Housing & Benefits Coordinator

MCT is known throughout many Traveller groups in the UK. We have built trust with often hard to reach communities through our cultural, pastoral and chaplaincy work. Using this solid foundation, we seek to offer a wider range of support to communities, in addition to the Legal, Health and Education work, we are finding an increase in need for support in other areas, in particular housing issues and benefits queries.

We are seeking to recruit a Housing & Benefits Coordinator to develop our efforts to increase support to Travellers in England. The Coordinator will play a key role within our team, working with families, housing and benefits offices, including CAB - as well as supporting our training programmes.

**Housing & Benefits Coordinator Responsibilities**:
Casework:

- To build trust and confidence with the families and communities that you work with.
- To work with housing and benefits providers (as well as advisors like CAB) that are local to sites that are designated to you,or are in touch through our Helpline.
- To work with individuals and families who have complex needs, advocating for them, and helping them to navigate the housing and benefits systems.

Working with housing and benefits providers alongside our CEO:

- Developing and delivering training for providers on working effectively with Travellers and reducing communication/cultural barriers.
- Build up our internal knowledge and external reporting on areas of good practice in benefits and housing practice in England and Wales.

General:

- As your caseload may permit, to be willing to assist the MCT team in addressing wider issues within particularly vulnerable families - for example SEN and benefit forms
- Collect data and relay information to MCT to inform programmes and policies through our case work system within agreed timescales.
- To recognise needs that may require referral to other internal services or other agencies.
- To involve and empower family members throughout the service delivery; supporting them to find their own solutions, to engage with relevant agencies and to take the lead in their own lives and that of their families.
- To participate in relevant MCT induction visits, training and supervision.
- To understand and comply with MCT’s values, policies and procedures, including by executing MCT’s procedures for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
- Any other reasonable request.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

**Housing & Benefits Coordinator Requirements**:
Essential:

- 2+ years experience in a role, working with the public, where your demonstrable skills can be transferred to this position (acceptable experience may include as a CAB advisor or similar, a social worker, community worker etc.).
- Knowledge of basic housing and benefits systems.
- Hold a current valid driving licence and have the use of a car.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, highly organised, and ability to work well under pressure.
- Demonstrable flexibility, open mindedness, integrity, humility and a sense of humour.

Desirable:

- Ability to work with colleagues in order to achieve various goals.
- Understanding of confidentiality laws and practices.
- Show a genuine interest in and understanding of the meaning of service to the marginalised.
- Excellent communication and pastoral skills, adaptable to different age groups, needs and communities, with an awareness of dealing with at risk clients.
- Familiarity with the Traveller culture.
- Good awareness of mental health issues.
- Experience of working with marginalised or vulnerable groups or communities.
- Experience of dual or multi agency work.
- Experience with record keeping and KPIs.

**About Us**:
Margaret Clitherow Trust believes in the equality and dignity of each human being. We believe in a world where everyone is included, regardless of their background, gender, ethnicity, sexuality - or indeed anything else Everyone should be able to uphold their civil rights and play a full part in a society where they enjoy mutual respect with other people. We believe that this is possible for the Traveller, Gypsy and Roma communities and we look forward to being part of a country where this is realised.

We are a registered charity in England and Wales, serving the aforementioned communities, through the provision of:

- Pastoral care and chaplaincy
- Advocacy/legal referrals
- Facilitating access to education, healthcare and statutory services
- Other required family support work
- Relevant training for other organisations
**Location**:Based at Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire - main office, but working from home likely most of the time. Client/training visits within England (occasionally Wales if required).

**Contract Type**:Fixed-term contract for 1