Volunteer Adviser

Citizens Advice Merton & Lambeth (CAML) are currently looking for advisers with previous Local Citizens Advice experience either as an assessor or adviser. If you do not have this experience, please look at the Assessor role and planned recruitment dates.

 

Aim of this role
Volunteer Advisers support our advice services in two ways – client assessments and client appointments.

Assessments are short client interviews in which we support clients to understand the problem, assess possible options and recommend next steps. The next steps could include helping the client to access the information they need, scheduling an appointment with one of the charity’s advisers or specialists, or signposting to another organisation.

Appointments are longer, pre-booked, more detailed client interviews, appropriate for some more complex cases. As a volunteer Adviser, you investigate the problem in detail and then help by explaining options to the client. Volunteer Advisers may need to do detailed research before the appointment and complete some follow-up actions, such as drafting letters.

 

As a Volunteer Adviser you will:

  • use your skills and experiences to help others in need

  • find information about clients’ problems and help them to understand their options

  • support clients to take action to resolve their problems. This might include drafting or writing letters, making phone calls, or referring the client to another organisation

  • write a summary of the clients’ problems and what action you’ve taken

  • look out for problems that are recurring, or are unfair, and support our R&C team by submitting Evidence forms

  • receive volunteer training to support you in the role

  • be part of a friendly and supportive charity team

  • develop transferable skills for employment, training or other volunteering opportunities

  • develop knowledge of some of our key enquiry areas

Locations
We need Advisers in our main offices in Kennington, Morden and Mitcham and at different outreach locations in Merton and Lambeth. All three offices are well-connected to public transport, and the Mitcham office has a car park.

We will also reimburse out of pocket travel and lunch expenses.

 

What’s in it for you?

  • make a real difference to people’s lives

  • learn about a range of issues like benefits, debt, employment and housing

  • build on valuable skills such as communication, listening and problem solving, and increase your employability

  • work with a range of different people, independently and in a team

  • have a positive impact in your community.

 

Satisfactory references are required before joining the charity.

 

What do you need to have?

  • be friendly and approachable

  • be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own

  • have good listening skills

  • have excellent verbal and written communication skills

  • have good maths and IT skills

  • be able to understand information and explain it to others

  • be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection

  • be willing to undertake training in your role.

 

Commitment
Our offices are open to the public from 9.30am to 3pm, five days a week. Our volunteers are typically with us for one full day per week or more. We are looking for volunteers who are able to be with us for at least one full day, starting at 9.30am.

We will agree days and times with you, and these can be changed if needed. If for any reason you’re unable to attend we ask you let your team know.

Ideally we ask for at least 12 months.

We can be flexible so come and talk to us.

 

Valuing inclusion
Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from racially minoritised people/people of colour, disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people.

 

If you are interested in becoming an adviser and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.

How to apply
Please fill out both the Application Form and Diversity Monitoring Form, then send them over to volunteering@caml.org.uk

We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and will process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our online Privacy Policy at www.caml.org.uk for more information on how your personal data will be processed and stored.