Social Policy Researcher

Responsible to: Advice Barnet Project Manager / Gateway Assessment Supervisors

PURPOSE OF ROLE:

To provide support to the Barnet CAB Advice Project Manager and Gateway Assessment Supervisor in regards to social policy issues.  

ROLE DESCRIPTION (PRINCIPAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES)

Provide guidance & support to everyone working within the Advice Barnet Partnership (ABP) and Barnet CAB on social policy work.

-Help Partners within ABP, Managers, Supervisors, and Advisers Gateway Interviewers to identify suitable cases for social policy work.
-Check completed Bureau Evidence Forms.
-Give feedback to adviser / Gateway Interviewer / manager on completed Bureau Evidence Forms.
-Complete Bureau Evidence Forms and Gateway Quick Evidence as part of the social policy aims of the Barnet CAB and the ABP.
-Submit completed Bureau Evidence Form to Citizens Advice. 

 Keep up to date with Social Policy issues o Monitor trends in bureau enquiries, to identify issues for potential local or national social policy work. 

-Monitor the Social Policy Bulletin, Citizens Advice, and other publications and newsletters.
-Network with other people involved in social policy work within Citizens Advice, the ABP, locally, regionally and nationally. -Network with other local groups and agencies involved in social policy work.
-Develop systems, templates, client questionnaires, proforma documents to record and interpret the social policy trends, statistics and data.

Maintain the profile of social policy within the Bureau

-Report on social policy issues at workers’ meeting.
-Involve bureau/ project staff in appropriate social policy activities.
-Make a regular oral or written report to the project and senior management team. 

Contribute to learning about Social Policy

-Act as main contact on social policy issues for ABP and Barnet CAB.
-Run small group sessions for bureau staff on aspects of social policy.
-Report to managers/ guidance tutors/ supervisors/paid staff and volunteers on individual and team learning needs in relation to social policy work.  

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

• At least one year’s full time experience (or part time equivalent) working as a coordinator/administrator.
• Excellent It skills & a good working knowledge of Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Excellent knowledge of client uses service.
• Knowledge about the Social Policy rules & regulations.
• Ability to work as a part of a team.
• Ability to work on own initiatives and able to organize and priorities the work load to meet deadline.
• Ability to support management/ bureau staff/ volunteers.
• Ability to research, analyze and interpret information.
• Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principals of the CAB service and its equal opportunities policies.