Welfare & Benefits Adviser - London
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Job overview
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.
Working for our organisation
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:
- University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital
- Eastman Dental Hospital
- Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
- University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
- 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.
Detailed job description and main 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.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Person specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential criteria- Degree and/or an appropriate professional qualification/equivalent good service experience
Experience
Essential criteria- 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
- e. Experience of tribunal representation
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria- 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
- f. Have experience to assist in the support, development and motivation of volunteers and colleagues in delivering an excellent service
Communication
Essential criteria- 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
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.
At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities.Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.
We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.
Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.
We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.
We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.
This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.
Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.
Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor’s contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.
You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.
Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.