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Job summary

Main area
Debt and Welfare Benefits Advisor
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
18 months (Fixed term until end of November 2026)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Home or remote working
37.5 hours per week (37.5 hours)
Job ref
285-8769-CORP
Employer
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Kings Hill Centre
Town
Wednesbury
Salary
£29,970 - £36,483 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/05/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust logo

Debt and Welfare Benefits Adviser

NHS AfC: Band 5

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country.

Across the whole of the region we provide:

  • Adult and older adult mental health services
  • Specialist learning disability services
  • Mental health services for children and young people
  • Community healthcare services for children, young people and families in Dudley

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, with the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.

We currently employ over 4,000 people and just like the population we serve, we are made up of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Whatever your role, working in a NHS Foundation Trust, like ours, is a demanding and extremely rewarding experience. Knowing that every day you can help to make a positive difference to someone’s life is a very powerful feeling. We know that our Trust runs on this desire to help and support people, and our Trust vision expresses this. Our vision is to improve health and wellbeing for everyone, especially our colleagues to achieve the best possible work/life balance.

We proudly offer supportive, inclusive and family friendly employment and flexible working policies. We have a wide range of professional services and employee networks to help our colleagues be at their best - and find support if they need it. To find more about our staff benefits, please visit our website: blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and ethnic minority candidates are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Black Country Healthcare we recognise and value all forms of knowledge and expertise, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification or criteria in the job description/person specification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

For further supporting information to help you apply for this role please see documents attached under ‘Additional documents’.

Job overview

We are seeking  2 qualified benefits advisers to join our expanding Employment Services Team. We are looking for a passionate, motivated individual who will put the service user at the centre of their practice as you support them with their debt and welfare benefits advice.

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Debt and Welfare Benefits Advisor to join our expanding team.  The successful candidate will support a caseload of individuals who have experienced severe and enduring mental health problems, those with health conditions, complex barriers and who are unemployed.  The Adviser will also support our employed client group who are receiving support from our Employment Retention Service to sustain work.  This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a well-established expanding employment team.

 

 

Main duties of the job

Debt and Welfare Benefits Advisor, Band 5, £29970 - £36483, fixed term contract 18 months.

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Debt and Benefits Advisor to be based in a range of our community mental health services across the Black Country.   Specifically the Advisor will provide specialist advice and casework covering the full range of Debt and Money Advice.

Advice should include specific advice on, but not exclusively;

  • Welfare benefits
  • Maximising income/appeals
  • Debt options to signpost ( this excludes regulated debt advice)

The role will support service users in the Black Country and will form a key part of individuals’ recovery and care plans.  The successful candidates will support a caseload of individuals and this is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a well-established expanding team.

Working for our organisation

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country.

Across the whole of the region we provide:

  • Adult and older adult mental health services
  • Specialist learning disability services
  • CAMHS

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, after NHS England and NHS Improvement approved the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.

We currently employ over 3,000 members of staff and just like the population we serve, we are made up of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Post Title: Debt and Welfare Benefits Advisor

Department: Employment Service

Location: Black Country wide

Directorate: Corporate Strategy and Partnerships

Band: 5

Hours: 37.5

Contract Type: Fixed term until end November 2026

The role will support service users in the Black Country and will form an integral part of individuals’ recovery and care plans, working collaborating with clinicians, service users, families, community partners and employers.  The successful candidates will support a caseload of individuals with specialist debt and welfare benefits advice., acting for the client where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters and telephoning and ensuring income maximisation, e.g. through the take up of appropriate welfare benefits.

We welcome you to call us to find out more about the roles, please contact Doreen Till   

Mobile: 07780 956403

Person specification

Interview

Essential criteria
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a related field
  • Able to build relationships with participants and partners
  • Excellent report writing skills
  • Experience of supporting vulnerable people with mental health problems and complex barriers
  • Specialist knowledge and experience of delivering debt and welfare benefits advice
Desirable criteria
  • An understanding of the mental health act

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Bronze Award

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Doreen Till
Job title
Employment Retention Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07780 956403
Additional information

Additional contact details -

Patrick Russell

07552890066

[email protected]

 

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