University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Welfare & Benefits Adviser

The closing date is 04 June 2025

Job summary

Coping with a cancer diagnosis or complex haematology treatment is hard, but for some patients it also brings new money worries and unforeseen financial costs. We are looking for someone who can help patients and their carers find out what they are entitled to and assist them to access this financial support so they can concentrate on their treatment.

We need you to have good experience in providing specialist benefits advice and advocacy within an organisation such as the NHS, Citizens Advice or similar. You should have relevant recent training and experience of client centred specialist benefits advice work with a general knowledge of housing, employment and consumer law as well as experience of tribunal representation.

Strong communication skills, a proven ability to work under pressure to strict deadlines and an attention to detail are just some of the skills you will require to work in our friendly and supportive department based in the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre, Huntley Street London WC1E 6DH.

Main duties of the job

You will be working with in-patients and out-patients with a cancer or haematological diagnosis such as sickle cell disease and thalassaemia.

You will meet with patients or their representative face to face, via MS Teams or phone, assess their welfare and benefits needs, based on your good understanding of the support available, and assist with applications for benefits and grants.

You will need to help prepare mandatory reconsideration's and tribunal packs. You may be required to support the patient throughout the review process. You will need to communicate with multiple agencies and maintain accurate and clear paperwork and communications.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research. We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

o University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing) o National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery o Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital o Eastman Dental Hospital o Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine o University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre o The Hospital for Tropical Diseases o University College Hospitals at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

Details

Date posted

21 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,806 to £53,134 a year per annum of inclusive HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-6330

Job locations

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

Huntley Street

London

WC1E 6AG


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree and/or an appropriate professional qualification/equivalent good service experience

Experience

Essential

  • a.Previous welfare and benefits advice, form completion and caseload experience in a large and complex organisation preferably within the NHS, Citizens Advice or similar organisation
  • b.A good understanding of the commitment and aims of the service
  • c.Relevant recent training and up-dates in welfare and benefits and experience of client centred welfare and benefits advice and case work
  • d.General knowledge of housing, employment and consumer law

Desirable

  • e.Experience of tribunal representation

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • a.Be able to assess and solve complex problems relating to welfare and benefits, showing a wide knowledge of the current services and support available and how these can be successfully accessed or signposted
  • c.Be able to engage individuals and teams to educate and promote the service
  • d.Evidence good IT skills including Word, Outlook and Excel
  • g.Have a good understanding of the social and economic issues affecting society and the implications for providing clients with a service that encourages self-management and empowerment
  • h.Understand the issues facing patients with long term and terminal illness and disability and how this impact on the advice needed
  • i.Demonstrates commitment to the aims and policies of the service

Desirable

  • f.Have experience to assist in the support, development and motivation of volunteers and colleagues in delivering an excellent service

Communication

Essential

  • a.Have the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively both verbally and in writing with a wide range of audiences including patients, their families, colleagues both clinical and non-clinical and the DWP
Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree and/or an appropriate professional qualification/equivalent good service experience

Experience

Essential

  • a.Previous welfare and benefits advice, form completion and caseload experience in a large and complex organisation preferably within the NHS, Citizens Advice or similar organisation
  • b.A good understanding of the commitment and aims of the service
  • c.Relevant recent training and up-dates in welfare and benefits and experience of client centred welfare and benefits advice and case work
  • d.General knowledge of housing, employment and consumer law

Desirable

  • e.Experience of tribunal representation

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • a.Be able to assess and solve complex problems relating to welfare and benefits, showing a wide knowledge of the current services and support available and how these can be successfully accessed or signposted
  • c.Be able to engage individuals and teams to educate and promote the service
  • d.Evidence good IT skills including Word, Outlook and Excel
  • g.Have a good understanding of the social and economic issues affecting society and the implications for providing clients with a service that encourages self-management and empowerment
  • h.Understand the issues facing patients with long term and terminal illness and disability and how this impact on the advice needed
  • i.Demonstrates commitment to the aims and policies of the service

Desirable

  • f.Have experience to assist in the support, development and motivation of volunteers and colleagues in delivering an excellent service

Communication

Essential

  • a.Have the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively both verbally and in writing with a wide range of audiences including patients, their families, colleagues both clinical and non-clinical and the DWP

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

Huntley Street

London

WC1E 6AG


Employer's website

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

Huntley Street

London

WC1E 6AG


Employer's website

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Welfare & Benefits Manager

Leon Orji

leon.orji@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

21 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,806 to £53,134 a year per annum of inclusive HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-6330

Job locations

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

Huntley Street

London

WC1E 6AG


Supporting documents

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