COMMUNITY ADVICE AND LAW SERVICE             ENERGYWISE PLUS PROJECT

RESPONSIBLE TO: Community Advice Projects Manger 

CONTRACT DURATION: 10 Months maternity cover 

HOURS: 37 per week 

Closure date: 9.00am on Monday 11th December 

Interview date (face-to-face ) – Thursday 14th December 

THE PROJECT 

EnergyWise Plus is a project, working with community-based organisations to provide a comprehensive package of support to help Leicester residents to manage their energy accounts, improve their financial management skills and enhance their incomes. The project seeks to reduce poverty and disadvantage for people on low incomes and to bring about long-term changes in behaviour that will enable them to avoid fuel debt and to improve their financial management skills. Advice services will be delivered by the Energywise advisers. 

JOB PURPOSE 

To provide advice and support on energy efficiency, money management and income maximisation to clients of the EnergyWise Service, including advising and assisting with claims for welfare benefits entitlements. The service is delivered at CALS’s office, local venues within Leicester City and through home visits, as necessary. The role is suitable for experienced advisers or trainees wanting to develop the skills to work in the sector. At the end of the contract there may be other job opportunities available at CALS for which the experience and skills gained might be relevant 

LOCATION 

EnergyWise Advisers will be located at CALS’s main office but will be required to travel to venues where the advice services are delivered. Some remote working from home will also be available. 

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Energy Advice 

• Assist clients to understand their fuel payment options and to select the most cost-effective energy supply package and payment method 

• Identify clients with pre-payment meters and assist in moving to a cheaper payment method 

• Encourage and assist energy customers to install smart meters 

• Advise on energy-saving measures to reduce fuel costs and distribute energy-saving equipment 

• Help clients to read their energy meters and understand their energy usage; demonstrate how to take and submit meter readings 

• Make applications for home insulation grants 

Money Management Support 

• At the initial interview, assess money management skills and the need for help with budgeting and financial management 

• Provide advice and guidance as required on personal budgeting and money management 

• Provide support in switching to cheaper, more cost-effective options for routine household expenses 

• Advise on financial and credit products, including referrals to a Credit Union 

• Identify instances of indebtedness and the need for specialist debt advice and refer to CALS’s debt advice service 

Income Maximisation 

• Advise clients on their entitlements to social security benefits in order to increase their income 

• Assist clients to make claims for welfare benefits payments, including completing paper and on-line claim forms 

• Support claimants to manage their on-line claimant accounts – particularly for Universal Credit - to avoid incurring penalties for failure to comply with the conditions of the award 

• Make applications to charitable funds such as Big Difference, energy companies’ trust funds, local charities 

• Identify the need for specialist welfare benefits advice (e.g. reviews/appeals) and refer to CALS’s welfare benefits advice service 

Promotional activities 

• Deliver informal talks and presentations on energy management to small groups 

• Take part in activities to publicise and promote the service, including the distribution of promotional materials 

Other 

• Make referrals for emergency help as necessary, (e.g. to foodbanks) 

• Work with volunteers recruited to provide support to the project’s clients, enabling them to act on the advice given and to achieve lasting behavioural change 

• Comply with all monitoring and recording requirements required by CALS and/or specific to this project 

• Undertake some out-of-hours work as and when required, with advance notice from the Project Manager 

• Attend and contribute to performance appraisals, at a frequency to be determined by the Project Manager 

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• To ensure that all duties and responsibilities are discharged in accordance with CALS’s Health and Safety at Work and other work-related policies. 

• To comply with CALS’s equal opportunities policy and assist with its development and promotion within CALS, and amongst partner organisations. 

• To comply with all relevant policies and procedures maintained by CALS regarding matters such as regulatory compliance, data protection, client care, confidentiality, safeguarding. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE 

(1) Energy Adviser qualification at City and Guilds Level 3 (or the ability to achieve this qualification within 3 months of appointment) 

(2) Experience of providing advice and guidance to individuals on energy matters, and/or 

personal budgeting and money management 

(3) Knowledge and advice-giving experience in one or more categories of social welfare law at either generalist or specialist level 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

(4) Excellent inter-personal and client care skills 

(5) Excellent organisational and administrative skills 

(6) Ability and willingness to work in collaboration with colleagues, volunteers and partner organisations in order to achieve the best outcome for each client 

(7) Excellent written and verbal communication skills: ability to present complex information clearly and succinctly 

(8) IT competence including the ability to use an electronic case management system 

(9) Ability and willingness to work as part of a team 

QUALITIES 

(10) Commitment to initiatives to combat poverty and social exclusion 

(11) Energetic, well organised, self-motivated 

(12) Commitment to equal opportunities 

(13) Willingness to accept direction and supervision 

(14) Willing and able to work outside office hours from time to time 

(15) Commitment to the aims of the Energywise Project and of the Community Advice and Law Service