Job Title IAG Case Worker (20 hours) Reporting To: IAG Service Manager Contract Type: Fixed Term until 30 th June 2025 with opportunity to extend subject to programme funding continuing Location: IHWC, Unit 18, ACE Business Park B33 0LD Salary: NJC Scale Points 12 Current FTE £26,063.96, pro rata'd at 20 hours per week -£14,281.62 Working Hours 20 hours per week MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES: To provide an effective information and advice service, comprising telephone and online enquires received via email and the website, for disabled people to agreed organisational & Contractual standards and ensuring that all targets and outcomes are met.
To deliver effective information and advice support by telephone, email, virtually, face to face, home visits and via outreach in order to assist clients to maximise their income streams effectively and efficiently to meet their individual needs.
To work effectively with the service commissioner and with DRC to provide high quality, impartial information and advice to clients that comply with organisational standards.
To provide IAG casework to clients accessing the service.
To ensure that the information and advice service stays current, and up to date with disability related legislation and policy guidance.
To establish and maintain strong contacts with other partners to maintain an effective information and resource bank to support clients.
To develop DRC's on-line information resources and ensure these are kept up to date and continue to meet clients' needs.
To provide person-centered support across a range of presenting issues relating to housing, welfare, income maximisation and welfare benefits, debt, personal budgets, grant applications, Personal Independent Payments, social care and health, safeguarding, employment, advocacy, access to statutory services, energy efficiency, discrimination and social exclusion.
To support the establishment and maintenance of external referral procedures with relevant statutory and specialist Third Sector providers to achieve positive outcomes for clients.
To establish and maintain internal referral and joint working with other DRC teams and services where this is appropriate to meet client need and achieve effective outcomes.
To maintain accurate and up to date client records and statistics through DRC's CRM system, including details of advice, casework, attendance, monitoring of progress against client action plan and SMART targets, supporting the provision of service reports and key performance indicators information to DRC's Executive Team, , Board of Directors and funders.
To provide information and feedback to the Team Leader and Service Manager and instigate improvements to existing services and the development of new additional services.
To support the Team Leader to provide accurate and timely reports to DRC's commissioners, Birmingham City Council.
To work alongside volunteers supporting the work of the Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Team.
To attend external meetings representing DRC and the IAG Team, feeding back to colleagues and Senior Managers as appropriate.
To cover for the Team Leader where this is required and appropriate within the role.
To be aware of and comply with DRC policies and procedures, including health and safety, safeguarding, General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and equal opportunities.
To ensure your own continuing professional development by attending relevant meetings, conferences, and seminars, undergoing training and any other appropriate means.
To work effectively as part of the team and be flexible and responsive to changing funder needs and DRC requirements.
To undertake any other duties as and when required commensurate with the role.
The post holder will come into contact with vulnerable adults and will therefore be subject to a disclosure check at an enhanced level prior to confirmation of employment.
Qualifications Essential Desirable Good standard of education including English & Maths / NVQ 3 in Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) or willingness to complete this within first 12 months of employment / Degree or equivalent qualification / Experience A minimum of 12 months' experience working in an advice/support/legal setting with disabled people or other social excluded groups.
/ Proven track record of advocating on behalf of excluded groups, supporting them to achieve positive outcomes in relation to housing, welfare, debt, personal budgets, health, employment, access to statutory services / Experience of caseload management, including developing and maintaining client case files / Experience of working in a multi- faceted role within a small organisation / Proven track record of meeting targets and working to deadlines / Proven track record of networking and undertaking outreach work / Previous experience of managing and supervising others / Proven track record of working with disabled people / Previous experience of supervising others / Knowledge Excellent ICT skills and the confidence to use ICT Packages to coordinate events and communications and record beneficiary data.
/ Awareness and understanding of equal opportunities / A clear understanding of the issues affecting disabled people and/or their families and carers / A good knowledge and understanding of housing, welfare benefits, personal budgets, education, health and social care legislation and its impact on the rights and entitlements of disabled people / A good knowledge and understanding of the support services available to the client group and referral processes to the statutory and non-statutory agencies / A good understanding of safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults / Communicates clearly and is able to effectively remove barriers to communication / Excellent written and verbal communication skills / The ability to produce correspondence, reports and written documentation using Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook / An understanding of the purpose of outcomes monitoring and project evaluation and the ability and willingness to capture outcomes data / Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritise workload and effectively multi-task / Understanding of the Social Model of Disability / Personal Qualities Good attendance record.
Any absences relating to a disability, or any other incapacity will not be taken into account / Disposition A willingness to undertake personal and professional development as required / The ability to work in a pressured multi – faceted role / The ability to take initiative, be self- motivating and motivate others / The ability to work effectively and flexibly as part of a team / The ability to identify and implement change with minimum disruption / The job will include external work including attendance at outreach sites, meetings, and events so the ability to be mobile is essential / Demonstrable commitment to support the values of DRC.
/ This is a description of the job as it is at present.
It does not form part of the contract of employment.
Job descriptions are regularly reviewed and altered, when necessary, in conjunction with the post holder.