Homelessness Money Advisor

The role includes keeping up to date with welfare reforms as they happen and sharing this with your colleagues. The Money Advisors support Housing Assessment & Advice Officers (HAAO), Temporary Accommodation Officers (TAO) and Housing Register and Allocation Officers (HRAO) and Private Accommodation Sustainment Officers (PASO) to maximise the customers income, reduce debt, and manage their budget to sustain or source accommodation. This is not a traditional Money Advisor role. Working within HNAS you will not necessarily have responsibility for case holding or lead on money advice to customers. Instead, you will work as part of the HNAS team sharing your expertise in welfare benefits, debts and budgeting, developing the skills of others to deliver appropriate budgeting advice and assistance with maximising income.

• Demonstrate a good working knowledge of welfare benefits preferably with experience of supporting and advocating for customers.
• Have experience of supporting customers with budgeting advice and advising on priority and non-priority debts, you may hold a relevant qualification, though applications are also welcomed from those without formal qualifications.
• Be approachable, supportive and non-judgemental, and able to foster positive working relationships with customers, colleagues and other professionals.
• Be able to listen well and use effective questioning skills to drill down into the root causes of customers' problems.
• Be competent at understanding complex information and relaying to customers in clear and simple terms to ensure the best outcome for the customer.
• Have strong written and verbal communication skills to enable effective negotiation with creditors or other professionals where appropriate.
• Have experience of developing others in performing effectively in their role, with the confidence to reflect with them on the quality of their interactions.
• Be self-motivated with the ability to work without support and with a willingness to keep your knowledge up to date through your own research.
• Have an understanding of the wider social issues that effect the residents of Portsmouth.
• Be competent with using Microsoft software including: Excel, Word and Outlook and be able to use IT systems to keep clear, accurate, concise and methodical records.
• Be flexible as you may be required to work from any of the 7 area Housing Offices to cover periods of sickness and annual leave. You may be required to carry out visits outside of normal working hours.
• Ideally have a current driving licence and daily use of a vehicle; however this is not essential to the role.