Background Information

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team of paid and volunteer staff to further develop our Energy Advice service. Clackmannanshire Citizens Advice Bureau, based in Alloa, is an independent and innovative advice organisation providing holistic advice to the residents of Clackmannanshire across 7 locations in the county. We currently have 25 paid staff and 14 volunteers who provide a wide range of services, across our projects.

We have been delivering a valuable, high-level service to the community of Clackmannanshire for over 50 years. We have accreditation in Type III advice by Scottish National Standards for advice providers (SNSIAP) in the areas of Housing, Energy, Debt and Benefits.

All bureaux are members of Citizens Advice Scotland (the Scottish Association of CABx), and as such must meet specific conditions of membership related to standards of service and other matters. Each operates as an independent charity. This bureau is a limited company as well as a registered charity, governed by a board of directors/trustees.

About the Role

This role of Safe & Warm Energy Adviser has been funded since 2022 and is now extended until March 31st 2028 with the possibility of a further extension and provides an excellent opportunity based at our premises in Glebe Hall, Burgh Mews, Alloa.

We are looking for a highly motivated organised person with the drive and enthusiasm to build on the Bureau’s successful track record of supporting vulnerable people facing financial hardship. The Safe & Warm Adviser will help people experiencing problems with utility services make informed decisions, control their budgets and avoid fuel poverty.

In addition, there is a requirement to provide and maintain accurate records, provide statistical data and provide reports, as required, whilst managing their own workload. An understanding of the needs of our funders and their requirements is necessary.

Applicants should ideally be a suitably experienced worker able to publicise the project and to encourage self-referrals from other agencies. There is a requirement to have a knowledge of the process of project delivery with excellent interpersonal skills as partnership working in the voluntary and statutory sectors are required.

Applicants should also demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills, enthusiasm, strong social awareness and an excellent team player, be well organised and be proficient in using a range of IT tools to carry out their work, including case recording systems, Microsoft Office.

This post specifically exists to ensure the delivery of an ongoing Energy Advice Service within Clackmannanshire Citizens Advice Bureau. It will involve providing support to staff and volunteers who also deliver the service. This post supports the ongoing learning and development of a high-quality service by ensuring provision of training to staff/volunteers in conjunction with our General Services Supervisor.

Consideration maybe given to individuals who do not meet the full requirements of the post, but who could be trained in a reasonable period this will be offered at below the entry level salary initially.

Committed, results-driven and supportive to the needs of others, the successful applicant will be able to work both on their own initiative as well as part of a team and must be willing to follow and develop agreed procedures.

This is a unique opportunity to give citizens access to free, impartial and confidential advice helping them to make informed decisions, whenever they need it and however they choose to access it.

Employee Benefits

We offer additional working benefits, such as annual performance related salary increases, 5% employer’s pension contribution plan, free membership of an employer health plan, free use of company e-bikes and a retail perks scheme. Holiday entitlement for full year is 39 days pro rata leave including public holidays, with the ability to buy and sell annual leave. Flexible working scheme including some flexible start and finish times.

Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey CAB is an independent charity providing advice, information and support to people across our community. We are a friendly team of over 60 employees and volunteers working over 3 locations (Inverness, Raigmore and Aviemore) delivering a busy advice service. We strive to deliver a good quality service that meets the needs of our clients in a non-judgmental and confidential manner. We aim for individuals not to suffer through not knowing or understanding their rights and responsibilities or not being aware of the services available to them. We provide advice and options to our clients so that they can make informed decisions and feel empowered to improve their personal circumstance.

Purpose of the Role

The Domestic Abuse Outreach Case Worker will deliver dedicated and empowering support to women across Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey, who have experienced or are at risk from domestic abuse. This role encompasses practical benefits and welfare advice, emotional support, advocacy, and collaborative working with statutory and third-sector organisations to achieve the best possible outcomes for women in our service. A trauma-informed approach is essential, ensuring that women receive a comprehensive, person-centered service in a safe and supportive setting. Advice and Support is delivered through telephone support, one to-one meetings, and attendance at joint meetings with partner agencies.

NB. We value the expertise of women with lived experience of domestic abuse. However, we cannot recruit current service users due to conflicts of interest and require a minimum of six months since last accessing services before applications are considered.

PURPOSE OF ROLE

To provide holistic advice on a range of welfare benefits issues. To offer clients advice and information to maximise their income and to ensure they are receiving the correct entitlements. This will including conducting full benefit checks, better off calculations, assisting clients with revision, supersessions and appeals of benefit decisions and also assisting client to navigate their benefit claims. The role will also require to provide advice on all areas of entitlements for clients such as energy, charitable applications or assistance with health costs for example.

The role will require someone who has experience or understanding of the benefits system, ideally in provision of advice, information and representation however someone who can evidence similar transferrable skills in another setting may be considered also. This role will suit a resilient and empathetic person who is able to work under pressure but enjoys the challenges of advice delivery and is able to work in a non-judgmental and impartial, confidential manner.

The role offers a supportive and friendly environment where we work to provide our community with advice, information and options to allow informed choices. The role also provides opportunities for continuous development and training.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key work areas and tasks:

Advice giving

• Ensure income maximisation through the take up of appropriate benefits.
• Prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals and courts as appropriate.
• Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer to other advisers or specialist agencies as appropriate.
• Provide advice and assistance to other staff across the whole range of issues.
• Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, and statistical monitoring and report preparation.
• Ensure that all work conforms to the bureau's systems and procedures.
• Negotiate with third parties such as statutory and non-statutory bodies as appropriate.
• Ensure that all work conforms to the bureau's Quality Standards at the appropriate level.
• Maintain detailed case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation to a high standard.

Social policy

• Assist with social policy work by providing information about clients' circumstances through the appropriate channel.
• Alert clients to social policy options.

Professional development

• Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training.
• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions/team meetings/staff meetings as appropriate.

Administration

• Use IT for statistical recording, record keeping and document production.
• Ensure that all work conforms to the bureau's systems and procedures.

Other duties and responsibilities

• Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.
• Demonstrate commitment to the aims and policies of the CAB service.
• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Evidenced understanding of welfare benefits and provision of advice, or an ability to show transferable similar transferable skills.
• Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the CAB service and its equal opportunities policies.
• Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to challenge constructively.
• Ability to monitor and maintain own standards.
• High level of written and oral communication skills.
• Understanding of the issues affecting society and their implications for clients and service provision.
• Ability to use IT in the provision of advice.
• Flexibility and willingness to work as part of a team.
• Willingness to learn and develop skills in advice topics.
• Willingness to train other staff or volunteers and provide 2nd tier advice.
• Ability to research, analyse and interpret complex information.
• Numeracy skills required to understand statistics and check calculations.
• An understanding of and respect for the volunteer led ethos of CAB and an ability to reflect this in their day-to-day work.

We are looking for an experienced Money Advice Worker with experience delivering benefit and debt advice to join our growing team at GEMAP. This is an exciting time to be part of the organisation as we expand our work to tackle poverty in Glasgow through high‑quality, person‑centred advice.

As a Money Adviser, you will be part of an energetic and supportive team, working directly with clients to maximise income, reduce household costs, and manage debt. You will provide accurate, practical advice that helps people improve their financial resilience and move towards greater stability.

We are looking for someone with experience delivering advice who can hit the ground running, with strong knowledge of welfare rights and money advice legislation, and a sound understanding of the principles of financial capability. You will have excellent knowledge of state benefits, tax credits, and grants, and be confident assessing entitlement and supporting clients to make applications.

More than technical expertise, we are looking for someone who sees the whole person. You will be committed to delivering high‑quality advice in a respectful, non‑judgemental way and to supporting people at often challenging points in their lives.

Our advisers are expected to work in line with the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice and to manage a busy caseload effectively. In return, we support our staff to develop and excel through tailored Personal Development Plans, our Employee Assistance Programme and by fostering an inclusive, supportive working environment.

We are passionate about our mission and are looking for someone with the drive, empathy, and commitment to make a real difference. You will be an excellent team player, a confident and effective communicator, well organised, and comfortable using IT systems to support your work.

If you want to work for an organisation that truly puts people at the centre of everything it does, we would love to hear from you.