Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) was formed over 50 years ago to provide a holistic advice service to the residents of Hamilton. As a member of the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux network, Hamilton CAB aims to provide free, independent, impartial, and confidential advice and information to ensure that people understand their rights and responsibilities and can express their needs effectively. We campaign and influence to tackle the root cause of the problems people face and work to strengthen their rights.

Hamilton CAB currently operates from two offices in Hamilton and are supported by 18 members of staff and 31 volunteers including board members. The Bureau supports individuals with a wide range of general enquiries whilst project staff provide specialist support on topics including benefits, debt, utilities, and money matters.

The role:

We are seeking a committed and dynamic individual to serve as the Chair of our organisation.

As Chair, you will play a vital role by providing strategic leadership to the board, ensuring it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation. You will also provide line management, support and direction to the Chief Officer, helping them to achieve the organisation’s aims and objectives; and ensures the smooth running of Hamilton CAB.

We are looking for an individual who has experience of leadership and governance. You will have a passion for the voluntary sector, strong leadership skills and an ability to drive forward positive change.

Although, not financially remunerated, the role is high profile and respected within the community and will offer a great challenge, learning and networking opportunity for the right person.

There are an average of 6 Board meetings per year to commit to as well as preparation time and regular collaboration /communications with the team and stakeholders.

Our Bureau provides confidential, free, independent and impartial advice to those who live and work in the Clydesdale area. We offer generalist advice on issues in areas such as Benefits, Consumer Matters, Council Tax, Employment, Utilities, Family and Personal Matters, Housing and Debt. Our specialist services offer counselling and representation with regard to debt, benefits, pensions and complaints and concerns with the NHS.

Advisers not only offer advice but also negotiate and act on behalf of clients. All advisers are trained to Citizens Advice Scotland standards.

The Bureau provides a service to the people of Clydesdale through its office in Lanark and through outreach provision in a number of outlying areas.

The Caseworker will be responsible for the provision of a quality advice and information service to the public. The caseworker will play a key role in the delivery of the multi-channel (telephone, face-to-face, webchat, email, video-conference) advice service, principally covering benefits, debt, housing and employment issues, which aims to improve access to advice services for local people, particularly vulnerable families and older people. This will involve the postholder working closely with colleagues and volunteer advisors.

At least one year’s recent advice experience of social welfare advice issues such as benefits, debt, employment and housing advice and assistance.

The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is the largest independent advice service in the country. Citizens Advice Scotland is a charity within this network – we act as a national organisation supporting and representing the service as a whole and the interests of citizens. At the heart of the network there are 59 individual citizens advice bureau across Scotland, all operating as independent charities in their own right, which focus on providing support and advice directly to clients. Each of these organisations is a member of Citizens Advice Scotland. We believe that every citizen should have access to free, impartial and confidential advice that helps them make informed decisions, whenever they need it and however, they choose to access it.

As the Lead Project Officer, you will use your excellent project management skills to support the day-to-day project management of the organisation’s key national specialist services. You will be working alongside the project lead and take responsibility to identify and progress service improvement initiatives as they arise and assist with ongoing developments in coordination with the project’s funder. You will lead on continuity of project reporting and operational effectiveness.

For more information about the role, please refer to the Job Pack.

Employee benefits

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions. We want our people to have a great work life balance and we have designed our working practices and benefits to support this. Here are some of things our employees benefit from: a 35-hour full time working week, 40 days annual leave, genuine flexibility in working hours with a flexi-time system, and blended/hybrid working opportunities for every role. For more details of some of the other benefits on offer to our employees, please see the section on employee benefits in the job pack.

Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements to support all our staff. We are also committed to equality of opportunity for all and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

CAS provides options for blended working to allow employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home. The number of days you will be able to work from home each week will be dependent on your job role and can be discussed as part of the recruitment process.