Welfare Advisor Assistant

An exciting new opportunity to join a well established multidisciplinary Family Support Team within an outstanding Hospice has opened. This role will support our existing Welfare Advisor to ensure our families facing life limiting illness are supported with the financial difficulties that many face. Are you passionate about social justice? Are you empathetic, organised and want to make a difference to people's lives at a difficult time? Then this role is a great opportunity, all training will be provided. This role provides an opportunity to work in a specialist field, becoming an expert on the welfare system and what benefits people can claim for. Working closely with our colleagues cross the hospice and advocating for patients and their families to ensure they have the right knowledge about entitlements. This is often a key request for support, a key challenge families face. So if you would like to have the opportunity to be a key person at the hospice
addressing these needs and alleviating the stress families face, then apply today. We are looking for someone that is keen to learn, hardworking and passionate about helping others.,

• To provide advice and information relating to all welfare benefits, including assisting clients with form filling and contacting agencies such as the Department for Work & Pensions on their behalf. Support may be offered in person, during hub drop-ins, via the phone and online, providing information and support to patients, their families, carers and the Hospice Team both in the Hospice and in the community.


• To assess the financial needs of patients their families and carers pre and post bereavement and deliver and evaluate the appropriate advice.


• A keen interest in social justice and in the empowerment of marginalised people


• Commitment to the principles of equal opportunities and diversity


• To make appropriate applications to other organisations for financial support to meet the needs of patients, their families and carers.


• To liaise and develop positive working relationships with other external agencies including Department of Work and Pensions, Job Centre Plus, Inland Revenue, Kent County Council, Macmillan Cancer Support, Housing Departments, legal agencies and other welfare agencies both statutory and voluntary.


• To signpost to other organisations or specialist agencies as appropriate.


• When appropriate act as an advocate and/or mediator for patients, their families and carers.


• To assist the welfare advisor in managing the referral process and responding to referrals to the welfare team in a timely manner. Attending the Family Support Team meeting weekly.


• To ensure up to date records and notes, compliant with GDPR regulations and confidentiality. Use of internal systems to record client contact and activities. Responding to calls, emails and teams messages in a timely manner. Excellent organisational skills required.


• Covering the welfare advisor as and when required and supporting the welfare volunteers with supervision and support as and when required.


• Working independently, as part of a team and with excellent communication skills to support patients and their families who are facing life limiting illnesses. Providing appropriate emotional support during contact with patients and their families. Ensuring referrals are made internally for those presenting with further emotional and psychological needs, working within the boundaries and limitations of the welfare assistant role., To participate in the Hospice performance review and appraisal process which is known as your Snapshot.


• Attend all statutory and mandatory training and undertake training and development.


• as identified through individual performance reviews.


• To keep up to date with current professional practice issues.


• To attend meetings pertinent to organisational and professional responsibilities.


• To assist in producing management/service reports as required.


• To promote close working relationships and good communication links with colleagues at all levels throughout the Hospice.


• To liaise with internal departments and a wide range of external organisations and individuals as appropriate.


• To be aware of, and comply with, all Hospice and Statutory Policies and Procedures as appropriate.


• To support the Hospice clinical governance programme.


• To take personal responsibility for risk management in his/her work and undertake to review practices and learn from experience.


• To participate in the development, review and audit of quality standards and contribute to the process of continuous quality improvement throughout the Hospice.


• To comply with the Hospice's policy and procedure in handling any complaints.


• To maintain accurate up-to-date statistics in both computer and written form as required.


• Comply with Information and Data Protection requirements at all times.


• To take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and others that may be affected by what you do while at work, and to co-operate in the implementation of the Hospice's Health and Safety policy.


• Ensure volunteers have a good understanding of and take responsibility for health and safety and maintaining security, and that all Hospice health and safety policies and procedures are adhered to.


• To work as a member of the Hospice team, to foster the Team's caring mission and to have commitment to have commitment to the overall purpose of the Hospice.


• At all times to behave in a manner befitting the post and professional dignity of the Hospice and ensure that the Hospice is positively represented to the public and other stakeholders.


• To maintain an appropriate standard of confidentiality. Any disclosure of confidential information (including personal information kept on computer or other media) made unlawfully outside the proper course of duty will be treated as a serious disciplinary offence.


• To commit to our culture framework which outlines how we expect everyone at Heart of Kent Hospice individually and as a team to ensure the best possible experience for our patients, their families, our supporters, and our local community.


• Champion best practice in equality diversity and inclusion in everything we do.


• To preserve the confidentiality of information acquired by virtue of the position.


• Have fun and challenge yourself at work, championing our values and behaviours and abiding by our policies and procedures.


• To participate in the production of promotional material and support fundraising/volunteer events as appropriate.


• To carry out such other duties which may reasonably be requested.


This job description is a broad reflection of the current duties. It may be amended and developed in the light of experience and will be the focus for objective setting in an annual appraisal.

About the Hospice

At Heart of Kent Hospice, we believe that everyone deserves compassionate, specialist care when there is no cure for their illness. We treat every individual as the unique and special person they are. Everything we do is tailored and personalised helping people to live as fully and as well as possible ensuring their final days are comfortable and peaceful, wherever they choose to be.

As a charity we depend on the compassion and kindness from our local community. You'll help to power our services and ensure that everyone gets the help they need., The Hospice refers to Occupational Health where appropriate including referral to specialists counsellors.

Access to Hospice facilities

When based at the Hospice or visiting the Hospice, colleagues can access our subsidised café, on-site rest rooms which provide a space to relax, access to a multi faith room and free parking.

Career and personal development

In addition to statutory & mandatory training the Hospice provides development including skills such as excel, role specific training and developmental programmes such as leadership development, coaching and attendance at conferences and events in support of Continuous Professional Development. Our In-house Hospice Education and Training team provide clinical CPD and support to those within our Patient Services team.

Health & Wellbeing

The Hospice provides many opportunities for colleagues to get involved in focus / action groups including wellbeing initiatives through each year.

Belonging

The Hospice Belonging Group work with the Executive team to continually improve equity, equality, inclusion and diversity and the Hospice leadership looks for feedback on Inclusion and Wellbeing via happiness at work check-ins, colleague surveys, colleague representation groups and through our 2 way feedback sessions referred to as "snapshops".

Other leave and support

In line with legislation and our personal values and commitment to demonstrate care to our colleagues as well as caring for our patients we provide a colleague care programme of leave and support. Further details are provided on appointment.

Cultural Framework

Our purpose

To enable people with a terminal illness in our community to live in the comfort, with independence and dignity to the end of their lives, and to support rise closest to them.

Mindset

We are curious about improving care.

I care

We understand that caring each other, those we support and our purpose is essential to our success. We foster strong, trusting relationships in all our interactions.

We care about how we communicate and prioritise our work, and we treat everyone with respect.

• I seek to understand the needs of others


• I communicate clearly and openly


• I share my team and resources


• I listen to others' ideas


I learn

So that we can continuously improve our care, we actively look for opportunities to develop, our skills and knowledge. We take time to learn from others and understand different ways of thinking. We recognise that learning will shape the long-term delivery of our care.

• I create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills


• I find ways to learn from others


• I seek out positive and developmental feedback from others


• I champion evidence-based learning


I own

We deliver on our promises at an individual, team and organisational level. We take pride in what we achieve and we lead by example, empowering one another to take ownerships. We proactively share knowledge and embrace self-reflection.

• I confirm my commitments


• I deliver on my commitments, on time, to the quality promised


• I help the team to deliver


• I identify learnings from successes and failures


I improve

We believe that we can continuously improve the contribution we make. We welcome new ideas and approaches and recognise that change is not always easy or comfortable. We encourage feedback so that we can improve. We actively look for solutions to problems.

• I embrace changes


• I analyse information to identify and solve problems


• I give positive and developmental feedback to others


• I share learning sand ideas with others, Do you require any reasonable adjustments to be made to enable you to carry out the job for which you have applied? If yes, please advise accordingly.
  
  The information you provide will be assessed alongside our culture framework which outlines how we expect everyone at Heart of Kent Hospice to work as a team and individually to ensure the best possible experience for our patients, their families, our supporters and our local community.

Why you are interested in this role at Heart of Kent Hospice
How you meet the requirements of the job description and person specification and how you feel you demonstrate our values.
Please explain why you applied for this role at Heart of Kent Hospice.

Personal statement

Please use the space below to respond to the following questions.

The information you provide will be assessed alongside our culture framework which outlines how we expect everyone at Heart of Kent Hospice to work as a team and individually to ensure the best possible experience for our patients, their families, our supporters and our local community.
Name of employer
Post held, grade and salary
Date From
Date To
Brief nature of duties
Reason(s) for leaving, Posts at Heart of Kent Hospice are exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants are therefore not entitled to withhold information about certain convictions. The amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are "protected" and are not subject to disclosure to employers. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Disclosure and Barring website.

Heart of Kent Hospice supports hybrid working wherever practical and appropriate for a role and service. The Hospice works with colleagues to accommodate, wherever possible, requests for flexible working e.g. different start/finish times / part time hours. The Hospice also allows bank holidays to be taken at different times of the year, wherever possible, to enable colleagues to book time off at a time more important to the individual e.g. to celebrate within their own religion, personal beliefs or lifestyle.

Annual leave

Heart of Kent Hospice offers a generous holiday entitlement which increases with service. On appointment each colleague receives 27 days annual leave per annum plus bank holidays and after 5 years this rises to 29 days. After 10 years this increases to 33 day. Part time colleagues accrued annual leave on a pro-rata basis.

Life assurance

Cover for an amount equal to 2 times salary is provided for all employees subject to scheme rules.

Sickness absence pay

Company sickness pay supplements statutory sick pay and is paid probation. Company sick pay increases in accordance with length of service rising to 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay.

Pensions

The Heart of Kent Hospice provides access and contributions towards the nestpensions.org.uk and where colleagues are eligible to contribute to an NHS pension, payments can continue to be made via this scheme, subject to conditions.

Maternity and paternity leave

Maternity leave pay is enhanced in line with policy details and conditions. Paternity leave pay is enhance and paid at full for 2 weeks.

Employee assistance scheme

All colleagues are provided with free scheme memberships which provides 24 access to a GP, 24 helpline, 6 counselling sessions and a discount purchase scheme., Do you hold a full current British Driving Licence(Required)

Yes
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Do you own/have access to a car(Required)

Yes
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Please tell us what type of vehicle/s you are permitted to drive(Required)

Car
Van
Minibus

Eligibility to Work in the UK

You will be asked to provide evidence if shortlisted for interview.

Are there any restrictions to your residence in the UK that might affect your right to take up employment in the UK?(Required)

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Please provide details(Required)

If you are successful in your application for employment, would you require permission to work in the UK?(Required)

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Have you worked at Heart of Kent Hospice previously?(Required)

Employee
Volunteer
Not previously worked at HOKH, Do you have any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings that are not "protected" as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013)? If YES, please provide FULL details.

Yes
No

Please provide details where necessary:

Are you currently the subject of any investigation or proceedings by any licensing or regulatory body in the UK or in any other country? If YES, please provide details.

Yes
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Please provide details where necessary:

Have you ever been disqualified from the practice of a profession or required to practise it subject to specified limitations following a fitness to practise investigation by a regulatory or licensing body in the UK or another country? If YES, please provide details.

Yes
No

Please provide details where necessary