Principal purpose:

The Place at Platt Lane are looking for reliable and committed volunteers to support our new Community Money Advice Project.

The role is to work directly with clients to assist them with their debt or other money problems, including budgeting help, and to support them in implementing debt solutions.

Each year, CMA centres help thousands of people, from all walks of life, escape from the blight of indebtedness by providing free, unconditional, fully confidential advice and practical support. Our fully trained Debt Advisers and Money Mentors offer advice specific to each client's needs and they give as much time and support as required, in order to help the client become debt free, whilst working towards financial stability. During the advice process, clients will also be taught budgeting and money management skills, to ensure they have control over their finances, enabling them to remain debt free in the future.

Reporting to:  Centre Manager & Volunteer Coordinator.

Responsibilities:

• Provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere to clients.
• Engage and build rapport with a variety of clients.
• Work with clients to make a thorough analysis of their problems and concerns.
• Help clients to create a budget plan, to which they feel able to commit.
• Signpost or refer clients to any other sources of help or support, in particular the CMA Hub, which provides any required debt advice.
• Regularly engage with CMA Hub through the relevant IT system (Catalyst), or other methods.
• Support clients as they work through the agreed debt solution plan, as advised by CMA Hub, and help them to respond to correspondence/calls concerning the plan.
• Provide clients with the information and tools to enable them to make sound financial decisions in the future.
• To keep accurate and up to date records of each client meeting using an online client management system.
• To operate within the code of practice, policies and procedures of the service.
• Undertake appropriate training.
• Attend team meetings.

Personal qualities and skills

• Empathetic, non-judgmental and a good listener.
• Able to relate to a wide range of people.
• Good communication skills both verbal and written.
• Willing to learn new skills.
• Understand the importance of confidentiality and GDPR.
• Methodical.
• Be honest and act with integrity.
• Able to work with computerised systems.
• A reasonable level of numeracy and literacy.
• Appreciate the importance of working within policies and procedures.
• Able to stay objective and avoid becoming personally involved.
• Be a team player.
• Reliable and punctual and able to commit to your agreed times, reporting any absence as soon as possible to the relevant member of staff.

Willing and able to commit to at least 6 months volunteering and undertake the required training to prepare you, giving you the tools & confidence to assist clients within this role. 

Benefits for you:

• You will receive a full induction and be enrolled on a comprehensive bespoke CMA Money Mentor training programme and also receive guidance & support from experienced staff.
• Be part of a friendly and supportive team on brand new project and have fun whilst gaining experience of working with members of the community.
• Meet new people and improve confidence.
• Mandatory training such as GDPR and Safeguarding. You will gain free access to our online academy with a library of CPD courses for your own professional development or personal interests.
• A DBS if you don’t have one on the update subscription service.
• The opportunity to progress to become a budgeting coach after a satisfactory term of being a money mentor.
• A reference for future employment - Subject to at least 6 months of satisfactory volunteering.
• Travel expenses – A Day Rider bus pass is provided to those using public transport. Mileage covered at 45p per mile, up to 11 miles per session.

(We ask that anyone applying for the position lives within a reasonable distance to Fallowfield due to funding limitations.)

Please note: Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot promise to contact everyone. Please only apply if you can commit to regular weekly sessions, due to the training involved and consistency needed with clients we will not consider short term applicants.

If you are contacted, you will be asked to complete our application form & provide character references, A DBS check funded by us is essential if successfully selected for the role.