Argyll & Bute Citizens Advice Bureau (ABCAB) is an independent member of the Citizens Advice network in Scotland. The Bureau provides free, impartial, confidential and independent advice to residents across Argyll & Bute on a wide range of issues including debt, benefits, housing, energy, and consumer rights. The Citizens Advice network in Scotland plays a key role in tackling poverty, inequality and social injustice, while influencing policy and practice at both local and national levels.

The Energy Debt Adviser role sits within the ABCAB Energy Debt Project, which has developed in response to the ongoing fuel crisis and persistently high levels of fuel poverty across Argyll & Bute. The project aims to support individuals and families who are struggling to manage fuel costs, address energy-related debt, improve energy efficiency, and resolve disputes with energy suppliers.

The post holder will provide in-depth energy and fuel debt advice, advocacy, and casework support to clients, with a particular focus on vulnerable households. The role also has a proactive outreach element, supporting community engagement and contributing to improved awareness of energy efficiency, fuel rights, and available support schemes.

Job description

The Energy Debt Adviser is responsible for delivering high-quality, impartial energy advice and undertaking casework to support clients experiencing fuel debt, fuel poverty, and energy supplier disputes. The role requires specialist knowledge of the energy sector, strong advocacy skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partner organisations.

Employee benefits

Argyll & Bute Citizens Advice Bureau offers excellent terms and conditions, including a total of 35 days leave and a pension scheme with an 6% employer contribution, and life assurance. The Bureau is an inclusive employer considering flexible & remote working arrangements where appropriate, and operates a 4 Day Working Week.

Partners in Advocacy has delivered independent advocacy services since 1998 and is a trusted provider across Scotland.

We are pleased to offer an opportunity to join our Edinburgh service as an Independent Advocacy Worker.

This is a rewarding role in a supportive, experienced team, where you will make a genuine difference by providing one-to-one independent advocacy to people aged 16 and over with learning or physical disabilities, autism, and older people. You will support individuals in having their voices heard, helping them express their views, understand their rights, explore their options, and participate in decisions that affect their lives.

The role involves travelling throughout Edinburgh to meet people in a range of community and clinical settings. Travel expenses are covered, and you will be supported to plan your work in a way that is both effective and sustainable.

Working closely with the Service Coordinator, you will help maintain accurate service data and support the development of quarterly reports, helping demonstrate the impact of advocacy.

This is a role that offers a high degree of autonomy, alongside regular support, supervision, and opportunities to connect with colleagues across the organisation.

We warmly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds.

If your skills and experience align with the job description and person specification, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please complete the application form, providing examples of how you meet each aspect of the job description and person specification.

Partners in Advocacy is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible working environment.

What the role is really like

• You’ll be working most of the time independently, managing your own diary and priorities
• You’ll need to be confident working with people aged 16 and over with learning or physical disabilities, autism, and older people
• Your days will vary from supporting someone in a meeting, to travelling across Edinburgh, to completing case notes at home
• Some situations are complex or emotionally demanding, so strong boundaries are essential
• You’ll need to be able to understand complex information and processes, translate them to your advocacy partners, helping them to understand their rights and explore their options
• You’ll need to be comfortable making decisions and working proactively, while staying connected to your wider team
• You’ll be speaking to a range of professionals in a range of settings, communicating and amplifying your advocacy partner's opinions and wishes
• You’ll record, track and compile statistical and other information, writing it into tracking spreadsheets, Microsoft Word forms and create anonymised case studies

You’ll be a good fit if you:

• Are comfortable working autonomously and managing your own workload
• Are comfortable with regular travel across Edinburgh as part of your working day
• Can recognise the right times to check in with your line manager
• Have good planning and are punctual
• Can build trust with people and communicate clearly in a range of situations
• Are organised and able to balance direct work and admin responsibilities
• Have good writing and IT skills
• Are confident travelling independently across Edinburgh
• Value equality, rights, and person-led support
• Can research, read and understand complex information, then translate it and explain it in clear terms

Partners in Advocacy has an exciting opportunity for a new board member with an interest in independent advocacy.

We are seeking a Trustee who will have good interpersonal and communication skills, a commitment to working as a team, an understanding of and commitment to our charity’s work, a broader knowledge of trends across the third-sector and the application of those to strategic work.

Partners in Advocacy welcomes applications from people with a disability, those with a minority ethnic background, and the LGBTQ+ community.