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We provide free, confidential and impartial advice on all issues. Our vision is that everyone has access to free advice to help them find a way forward. We’re an independent charity and part of the ...
Trainee Volunteer Adviser
Contact person
Scan me or visit www.govolherts.org.uk/o/Citizens-Advice-East-Herts/opportunities/Trainee-Volunteer-Adviser/100765 to join
Summary
This September Citizens Advice East Herts is starting a free 12 week training course for volunteer advisers. The course will be held in Buntingford, Herts.Detailed description
What will you do? Following induction and training in Buntingford you will:
● talk to clients primarily over the telephone, online and when required, face to face, to explore what problems they’ve come for help with.
N.B. Once qualified you will be able to volunteer from home or from one of our Hubs or Contact Centres, throughout East Herts.
● find information about the clients’ problems and help them to understand their options
● support clients to take action to resolve their problems. This might include signposting or referring the client to another organisation; drafting or writing letters and making phone calls.
● write a summary of the clients’ problems and what action you’ve taken
● look out for problems’ that are common, or are unfair, and write a short report about the problem.
Some examples of what you could do:
● help clients with debts access the support they need ● explore what benefits a client is entitled to and help them to complete a benefit application form.
● help a client who has problems with their landlord to understand their housing rights.
What’s in it for you?
● make a real difference to people’s lives
● learn about a range of issues such as 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.
What do you need to have?
You don’t need specific qualifications but you’ll need to:
● 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 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.