Service: Legal and Regulatory Support
Closing Date: Thursday 6th March 2025
Applications are invited for a Welfare Rights Officer to provide services in our Oban Lorn & the Isles area. Let us tell you why this could be a great move for you.
Argyll and Bute is one of Scotland’s most stunning areas. As its award-winning council, we play a vital part in the day-to-day life and long-term future of our beautiful and diverse communities. Our unwavering purpose is to make Argyll and Bute the place to be, the place where people want to live, to work and do business. And we are committed to making the council the place to have a great career, by providing excellent benefits and a friendly, dynamic working culture so that each of our 5000 colleagues can deliver services that help our corner of Scotland thrive. Join us to make a difference.
Covering the Oban Lorn & the Isles area, preferably based around Oban, you will be responsible for providing your clients the full range of Welfare Rights advice services plus representation at tribunals as required. In addition to phone-based advice, you will have to travel to meet with clients in their homes or at outreach locations. As part of our small Welfare Rights & Debt Counselling team, you can make a difference to your clients lives, helping them to maximise their income & continue to live independently
You will require a minimum of three Highers and three years’ experience in a welfare benefits related field. Detailed up to date knowledge of the welfare benefits system is essential and an understanding of the Social Security tribunal appeals process is desirable. Applicants should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and will require to obtain PVG registration to work with vulnerable adults
The postholder will be expected to travel efficiently across Argyll & Bute and have a flexible approach to out-of-hours & weekend working.
Our employees make good things happen in the day-to-day life and for the longer term future of Argyll and Bute. We want you to feel valued working for us. We offer various benefits to support you, such as a competitive salary, pension scheme, generous leave entitlement, cycle to work scheme, discounts on gym memberships and leisure centres, wellbeing initiatives, and opportunities for learning and career growth. We also embrace a modern approach to work, offering a flexible first approach where possible to requests from our employees to how they work.
We care about our people and the world around us and always aim to do the right thing. From employee recognition schemes to environmental policies we have many initiatives in place to help us look after the things we all care about.
Learn more here
For an informal discussion, please contact Susan Tuite on 01546 604740
Argyll and Bute Council recognises the numerous benefits of a positive work-life balance to the wellbeing and productivity of our employees. We will take a flexible first approach to requests from our employees to change the way that they work. While we must balance such requests with the need to ensure the quality of the important services we deliver is not compromised, we will ensure that each request is given careful consideration with a view to achieving a positive outcome wherever possible.
Applicants should note that:-
This post requires Protection of Vulnerable Group (PVG) Membership in relation to working with adults.
To apply for this vacancy, please click on the Apply Now button at the top of this page.
If you would like clarification on any information contained within the vacancy advert and/or the job description you will require to speak with the recruiting manager, who is Susan Tuite, Welfare Rights Officer, 01546 604740.
Please note that you cannot apply for this vacancy by contacting the recruiting manager, applications must be made by clicking on the Apply Now button at the top of this page.
Please also note that we do not accept CVs, only applications completed and submitted via the Apply Now button on this page.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about our commitment to this please visit Equality & Diversity Policy.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .