Do you believe everyone has the right to enough to live on?  Are you excited by the ambition in Edinburgh to eradicate poverty by 2030?  Are you committed to working in a way that ensures dignity and equity to those of us in financial need?

In Edinburgh, Turn2us Edinburgh Trust provides a local grants programme, delivered through a network of referral partners, in order to reach individuals and families who are excluded from financial security due to the barriers they face.  We provide direct financial support to help uplift and improve the lives of people affected by poverty.

We are looking for a new part time (21 hours per week) caseworker to join our team.  The role sits at the heart of the support we deliver in Edinburgh. 

Job Description:

Job Title: Edinburgh Trust Caseworker          

Department: Programmes and Partnerships Directorate    

Reports to: Edinburgh Trust Manager      

Location: Edinburgh Office

Type of role: Permanent, part-time (21 hours per week, including Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)

Purpose of the Role: To manage the distribution of grants from the Edinburgh Trust Funds: providing support to individuals in financial hardship in collaboration with referral partners

Duties:

1) Case Management of grant applications ensuring dignity, safety and equity in our grant making

• Uphold the Vision and Principles of the Edinburgh Trust by delivering the service with dignity and equity for grant applicants, and in respectful and collaborative communication with referral organisations

• Provide full case management for new applications to the Edinburgh Trust funds: assess grant applications against the eligibility criteria of the Edinburgh Trust funds, in accordance with Edinburgh Trust Policy, determining the level of grant required to meet the identified needs of the applicant

• For casework issues of greater complexity, collaborate with the Edinburgh Trust Manager if required to support the decision-making process

• Identify potential areas of additional support requested by applicants or referral partners, signposting as appropriate

• On completion of assessment, make evidence-based and equity-based decisions on the awarding of a grant, documenting the recommendation on the CRM

• Complete CRM case records, ensuring that all data is accurate and up to date and all supporting documentation is attached

• Provide information and assistance to those who are ineligible for support from the grant funds managed directly by the charity. This may include directing to another charity, or other support services, listed on the Turn2us signposting database, or directing to other sources of support provided by the charity

• Take a flexible, creative and people-centred approach to casework, working with referral partners, applicants and team colleagues to find the best solutions available to the applicant

• Approach casework in the knowledge that assessment is a human process rather than an entirely objective one:  strive to recognise and mitigate potential personal biases and judgements in decision making

2) Timely and efficient processing of grants

• Manage approved cases (both new and ongoing grant recipients), arranging and reviewing payments according to Grants and Edinburgh Trust processes

• Manage third party payments where requested/appropriate, monitoring and upholding referral partner agreements

• Review existing cases on a monthly basis, in accordance with Edinburgh Trust Policy and take decisions to withdraw/update grant support, where required and support other team members with case work as necessary

• Plan and manage a casework and review diary, ensuring that cases are processed in a timely fashion, are assessed and appropriately managed in a way that upholds the Edinburgh Trust Vision and Principles, Turn2us values and organisational policies

• Proactively identify areas for change and improvement within the Edinburgh Trust programme, providing insight and feedback to the Edinburgh Trust Manager

3) Integrate GDPR, coproduction, Equity Diversity and Inclusion and safeguarding as good practice in grant making

• Ensure strong safeguarding is integral to grant making, referring to Safeguarding policy regarding issues of concern

• Follow GDPR good practice and organisational policy

• Participate in organisation-wide working groups on areas of interest with an approach of continuous learning to improve impact and ways of working

• Work with colleagues on new ways of working and development opportunities,  ensuring that co production is at the heart of new developments

• Bring a strong equity, diversity and inclusion lens to grant making and continuously identify ways to improve practice

4) Relationship Management with key partners in Edinburgh

• Work alongside referral partners to support them in the application process

• Provide clear and accessible information to referral partners as required, communicating application queries or outcomes in a timely manner, responding to queries from partners, and sharing feedback with the Senior Partnership Development Officer and Edinburgh Trust Manager

• Represent the organisation with external stakeholders, in the promotion of the Edinburgh Trust funds

• Contribute to the monitoring and management of a number of referral partner relationships

The post holder will take responsibility to integrate safeguarding into all aspects of their work, complying with organisational policies and frameworks.

The post holder will take responsibility for maintaining the vision and principles of the Edinburgh Trust in the course of their work:

Edinburgh Trust Vision:

To be a collaborative partner in the mission to eradicate poverty in Edinburgh.  It is the ambition of the Edinburgh Trust to deliver programmes of support across the city that uplift and improve the lives of Edinburgh’s citizens who are experiencing, or are at risk of, poverty.

Principles:                                                                                        

• We embed dignity and equity in the delivery of our programmes, with our organisational values at the core of our response to those who seek our support

• We work in trusted and respectful partnership, as agents of change, with our colleagues in other organisations in Edinburgh and Scotland

• Co-production sits at the heart of our development and helps drive our work; we listen to, learn from and include those who are experts by experience

• We embrace listening and reflective practice and evaluation as a means to continually evolve and improve our impact

• We commit to always taking a long term view focusing on the sustainability of our impact, even when our interventions are short-term

• We acknowledge that structural and systemic changes must be made in order to end poverty

• We will be accountable to the citizens of Edinburgh, for whom we exist, and to our partners

The post holder will be expected to ensure that their work complies with contractual terms and conditions, the Charity’s policies and procedures and key legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and charity law.

These are the normal duties, which the charity requires from the position. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and all employees will be required from time to time to perform other duties as may be required by the charity  for the efficient running of the charity.  This Job Description is non-contractual. It will be reviewed from time to time and may be subject to change.

Person Specification:

Skills:

• Interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate in a warm, empathic, courteous and professional manner

• Ability to plan and prioritise work

• Ability to work to agreed deadlines

• Ability to competently use MS Office suite to deliver work

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to communicate with confidence

• Numeracy skills

• Ability to use a CRM system

Knowledge:

• Broad knowledge of the scope of the Third Sector and statutory welfare provision in the UK, Scotland and Edinburgh

• Understanding of the welfare benefits system in Scotland

• An understanding of data protection

• An understanding and commitment to promote equal opportunities and diversity

• A broad understanding of safeguarding

• Understanding and commitment to partnership working and co production

Experience:

• Experience of working in a grant-making, information or advice role

• Ability to work as part of a team and to be a supportive colleague

Personal Attributes:

• A positive and energetic approach to helping to make a difference for people in financial insecurity

• A commitment to very high standards of work and customer care

• Highly motivated with an ability to work on own initiative and work proactively in key areas of responsibility

Turn2us is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us and we are particularly interested in applications from people from all backgrounds.