Purpose of the post
•Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
•Identify vulnerable individuals that could possibly be adversely affected as a result of the cost-of-living crisis/poverty.
•Give advice and information to residents that are affected by the cost-of-living crisis/poverty on matters such as maximising income, claiming benefits and receiving emergency vouchers.
Responsibility for functions
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Main duties
•Identify vulnerable individuals that could possibly be adversely affected as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.
•Give advice and information to residents that are affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
•Support residents that need support with financial, digital and other inclusions, especially regarding maximising income and managing debt.
•Work with partners to ensure support for residents for benefit payment checks, maximising income and getting access to financial and debt management advice.
•Provide sessions and workshops in communities to raise the residents’ awareness of local welfare services; helping people get access to local services; helping people to start checking their benefit payment claims and maximising income.
•Contact the Housing Benefit Payment Unit as required, including checking the progress of claims and ensuring that all the relevant information is being provided by the tenant
•Raise awareness and accessibility to the various financial support that is available by the Council's Services amongst residents (e.g. House Benefit Payment, Reduced Council Tax, Free School Lunch, Child Development Grant, Child Care Grant etc.)
•Work with others to assist individuals and their families that are being affected by the cost-of-living crisis and support them to maintain their tenancies and prevent homelessness
•Contact the Work and Pensions Department, or other Services on behalf of residents.
•Refer residents to the appropriate agencies for specialist advice on debts
•Notify and advise residents about supporting agencies including Shelter Cymru, Citizens' Advice and Credit Unions, Housing Associations’ Welfare Teams and others.
•Give advice and support to the Council's front-line workers that are supporting residents on housing and benefit payment matters.
•Keep on top of all the provisions that are being offered in response to the cost-of-living crisis by various partners throughout the county.
•Collaborate with and support the Council's Fuel Poverty, Free School Meals and Tackling Poverty Officers to build a team that works across the services to support people with the cost-of-living crisis.
•Check, assess and make referrals to emergency voucher schemes by external organisations e.g. Emergency Food Packages by food banks, DAF requests.
•Check, assess and make referrals to emergency voucher schemes by the Council e.g. fuel vouchers, food vouchers and essentials vouchers.
•Identify opportunities to up-skill workers that support people with maximising income matters.
•Identify opportunities to promote maximising income for specific groups of workers in the Council.
•Ensure compliance with any risk management arrangements identified in risk assessments that are relevant to the work
•Responsibility for self-development.
•Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
•Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
•Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
•Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint.
•Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
•Responsibility to report any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.
Special circumstances
•The post-holder may be required to work unsociable hours when necessary.