Job vacancy

 

 

 

 

 

WELFARE BENEFITS ADVISER and SUPPORT WORKER (Ref: MWBA2)

MACMILLAN BENEFITS ADVICE SERVICE

 £25,500pa

Plus matching 5% pension contribution

 35 hours per week

 Fixed term – Until 31^st December 2016 (with possibility of extension)

 An experienced Generalist Adviser is sought to support the bureau’s Macmillan Cancer Support (MCS) Project.  Both Croydon and Wandsworth CABx have delivered MCS funded Benefits Advice Services for several years for people affected by cancer at Croydon University Hospital (CUH) and St George’s Hospital (SGH) NHS trusts, plus local community cancer centres and within bureau offices. MCS has funded a cross-CABx service as an extension of this service in a partnership with the four NHS Trusts: CUH, SGH, Kingston and Epsom & St Helier (Sutton).  This pilot has given equal access to all people affected by cancer in SW London and integrates further with MCS direct services.  The postholder will have prime responsibility for supporting the bureau’s MCS adviser by: staffing the telephone helpline; carrying out advice assessments of clients’ problems; providing information and general advice to clients; undertaking form filling and acting as a conduit between clients and the adviser.  This post will also provide some appropriate administration support for the adviser.

You will need at least six months’ experience as a trained Citizens Advice generalist adviser or equivalent and proven up-to-date welfare benefits knowledge.  Own transport is essential as there is a requirement to work within each of the trusts and across both CABx’s outlets/offices.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support.

Closing date: Midday Thursday 27th August 2015.   Interviews expected to be w/c 30^th August 2015.

For an application pack, email recruitment@croydoncab.org.uk or call 01689 808139

Registered charity number: 298761

 

 

Citizens Advice Croydon

CAPT Guidance Tutor & Recruitment Admin Support Worker (Ref: CAPT GTRAS)

Salary: £19,000 (including OLW) pro-rata until 31st December 2015

Hours: 35 hours per week

Fixed term: until 31 December 2015

_____________________________________________________________

The Croydon Advice Providers Together lead partner organisation is looking for a highly motivated individual to support the CAPT Guidance Tutor & Recruitment Officer with the day-to-day administrative and reception tasks involved in running our new service, which focuses on the delivery of advice in new ways and settings and empowering the service users.

You will have demonstrable competencies in providing administrative support, organising files and administrative office systems, updating and maintaining databases, responding to enquiries over the phone and in person. You should be able to work in a pressured environment and have excellent communication and people skills. You will need to be able to work well in a team, with a flexible approach and the ability to prioritise work effectively.

CLOSING DATE: 12 noon on 31 July 2015

INTERVIEW DATE: week commencing 3 August 2015

HOW TO APPLY: Email for the application pack to: recruitment@croydoncab.org.uk

or send an A4 (74p) SAE to Recruitment, Citizens Advice Croydon, 1 Overbury Crescent, New Addington, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 0LR. Please quote the job ref (CAPT GTRAS) in all communications.

New Service Available from Disability Croydon

Family Navigator Service

This is new to DisabilityCroydon under the Croydon Family Power Programme. We are here to provide an independent family advocacy service for families where the child or parent has a disability. The eldest child in the family would need to be between the ages of 5 and 10.

Our Main Goals

• To enable you to navigate and make best use of local support services.
• To discuss with individual family members their views, preferences and wishes and determine a course of action which promotes their rights
• To assist family members in obtaining help from other agencies (e.g. Council services, schools, health providers, voluntary organisations, etc) by working alongside the family
• To accompany family members to key meetings in relation to early intervention and provide support and representation as appropriate
• To take up issues relating to family members’ support needs and to enable self-advocacy
• To arrange tailored group or individual support packages to provide family members with opportunities to resolve difficulties, build networks, develop practical skills and find peer support.

If you feel that you or someone you know would benefit from this service, or you would like to discuss it further, please call Anita Davison on our main office number or email anita@disabilitycroydon.org.uk

Training In Disability Benefits For All Ages

Croydon Advice Providers Together (CAPT)

This is an invitation to a training session for staff and volunteers of voluntary sector agencies working in the advice and information sector within Croydon.

This event is part of our Masterclass series, which focusses on issues as they affect people who live and work in Croydon, with a view to raising awareness and improving the knowledge of those organisations who might assist them.

The course is a practical training/workshop on the different disability benefits for children, adults of working age and adults over 65. The course will also cover carer’s allowance.

The course date is Wednesday 17^th June 2015 at 10.00. a.m. (Registration at 9.45 a.m).   The course will finish at 1.00p.m.

The aim of the course is to give an overview of various benefits for different age groups and to provide you with the knowledge to help clients understand the criteria and apply for the relevant benefit claim…

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CVA invites you to “Meet the Funders”

On Wednesday 1st July 2015, Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) are hosting a ‘Meet the Funders’ event, providing access to funding information for community projects. Come along to meet representatives from Trust for London, National Churches Trust and London Catalyst.

There will be a general session in the morning which will include ‘tips on writing successful bids and funding priorities’. It is an opportunity for groups to discuss their ideas with potential funders and collect a range of information about possible sources of grant aid. The event also offers the groups an opportunity to meet and work together.

There will be a limited number of 1-2-1 sessions with the Funding Officers. If you would like an appointment please contact Ima Miah (ima.miah@cvalive.org.uk) for a questionaire which must be returned by 16th June 2015

This event is part of CVA’s holistic fundraising support programme covering the major stages of grant applications, which will take you through an insightful and interactive journey of the key elements that form a successful funding bid. CVA’s training programme is a series of master classes and bite size workshops including evidencing the need for your project, creating project budgets, meeting the funders and much, much more. This programme is an opt in or opt out programme where you can either attend all or some of the elements that you are interested in. Places are extremely limited, so secure your seat before it is too late.

The cost of this event is £5.00, tickets are available through eventbrite, please click the link below

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/meet-the-funder-tickets-16727510434?aff=es2

 

FREE WORKSHOP IN: HELP WITH HOUSING COSTS.

HOUSING BENEFIT, LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE, HELP WITH MORTGAGE INTEREST AND COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION.

This event is part of our Masterclass series, which focuses on issues as they affect people who live and work in Croydon, with a view to raising awareness and improving the knowledge of those organisations who might assist them.

The course is a practical training/workshop The aim of the course is to give an overview of the different criteria for housing costs dependant on the ownership/tenancy – for example, council, housing association, privately rented or owner occupied. We will look at housing benefit, local housing allowance and mortgage interest costs. We will identify possible reasons for a shortfall in housing cost payments to clients, and how they may be able to challenge this. We would also look at council tax reduction. We would look at what a client can do themselves to dispute a decision, appeal deadlines and seeking specialist advice.

The course date is Wednesday 15^th July 2015 at 10.00. a.m.  (Registration at 9.45 am).   The course will finish at 1.00 p.m. 

Course outline.

• What are the different types of help with housing costs for various types of accommodation
• What is the application process for council and housing association tenants
• What factors do the council take into account in assessing for housing benefit including disability premiums
• Frequency of payments – 4 weekly when rent is often calendar monthly
• Problems with a shortfall in housing benefit. How can a client dispute this.
• Why might there be a shortfall – Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).
• What is the different in the assessment process for applying for housing benefit for secure tenancies and local housing allowance for privately rented accommodation
• Why might there be a shortfall and how does the clients decision letter explain this
• What evidence should the client provide to Croydon Council to challenge a shortfall
• Change of circumstances, Appeal deadlines and seeking specialist help.
• Criteria and deductions for council tax reduction
• Reasons for overpayment of housing benefit and council tax reduction – understanding the decision letters.
• Providing the relevant information to the council, appeals and seeking specialist help.
• Applications for help with mortgage interest.
• What information would the Department for Works and Pensions require.
• Refusal of benefit and shortfall. Seeking specialist advice. Appeal deadlines.

Courses will be held at: Palmcroy House, 387 London Road, West Croydon CR0 3PB

This course is not designed for experienced benefit advisers, but for those with little or no previous knowledge or those wishing to refresh basic existing knowledge. The course will examine the decision letters for the different stages of the process and how to explain what the decision letter is saying to the client and what action they might take.

Places will be limited and available to all staff and volunteers of non-profit advice providing organisations based in Croydon and providing services to Croydon residents only. This course is not open to organisations who do not hold charitable status

Cost: CAPT is covering the costs of this event so it will be free to participants
Please contact capt.admin@croydoncab.org.uk  to book your place, these courses are always extremely popular, so remember to book well in advance.

FREE WORKSHOP: INCOME REPLACEMENT BENEFITS FOR THE UNDER 65’S

JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE, EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE  AND PENSION CREDIT.

This course is a practical training/workshop on the different income replacement benefits for the under 65’s.  The course will briefly cover Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and when people under 65 can claim Pension Credit. The course will cover entitlement, requirements on the claimant and sanctions

JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE

• Who is eligible and how to apply.
• The job seekers commitment – what they must do – also called conditionality.
• Contributory JSA and income related ESA – why is this important. Time limits.

How can you tell from the decision letter.

• Can you claim for your partner? How is this shown in the decision letter.
• Sanctions – why are they applied
• Mandatory Reconsiderations and appeals. What is the difference.
• Where the client can go for help when they have no money because of sanctions.

EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE       

• Who is eligible and how to apply. Information the claimant receives back from ESA.
• Contributory ESA and income related ESA why this is important. Can you get both contributory and income related ESA together?
• Can you claim for a partner? How this is shown in the decision letter.
• The ESA process, from claiming to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). Examples of the WCA form. Please note – this course is not about form filling.
• How entitlement to ESA is decided.
• The different outcomes from the Work Capability Assessment ESA from refusal/ Work Related Activity Group/ Support Group. How to know what group a claimant is in from the decision letter. How does it affect the claimant.
• Refusal of ESA and time limits on contributory ESA
• Mandatory Reconsiderations and appeals.
• Where to go for help when the claimant has problems with ESA.

PENSION CREDIT

• Eligibility and the earliest age a client can claim pension credit.
• Why do some claimants choose to remain on contributory ESA/JSA rather than claim pension credit.

 

The course date is Wednesday 24^th June 2015 at 10.00 a.m. (Registration is at 9.45 a.m.) The course will finish at 1.00 p.m.

Courses will be held at: Palmcroy House, 387 London Road, West Croydon CR0 3PB

This course is not designed for experienced benefit advisers, but for those with little or no previous knowledge or those wishing to refresh basic existing knowledge.

Places will be limited and available to all staff and volunteers of non-profit advice providing organisations based in Croydon and providing services to Croydon residents only. This course is not open to organisations who do not hold charitable status

Cost: CAPT is covering the costs of this event so it will be free to participants
Please contact capt.admin@croydoncab.org.uk  to book your place, these courses are always extremely popular, so remember to book well in advance.

Age UK Croydon – Vacancy

Web Content Administrator Salary £16, 452 pro rata. 18 hours per week

Age UK Croydon is an independent charity, whose vision is to promote independence and choice for the people of Croydon, ensuring their voices are heard, their beliefs upheld, their views respected and their needs met. Based at our Park House office, we are looking to recruit a Web Content Administrator Initially funded for 1 year. Main aspects of the role: Web content administrator must have excellent writing and editing skills, with an understanding of the special requirements of writing for the Web, such as the use of keywords, hyperlinks and navigation. They must have a good eye for detail, with excellent spelling, grammar and punctuation skills.

•  Excellent communication and administration skills
• A positive mental attitude and ability to use own initiative
• A cheerful, friendly and out-going personality
• The ability to work flexibly alone and as part of a team

For an application pack, or for more information, please contact: Age UK Croydon – 2 Katharine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX. Tel: 020 8680 5450, Fax: 020 8288 9229 or Email: aukc@ageukcroydon.org.uk  quoting the job title and reference number.  If you require the job application pack in large print please contact our reception team on 020 8680 5450. Please note that applications must be hard copy and returned to the Katharine Street office.  Email applications and/or CV’s will not  be accepted. Closing date for applications: 5pm on Friday 5^th June 2015 Interview Date: 10^th or 12^th June 2015 Age UK Croydon is an equal opportunities employer and any discrimination or harassment on the grounds of colour, sex, race, nationality, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, domestic circumstances, trade union membership/non-membership, or age will not be tolerated. If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be notified by: Irene Jordan

Information, Advice and Guidance Training Courses

These courses offer a fantastic opportunity:

For the learner

• Who will become better skilled and confident in IAG delivery

The organisation

• Will benefit as the learner’s practice becomes more informed and confident
• Clients will receive a higher quality service?

This course is made up of 5 modules that can either be taken individually or used to complete a IAG Level 2 Award that will also require work based written assignments

The units that will cover Information, Advice or Guidance in Practice and Developing Interaction Skills for Information, Advice or Guidance

 

• Understand the distinction between information, advice or guidance and understand ways of meeting IAG requirements of clients
• Understand how to use good communication skills in an Advice setting
• Understand how to interact effectively with the Public
• Managing Risk and Boundaries
• Keeping good records, managing client confidentiality and referrals

The current dates planned for the above courses are (all based in central Croydon)

Thursday 11^th June 2015

Thursday 18^th June 2015

Thursday 25^th June 2015

Thursday 2^nd July 2015

Thursday 9^th July 2015

You can select any, or as many, of the one day courses you would like to attend and if you are able to attend all 5 then you can progress to complete the Accredited Level 2 Award for IAG.

These courses are FREE to volunteers from any Croydon IAG based organisation. There will be a small fee for non-volunteers. If you would like to progress with the IAG Level 2 Award please let us know and we will go through the additional areas you will need to cover.

For Organisations

If you are interested in hosting a free one day course that covers these areas for all of your volunteers then please let me know as we have a limited number of trainer days available to run them.

Email us your volunteers details to Capt.outreach@croydoncab.org.uk or if you need further information.

 

Training In Disability Benefits For All Ages

This is an invitation to a training session for staff and volunteers of voluntary sector agencies working in the advice and information sector within Croydon.

This event is part of our Masterclass series, which focusses on issues as they affect people who live and work in Croydon, with a view to raising awareness and improving the knowledge of those organisations who might assist them.

The course is a practical training/workshop on the different disability benefits for children, adults of working age and adults over 65. The course will also cover carer’s allowance.

The course date is Wednesday 17^th June 2015 at 10.00. a.m. (Registration at 9.45 a.m).   The course will finish at 1.00p.m.

The aim of the course is to give an overview of various benefits for different age groups and to provide you with the knowledge to help clients understand the criteria and apply for the relevant benefit claim form. The course will also look in depth at the different decision letters a client might receive and the different stages of the claiming and appeal process. We will also look at how Carers Allowance and the Motability Scheme is linked to the award of Disability Benefits. Please note: This course will not be covering form filling or the descriptors in detail, but more on understanding the claiming and decision process.

Course outline.

1.  What is the difference between disability benefits and sickness benefits.
2.  Disability Benefits available for children; adults of working age and adults over pensionable age.
3. The claiming process for each of the benefits – Disability Living Allowance for children, (DLA). Personal Independence Payments for adults of working age (PIP). Attendance Allowance for adults over State Retirement Pension Age (AA)
4. The transition process from adult Disability Living Allowance to the Personal Independence Payments. Implications of this with change of circumstances.
5.  How benefits are assessed and the medical for PIP (brief outline)
6.  What is meant by the term ‘special rules’ and what are its implications for the award of
7.  Decision letters. How to recognise what they are saying. Examples will be given.
8.  The Mandatory Reconsideration Process/ Appeal process.
9.  How Carers Allowance is linked to the award of Disability Benefits.
10.  How the award can increase other benefits because of increased Disability Premiums
11.  Other financial gains because of award of a disability benefit such as Blue Badge, Taxicard and freedom pass.

Courses will be held at: Palmcroy House, 387 London Road, West Croydon CR0 3PB

This course is not designed for experienced benefit advisers, but for those with little or no previous knowledge or those wishing to refresh basic existing knowledge.

Places will be limited and available to all staff and volunteers of non-profit advice providing organisations based in Croydon and providing services to Croydon residents only. This course is not open to organisations who do not hold charitable status

Cost: CAPT is covering the costs of this event so it will be free to participants
Please contact capt.admin@croydoncab.org.uk to book your place, these courses are always extremely popular, so remember to book well in advance.