We are proud to be partnering with a Housing Association based in Shropshire, who are looking to appoint a new Financial Inclusion Assistant to join their driven and proactive team.

The organisation is looking for someone on a Fixed Term Contract until the end of March 2025. The annual salary for the position is £28,770.00. They are also willing to consider applicants on a temporary three month contract, and the rate of pay for this is negotiable depending on experience.

This will be a full-time position, working 37 hours per week, and offers two days per week working from home.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience offering debt management advice, and will have access to their own vehicle.

Duties will include (but are not limited to):

• Assisting existing income collection teams and Financial Inclusion Officers with supporting tenants to maximise their income by advising on money management skills and welfare benefits

• Conducting home-visits to tenants in offering a tailored and attentive service as required

• Guiding tenants through welfare benefit reforms - including Universal Credit

• Enabling tenants to maximise their income and therefore sustain their tenancy through effective advice, training, and signposting to appropriate services

• Assessing the financial capability of new tenants (particularly those identified as vulnerable) via a financial health check

• Assisting and supporting tenants through the debt process by signposting to outside agencies

• Delivering a high-quality budgeting and money management service

• Supporting the tenant to complete and submit application forms for other benefit entitlements -for example Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance - as part of a financial health check

• Assisting customers with discretionary housing payments, appeals against over and underpayments of housing benefit, investigating benefit sanctions

• Liaising with credit unions, housing benefit staff and other partners to reduce financial exclusion

Experience required:

• Providing effective debt and welfare advice

• Working in a customer facing environment

• Liaising with external agencies and signposting clients accordingly

Skills, knowledge and expertise required:

• Specialist understanding of debt counselling and household budgeting

• Knowledge of credit unions, money advice services, citizens advice bureaus and other such agencies

• Strong verbal communication, with the ability to negotiate and mediate during difficult situations

• Working methodically in order to maintain accurate records

Rewards and Benefits:

• Up to 33 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays

• Access to Local Government Pension Scheme

• Flexible Working Policy

• Employee Benefits Portal

• Wellbeing Support Package

• Training and development opportunities

Working hours:

• 37.00 hours per week

• Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm

Please note that you require recent experience to apply for this role.

James Andrews is acting as an employment agency and business in relation to this role.

At James Andrews Recruitment Solutions we try to respond to all applications personally, however, due to the high volume of applications this is not always possible. If you have not heard back from us within 72 hours, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Don’t forget our recommendation scheme: Recommend a friend or colleague to us and receive up to £100 each once they have completed 20 days in a role via James Andrews! Terms and conditions apply, contact us for details.