Welfare Support Officer

A leading housing organisation is looking for an experienced Welfare Support Officer based in Surrey to provide an effective and responsive welfare benefit and debt advice service for tenants and leaseholders to provide support to sustain residents in their homes and maximise income from rents and service charges by reducing fuel poverty, social exclusion and indebtedness. Provide effective support to high risk Welfare Reform and Universal Credit cases with the aim to maximise income from rents and service charges. Support tenants with irregular income and manage complex claims. Provide debt counselling/money advice to tenants and leaseholders and signpost complex cases for further money advice from other agencies and the voluntary sector e.g. debt relief orders and bankruptcy.Assist our most vulnerable residents to access services and make referrals for more intensive support to enable them to sustain their tenancies. keep up-to-date with changes in legislation, case law, Council Policies, best practice and share with other staff through advice, training and support. Provide staff awareness training and updates on welfare benefits and support, for tenancy signups, changes in circumstances and fuel poverty programmes. Train staff on how to carry out welfare benefits checks for residents seeking advice and assistance, and on the availability of other ways to maximise the residents income e.g. water tariffs and food bank vouchers. Work in collaboration with staff and other agencies to reduce rent arrears and the likelihood of possession action and/or eviction. Form effective relationships with the Council. Applicants must have Welfare Benefits and Dept Advice experience. Also must have Income experience. The pay rate is £15.15 per hour PAYE If you want to know more about the position please contact Ashley Diamond on Resourcing Group is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.