Wiser£Money
“Progress through Partnership”
2. Provide people with a high quality and comprehensive advice, guidance and signposting and
supporting service that focuses on:
 Welfare Benefits;
 Debt, money advice and budgeting;
 Income maximisation;
 Financial capability;
 Fuel poverty;
 Housing and Homelessness;
 Form filling;
 Accessing health and social services;
 Accessing food parcels, white goods and furniture
 Accessing rent in advance and deposits
3. Using prescribed forms and documents draw up Action Plans that reflect the identified needs of
clients. This should be done in a sensitive and appropriate manner that respects each client’s
dignity and individuality.
4. Respond in a timely manner to referrals from partner agencies, ensuring that initial contact is made
with clients within 3 working days.
5. Build on Money£wise’s established support network of voluntary and statutory sector agencies,
providing clients with a supported referral and information service.
6. Undertake on-going casework, including advocacy and representation on behalf of clients as
appropriate.
7. Produce in a timely manner statistical and narrative project reports as requested by Development &
Delivery Manager/Advice Service Manager and Project Steering Group. Produce project information
leaflets, press releases as required.
8. Operate workshops from community settings on a range of financial capability and other linked
issues.
9. Foster, co-ordinate and maintain close working relationships with external agencies, referring and
referral agencies and stakeholders. Working in a cooperative and consultative manner, encouraging
joint working to the benefit of both clients and Money£wise.
10. Raise awareness of the services provided by the project by organising publicity and working in
partnership with local voluntary and statutory organisations.
11. Keep informed of all new relevant legislation and changes in regulations and social policy issues.
This should include current housing legislation, welfare benefit legislations and other matters
relevant to successful support of clients.
12. Keep in touch with local issues and developments and changes in procedures within local and
national agencies.
Administration, Records and Statistics
1.
Prepare monthly time sheet in a timely manner.
2.
Accurately maintain all project records /reports/client records/client notes & etc.
Wiser£Money
“Progress through Partnership”
3.
Record, monitor, analyse and present statistics in relation to workload / outputs / outcomes to
enable the provision of reports to project funding providers and other organisations as directed by
Advice Service/Development & Delivery Manager.
4.
Prepare and present reports in various format and styles, ensuring that all written work for both
internal and external use is of a high standard.
5.
Remain up to date and proficient in the use of all relevant IT applications and undertake training as
required.
General Duties
1. Attend training sessions and courses as required.
2. Carry out any other duties commensurate with the post which may be reasonably requested from
time to time
3. The post holder will comply with and work within in the context of all Money£wise policies,
procedures and practices.
4. Adhere to Equal Opportunities Policy, applying anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that all
services are made as accessible as possible to clients.
5. Must maintain confidentiality of information about staff, clients and Money£wise business and be
aware of the Data Protection Act 1998 and Data Protection and Confidentiality policies and
procedures.
6. Comply with Health and Safety Policy in all aspects of the work, carrying out health and safety
checks in line with policy and keeping records as required.
7. Attend and contribute to regular supervision job appraisal meetings with the Advice Service
Manager.
8. Post- holders will require an Enhanced CRB and EBDC check.
Wiser£Money
“Progress through Partnership”
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential

A minimum of two year’s experience of delivering money and debt advice casework.

Sound understanding of the processes, procedures and ethics of money advice. This in practice will
mean understanding the needs, rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the money advice
process.

A ‘people person’ able to build rapport with and be sensitive to the needs of the service user who
are facing crisis and may have multiple and complex needs.

A non-judgmental approach; a strong understanding of issues of confidentiality.

Highly motivated and persistent with sound negotiation skills.

An ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Able to produce narrative and statistical
reports. Highly numerate, able to carry out complex calculations and prepare budgets for service
users.

Committed to training and personal development and keeping up to date with social policy as it
relates to debt and money advice. Have an understanding of social trends and their implications for
service users and the various stakeholders in the delivery of this contract.

Professional and organised and have the ability to interpret and follow procedures, understand
boundaries with clients and the parameters of the service.

Be able to prioritise tasks and work to deadlines. Manage time effectively under own initiative.

Excellent team player.

The ability to work professionally with creditors, statutory agencies and voluntary sector
organisations.

Highly IT literate.

Able to deliver one evening and one weekend outreach service per week.
Desirable

An authorised DRO Intermediary or willing and able to undertake the required training