Welfare and Benefits Team Manager/Adviser

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Job overview

Coping with a cancer diagnosis or complex haematology treatment is challenging, but for some patients, it also brings financial worries and unexpected costs. We are seeking an experienced Welfare and Benefits Team Manager/Adviser to lead and support our established team in helping UCLH Cancer Division patients and their carers access the benefits and support they are entitled to.

You will join a small team of welfare and benefits advisers who work closely with the multidisciplinary Support and Information Team, consisting of approximately 35 staff who provide emotional and practical support to cancer and haematology patients. The team is based in the Cancer Centre, where we have daily contact with patients who drop into our support service.

Main duties of the job

As Team Manager, you will contribute to the strategic direction of the Welfare and Benefits service within the broader Macmillan and Support & Information service. You will manage your own caseload, review systems and policies regularly, and implement changes to maintain a high standard of service. You will assist with governance, risk assessment, and planning processes, ensuring they align with the Directorate's broader objectives. Additionally, you will help raise awareness among Trust staff of the financial and social implications of illness through presentations, induction programmes, and workshops.

You will provide leadership, manage staff performance, and oversee recruitment, induction, and retention. You will ensure that the team has the resources necessary to deliver high-quality services efficiently.

• You will have direct line management responsibility for the Cancer Division welfare and benefits team, consisting of 4 part-time staff, and recruit to a further full-time fixed-term post.
• You will provide leadership, promote teamwork, and apply your senior welfare and benefits expertise to the team.
• You will manage your own welfare and benefits caseload while expanding training opportunities for advisers and improving data quality.
• You will work towards achieving the Macmillan Cancer Support Advice Quality Standard (AQS) and produce a project plan to implement new processes, ensuring staff engagement and best practices.

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital
• Eastman Dental Hospital
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospitals at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
UCLH top trust to work at in England - for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England - for the second year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England - for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040

Person specification

Knowledge & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level or equivalent level experience

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant experience of managing staff
• Significant managerial experience in a large and complex organisation
• A good understanding of the commitment and aims of the welfare and benefits service and proven experience in service improvement and development
• Proven experience in effective monitoring of national target compliance
• Proven experience in effective management of budget and effective leadership of staff
• A proven record of success in managing change while also developing and maintaining high standards of quality
• Excellent welfare and benefits casework experience in a large and complex organisation preferably within the NHS, Citizens Advice or similar organisation
• Have a good understanding of the social and economic issues affecting society and the implications for providing clients with a service that encourages self-management and empowerment, particularly in the context of the issues facing patients with long term and terminal illness and disability

Desirable criteria

• Proven experience in business planning and in the development and effective implementation of complex strategic & operational plans

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

• Excellent staff management skills including performance management and training
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills including the ability to communicate at senior levels within an organisation
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff on all levels
• The ability to both work co-operatively with other management teams of the Trust and to develop effective working relationships within the directorate
• Quality focussed with an innovative approach and the ability to solve complex problems
• A strong understanding of multi-disciplinary issues and commitment to multi-disciplinary working
• Excellent IT skills
• Ability to identify areas for service development and implement changes
• Ability to operate effectively under pressure, self-motivate and use own initiative
• Ability to negotiate and influence staff at all levels in the organisation including medical staff
• Ability to adapt rapidly to work with different services and teams, showing flexibility in thinking

Other requirements

Essential criteria

• Evidence of political awareness and sensitivity to the high profile of the Trust
• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of current issues and practices within the NHS and a commitment to the aims and policies of the service
• Understanding of Trust diversity and equality policies
• Demonstrates a commitment to training, self-development and knowledge of current thinking and policy affecting Welfare and Benefits.
• Understanding of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage's staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor's contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.

You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 520.3KB)
• Functional Requirements (PDF, 248.6KB)
• UCLH Values (PDF, 860.9KB)