Job summary
We are seeking someone who is passionate about giving an effective service to those most in need. You will need to demonstrate that you are a strong team player, with an eye for detail, and have great people skills. You will thrive in a busy environment and have a positive 'can do' attitude.
This role will provide a specialist benefits advice service to maximise the state benefit income of people who are supported by the England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS). This will include complex casework including appeals representation, training, advice and support.
The EIBSS supports people historically infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV from NHS blood or blood products. The scheme also helps families, civil or long-term partners after the death of someone infected.
What do we offer?
What you'll receive when you come and work for us:
- 27 days leave (increasing with length of service) plus bank holidays
- Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)
- Flexi time
- Hybrid working model
- Career development
- Active wellbeing and inclusion networks
- Excellent pension
- NHS Car lease scheme
- Access to a wide range of benefits and high street discounts
Main duties of the job
The 'EIBSS Benefits Advisor' is responsible for delivering a comprehensive welfare benefits advisory service to individuals and families in need. The advisor will provide support and guidance to scheme Beneficiaries in understanding and accessing welfare benefits, ensuring they receive the appropriate support with welfare benefits mandatory considerations, and appeals.
The service will provide a pivotal function in the lives of those involved, making a real difference to a hugely challenging situation for them. Aside of your technical knowledge, interpersonal skills and intuition, your ability to communicate in a sensitive and a conducive way will be key.
The role requires a thorough understanding of welfare benefits regulations and policies, excellent communication and advocacy skills, and a strong commitment to improving the well-being of individuals and communities.
Remote working, with the requirement to travel to Stella House, Newcastle upon Tyne - when required.
About us
At the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) we deliver a range of essential national services to NHS organisations and contractors, patients and the public.
You may already be using some of our services. Do you have a prescription pre-payment certificate? Perhaps you found this vacancy through NHS Jobs? We're behind these, and much more.
Being one of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for, our values are to be Collaborative, Adventurous, Reliable and Energetic. We CARE about what we do and support each other in achieving our objectives.
Our people are the heart of our organisation. We strive to ensure they feel trusted, valued and empowered. We're passionate about nurturing and developing people. When you join us, we want you to grow, and we offer many opportunities for you to do that.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. With wellbeing and inclusion central to our ethos, our BAME, Disability and Neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, Armed Forces and Women's networks help our colleagues to be their authentic selves at work.
At the NHSBSA we value and respect the diversity of our colleagues and are committed to being a flexible employer. We are proud to offer flexible working opportunities. Whether you're interested in hybrid working, working from home, flexible hours or job sharing, apply today and we can discuss available options with you at the interview stage.
We are the NHS delivering for the NHS.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this role, you are accountable for:
- Provide customer service excellence through high quality information and benefit advice to those supported by the EIBSS.
- To carry out casework to agreed service and quality levels, in keeping with the requirements of the Advice Quality Standard (AQS), including recording of advice provision and form completion.
- To deliver this service in a variety of formats as required by the Beneficiary using appropriate channels to communicate with the Beneficiary, face to face may be required in exceptional circumstances.
- Deal with a range of very sensitive information regarding a Beneficiarys financial, medical and legal information, in accordance with NHSBSAs polices.
- Be the subject matter expert, in providing and developing the benefits advice service to those supported by the EIBSS.
- To ensure all benefits and welfare information used in support of the EIBSS is up-to-date, concise and relevant.
- To keep up to date with developments in benefits by reading journals and other publications, also attending courses and networks of benefits advisors, as appropriate. It is important to keep skills and knowledge up to date, as benefits regulations can be complex and change frequently.
- Make decisions on very complex situations, taking into account all the various issues around Beneficiarys and relatives individual circumstances.
- Interpret complex national legislation and adjust advice and information to Beneficiaries accordingly.
- Act as Beneficiary advocate to organisations as appropriate on the Beneficiarys behalf regarding state benefits.
- To keep case notes, files up to date ensuring these are well maintained to ensure that files can be audited by the EIBSS (if required) in line with quality assurance checks. As required by the AQS.
- To provide advocacy and representation for Beneficiaries at appeals for state benefits issues at both First Tier and Upper Tribunals.
- To maintain and produce up to date, concise and relevant information relating to Beneficiaries supported by the EIBSS.
- To work and liaise with other advisors, to share information and to support best practice.
- To prepare statistical reports, written reports, case studies and any other feedback relevant to the service.
- Travel by appropriate means to attend Face to face meetings (if required), use digital and/or telephone services where possible.
- Dealing with emotionally and distressing situations empathetically.
- Overnight stays (where required).
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this role, you are accountable for:
- Provide customer service excellence through high quality information and benefit advice to those supported by the EIBSS.
- To carry out casework to agreed service and quality levels, in keeping with the requirements of the Advice Quality Standard (AQS), including recording of advice provision and form completion.
- To deliver this service in a variety of formats as required by the Beneficiary using appropriate channels to communicate with the Beneficiary, face to face may be required in exceptional circumstances.
- Deal with a range of very sensitive information regarding a Beneficiarys financial, medical and legal information, in accordance with NHSBSAs polices.
- Be the subject matter expert, in providing and developing the benefits advice service to those supported by the EIBSS.
- To ensure all benefits and welfare information used in support of the EIBSS is up-to-date, concise and relevant.
- To keep up to date with developments in benefits by reading journals and other publications, also attending courses and networks of benefits advisors, as appropriate. It is important to keep skills and knowledge up to date, as benefits regulations can be complex and change frequently.
- Make decisions on very complex situations, taking into account all the various issues around Beneficiarys and relatives individual circumstances.
- Interpret complex national legislation and adjust advice and information to Beneficiaries accordingly.
- Act as Beneficiary advocate to organisations as appropriate on the Beneficiarys behalf regarding state benefits.
- To keep case notes, files up to date ensuring these are well maintained to ensure that files can be audited by the EIBSS (if required) in line with quality assurance checks. As required by the AQS.
- To provide advocacy and representation for Beneficiaries at appeals for state benefits issues at both First Tier and Upper Tribunals.
- To maintain and produce up to date, concise and relevant information relating to Beneficiaries supported by the EIBSS.
- To work and liaise with other advisors, to share information and to support best practice.
- To prepare statistical reports, written reports, case studies and any other feedback relevant to the service.
- Travel by appropriate means to attend Face to face meetings (if required), use digital and/or telephone services where possible.
- Dealing with emotionally and distressing situations empathetically.
- Overnight stays (where required).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A degree in a relevant subject such as; oCommunity Development oSocial Policy oCounselling oSocial Work oLegal Work oAdvice and Guidance; or
- A vocational qualification, such as; o City & Guilds NVQ Level 2/3 in Advice and Guidance Support o NVQ in Legal Advice at Levels 2, 3 or 4
Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- 1.Flexible and committed team player with the ability to use own initiative
- Passionate about providing advice and support on welfare issues;
- Desire to promote income maximisation;
- Knowledge of issues regarding welfare rights, social care, diversity, bereavement and mental health;
- Specialist knowledge of benefits (including disability and means-tested)
- Knowledge of the current trends in government policy on income maintenance;
- Knowledge of legislation regarding welfare rights, state benefits etc.
- Understanding of the issues faced by people affected by long term illness or disability
- Appreciation of the effects of poverty in England and the UK
- Knowledge of charitable opportunities for grants etc
- Ability to interpret and clearly communicate complex legislation;
- IT skills - Word/Excel/PowerPoint/e-mail;
- Ability to be responsible and accountable for decision making;
- Organised, with the ability to multi-task and prioritise a diverse workload
- Emotionally sensitive whilst also resilient, able to manage the demands of ongoing potentially emotionally intense work
Desirable
- nnovative approach to providing welfare rights
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working in a benefits and/or welfare advice setting;
- Experience of working within the requirements of the Advice Quality Standard
- Experience of handling sensitive data;
- Excellent listening skills;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Desirable
- Experience of working with clients with long term health conditions;
- Experience of delivering training
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A degree in a relevant subject such as; oCommunity Development oSocial Policy oCounselling oSocial Work oLegal Work oAdvice and Guidance; or
- A vocational qualification, such as; o City & Guilds NVQ Level 2/3 in Advice and Guidance Support o NVQ in Legal Advice at Levels 2, 3 or 4
Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- 1.Flexible and committed team player with the ability to use own initiative
- Passionate about providing advice and support on welfare issues;
- Desire to promote income maximisation;
- Knowledge of issues regarding welfare rights, social care, diversity, bereavement and mental health;
- Specialist knowledge of benefits (including disability and means-tested)
- Knowledge of the current trends in government policy on income maintenance;
- Knowledge of legislation regarding welfare rights, state benefits etc.
- Understanding of the issues faced by people affected by long term illness or disability
- Appreciation of the effects of poverty in England and the UK
- Knowledge of charitable opportunities for grants etc
- Ability to interpret and clearly communicate complex legislation;
- IT skills - Word/Excel/PowerPoint/e-mail;
- Ability to be responsible and accountable for decision making;
- Organised, with the ability to multi-task and prioritise a diverse workload
- Emotionally sensitive whilst also resilient, able to manage the demands of ongoing potentially emotionally intense work
Desirable
- nnovative approach to providing welfare rights
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working in a benefits and/or welfare advice setting;
- Experience of working within the requirements of the Advice Quality Standard
- Experience of handling sensitive data;
- Excellent listening skills;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Desirable
- Experience of working with clients with long term health conditions;
- Experience of delivering training
Additional information
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).
