An exciting opportunity has arisen for part-time motivated and experienced Welfare Benefits Officers to join the Welfare Rights team at The Royal Marsden Hospital. Assessing and supporting cancer patients and their families providing comprehensive advice and help people access available benefits and other sources of financial help.

The Post holder will have a strong understanding of relevant legislation and its application and provide a quality service which is efficient and provides high levels of user satisfaction.

The aim of this post is to help support people affected by cancer to maximise their income and promote confidence in managing personal finances.

The post holder will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision and will act with autonomy for the day-to-day management of their workload.

Please note that this position will not attract a work permit or visa and so only applications from individuals already free to work in the UK without restrictions will be considered.

Due to the high volume of applications, we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a welfare benefits advice service to Royal Marsden patients with the aim of maximising their income. The post holder will undertake casework, assisting clients to access their entitlements to welfare benefits and other sources of financial help. To advise Royal Marsden NHS staff on welfare benefit issues.

About us

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 3,900 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits and learning and development opportunities. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.

• To receive referrals for Welfare benefit advice from Royal Marsden staff or directly from patients, families, and external stakeholders.
• To work autonomously with a minimum of supervision to review cases, complete appropriate analysis and determine the appropriate level of support and advice to offer in each case to progress cases appropriately. This will involve a comprehensive case plan with milestones and relevant external (multi-disciplinary agencies) and internal links (Health professionals- Doctors, nurses etc)
• To be able to deal sensitively with vulnerable patients and their family or carers and provide appropriate advice and support.
• As part of the review of cases assess the patients financial circumstances and agree and document a casework plan.
• To assess the social and emotional needs of the patient and family and to refer as appropriate to the relevant other departments in the hospital, /Community services.
• Liaise and negotiate with other statutory and voluntary organisations and ensure good working relationships with health professionals supporting the patient to progress the clients case and ensure they receive all assistance available
• Develop working relationships with health professionals supporting the client group
• To signpost patients threatened with homelessness or in need of special housing assistance to the appropriate agency.
• To assess the needs of patients with no recourse to public funds or legal status in the UK and refer to the appropriate agency.
• Maintain detailed records for the purpose of continuity of case work and information retrieval.
• Record data of referrals, open and closed cases on the departments computerised database system. To utilise these figures for audit and service provision requirements, analysis of themes and service improvements.
• As part of the assessment of cases request applications for grants from various charities.
• Represent the project at meetings with other agencies as appropriate

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• All staff are expected to take responsibility for their own continual personal development.
• Minimum education requirement of 5 GCSE's including Maths and English or their equivalent.
• Completion of consistent and appropriate training in the benefit case law and practice relating to social security benefits and tax credits- level 4
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Degree level educated/equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

• Thorough knowledge of welfare benefits
• Knowledge of key legislation affecting benefits, community care, housing, immigration, and employment.
• Understanding of the personal and financial implications of illness, including chronic illness, disability, and end of life care
• Advise on complex welfare benefits cases
• Benefit Case law knowledge

Desirable

• Experience of working in a healthcare setting.

Skills Abilities/knowledge

Essential

• Good organizational and time management skills
• Good advocacy and negotiation skills
• Mathematical skills to achieve an accurate financial assessment
• Administrative skills
• Good IT skills including ability to use Microsoft office and input data
• To provide accurate information regarding welfare benefits
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, cares, and the wider multidisciplinary team
• Ability to act as the patient's advocate and interpret legislation
• Ability to determine the need for referral to other MDT colleagues
• Ability to work in a stressful environment and recognize the additional stresses of patients/cares
• Keep accurate and legible patient notes
• To work without direct supervision
• Effective communication skills both written and verbal.

Desirable

• Ability to use reference materials e.g., law books, CPAG

Personal Requirements

Essential

• Good interpersonal skills
• Good team working skills
• Good written and verbal skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

Employer details

Employer name

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Royal Marsden Hospital Chelsea

Chelsea

SW3 6JJ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

282-SA124615