Welfare Advice Officer

**Welfare Advice Officer **(3148)****:
**Overview**:
**Ref**:
3148

**Salary**:
£31,000 - £31,000/annum

**Location**:

- United Kingdom - England - Greater London - Holborn

**Contract Type**:
Permanent

**Posted**:
07 November 2023

**Closing date**
23 Nov 2023 23:59

Pinnacle Group provides people-first, integrated services across a range of community-facing assets and infrastructure - including multi-tenure housing, schools, open spaces, public buildings, utilities and broadband networks - as well as a range of complementary employment and wellbeing outcomes. Across the UK, Pinnacle supports over 300,000 homes, 200 schools and 80 public buildings creating value, providing stewardship and generating positive outcomes for our customers, our partners and our clients.

Our Homes business serves communities by providing trusted housing management solutions. We take a collaborative and commercially minded, yet socially principled approach across our portfolio of Affordable, Private Rented and Leasehold properties.

The Role - Welfare Advice Officer

Pinnacle Group are looking to recruit an enthusiastic Welfare Advice Officer to liaise with Pinnacle Housing employees, clients, suppliers, external support agencies and local authorities, the role will be office based with travel to sites and visiting residents in their homes.

Duties/Key Responsibilities
- To provide a welfare advice and financial inclusion service across all housing services and contracts.
- To support tenancy sustainment by enabling customers to manage their rent accounts and avoid eviction, alongside the prevention of wider personal debts and income maximisation
- To work with the Income Manager to ensure all services are delivered in a way that is customer focussed, efficient and meets our contractual targets and requirements
- To deal effectively with all welfare benefit queries including representing residents at review, appeal and tribunal level where required
- Develop and maintain positive links with external partner agencies (DWP, JCP, LA’s, support agencies) to strengthen partnership working and explore opportunities to provide additional support options to residents
- Contribute to internal and external reporting as required
- Work in partnership with other organisations to ensure financial inclusion activities are targeted to residents
- Work with the Housing Management teams to carry out pre-tenancy affordability checks for prospective tenants
- Identify any residents in need of specialist money advice and refer to external partner agencies including Step Change

**Skills**:

- Influencing and negotiation skills
- Excellent numerical and reporting skills
- Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team
- Good knowledge and understanding of the legal framework for housing
- Excellent understanding of the welfare benefits system
- Experience of working in a welfare advice service within a local authority or housing association
- Housing management systems preferably Qube (not essential, training will be given
- Strong communication skills

**Contact information**:
HomesCM Mock