Senior Welfare Benefit Officer

**J O B V A C A N C Y**

**Senior Welfare Benefit Officer**

**Permanent**

**35 hours per week, £25,500 per annum**

AUKS social prescribing programme the “Front Door Service (FDS)” provides low level community-based support for older people with a focus the preventative agenda. The Front Door I&A Officer will provide practical support to help older people to effectively maximise their income and improve their health & wellbeing.

A good standard of education and sound understanding of GDPR is required as well as the ability to explain complex issues whilst displaying an understanding and empathy for the needs and aspirations of older people.

At AUKS, not only can you expect a competitive salary, generous annual leave and pension entitlement, you can also expect to be supported in your ongoing personal development and work alongside people who are passionate about supporting individuals to achieve good mental and physical wellbeing and to live life to the full.

Must drive and have access to a car for work purposes.

**Key working Relationships**:

- AUKS Managers and service staff
- Sunderland City Council
- Primary Care
- Statutory and Community VCS providers
- Older people
- Carers and Carer Organisations
- Other clinical and non-traditional provider groups as required

**Background**:
The social prescribing model AUKS “Front Door Service (FDS)” provides low-level community-based support for older people with a focus the preventative agenda. This means that older people receive the right support, in the right place at the right time receiving information, early interventions and flexible low-level community-based support to those who do not require intensive or specialised care from statutory services.

Income maximisation via welfare benefit entitlement plays a key role in the improvement of wellbeing in older people whilst providing tangible financial support.

The Senior Welfare Benefit Officer post is responsible for providing first tier advice on all welfare benefits, whilst managing a caseload of individuals supporting the self-management of their needs.

The post holder will be responsible for the oversight of our Information & Advice Quality Programme (IAQP) and sustainment of the quality accreditation.

The post holder will work closely with the Front Door Living Well Link workers in the identification of referrals to the Front Door Information & Advice service.

The post holder will also identify unpaid carers and enable access to appropriate services.

**Key Responsibilities**

The post holder will be an excellent communicator and develop a wide knowledge of the services offered by non-traditional providers in the Sunderland area.

The post holder will require strong organisational skills, must be flexible in approach, able to exercise initiative and demonstrate a consistently high standard of professionalism, being aware of the need for confidentiality and integrity.

Provide accurate and timely advice on the entitlement of all welfare benefits, keeping up to date with changes in legislation.

Adhere to necessary administrative and information systems in line with AUKS recommendations.

If appropriate to act on behalf of and with the permission of clients, including correspondence, filling in forms and seeking information from third parties.

To carry out home visits, deal with telephone enquiries and appointments.

To organise I&A surgeries as and when necessary on and off site.

To signpost and make referrals where appropriate to partner organisations.

To develop and maintain links with other information and advice service providers within the city of Sunderland

Complete independent file review’s to monitor team and individual competency and staff development.

Participate in the quality standard process and have responsibility for the sustainment of the Age UK Information and Advice Quality Programme.

Support completion of client referrals, record electronically and feedback to team members

Ensure the adherence to KPI service targets

Extract caseload information from the client database as required, and undertake analysis of caseload information for audit and performance management purposes.

Comply with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements at all times

**General**

The post holder must carry out duties and responsibilities with due regard to the organisations’ equal opportunity policies and procedures.

The post holder must at all times respect client confidentiality and, in particular, the confidentiality of electronically stored personal data in line with the requirements of GDPR ensuring that there is no breach of confidentiality as a result of his/her actions.

The post holder must take responsibility for self-development on a continuous basis, undertaking on-the-job training as required.

The post holder must be aware of individual responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act, and identify and report as necessary any untoward acciden