Welfare Advisor

You will work in a small team with other Welfare Advisers and Academic Advisers:

• To provide professional advice to individual students on a range of issues, such as student financial support, accommodation and benefits on a drop in basis, in addition to telephone, e-mail and social network enquiries and to undertake specialist casework as appropriate.
• To provide supervision and practical support to student volunteers in the Advice Place.
• The co-ordinate outreach activities across outlying campuses with a view to ensuring all students are aware of and have access to our service.
• To work with the marketing team to update information contained in Advice Place publications and information sources, including the Advice Place website, facebook page and twitter account to ensure they are accurate and reflect user needs whilst increasing awareness of the service.
• To be responsible for issuing of the Small Loans and Late Awards Loans as required.
• To support the Sabbatical Officer bearer in their role in campaigning on welfare issues.
• To participate in relevant training and presentations in order to provide information about the service.

• To ensure that every student, staff member or visitor using any of our services has the best possible experience of that service and of EUSA as on organisation.

You must have:

• A degree level qualification
• Knowledge of the Higher Education system and current student issues
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal and interpersonal) and good IT skills, including internet literacy, Microsoft Office and a working knowledge of social networks.
• The ability to work independently to prioritise a busy caseload
• Strong analytical abilities to process complex written materials and situations, and attention to detail
• The ability to negotiate effectively.
• The ability to instil confidence in service users and to promote a self-reliant approach wherever possible
• Suitable personal qualities for advice work, including: a non-judgmental attitude, approachability, interest in supporting students, tact and sensitivity.
• A clear understanding of confidentiality and an ability to deal appropriately with sensitive information.
• Proven experience of using own initiative for problem solving in professional context
• Proven presentation skills

For information and to apply please visit our website at http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/jobs/vacancy/78/

The closing date for applications is 12pm on Monday 30th July 2012, with a planned recruitment event held on 14^th August 2012.  Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with further information.