Welfare Rights Officer

Job Vacancy
We are pleased to share this opportunity to join the well-established Welfare Rights Team in Midlothian Council.
We are seeking applications from a motivated welfare rights officer to provide specialist welfare rights services to some of the most vulnerable residents in Midlothian.
The successful candidate will be a committed and enthusiastic individual, with up-to-date experience of welfare benefits and advice services and will have the skills and knowledge to provide representation at appeal level
The successful candidate will join a small team delivering high quality, efficient and effective Welfare Rights services in Midlothian.
He/she/they will have excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
In addition to this the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate up to date knowledge of DWP & Social Security Scotland benefits and the complexities between the two.
Please note this is a one-year fixed term post.
Jobholders must hold a degree level qualification in Social Sciences, Law, or an equivalent qualification in a relevant field, e.g.; SVQ4, or HND is desirable, with previous experience in welfare rights activity and a sound knowledge of accompanying legislation along with experience of working with the general public and carrying out oral appeal representation.
CLOSING DATE - Thursday 25th September
INTERVIEW DATE - Thursday 9th October Job AdvertPosition Title: Welfare Rights Officer
Position Number: S
Directorate: Health and Social Care
Contract Status: Fixed Term until 31/5/
Hours of Work: 18
Working Pattern: Flexible – to be confirmed with successful candidate
Weeks per year: 52
Please note that it is Midlothian Councils policy that successful applicants will be appointed to the first point on the salary scale.
Based on 18 hours over 52 weeks per year, the minimum actual salary for this position is £19,.37 per annum.RequirementsThis post is considered Regulated Work with Children under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, .
Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children.
Successful candidates will require PVG Scheme membership for Regulated Work with Children, You will be required to join the Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check prior to commencing employment with Midlothian Council, the cost of which will be met by you.
For further information on the PVG Scheme please visit Please note that Disclosure Scotland has changed the way PVG certificates are issued.
You will be notified by email from Disclosure Scotland that your certificate is available to view.
Once you have viewed your certificate you will be allowed to share this with your employer and it is only available for 14 days from the first day you have viewed the certificate.
If you do not grant access to Midlothian Council to view before access is removed, a further application will need to be generated, and this will incur an additional cost.Additional InformationIf you have difficulty applying for this post or accessing attached documents, or if you have a disability and reasonable adjustment is required, please call to speak to a member of the Recruitment Team stating the post reference number.
Midlothian Council is currently undergoing a period of transformation, changing and improving the way it delivers services in Midlothian.
As a consequence, there are a number of existing employees for whom we are committed to seeking suitable alternative employment within the Council in accordance with our legal obligations.
Candidates are advised that, for some vacancies, internal candidates in this situation will be interviewed before the wider selection pool and a slightly longer delay may be experienced before application outcomes can be advised to you.
Thank you for your patience in this matter.
If you are a trainee of a Midlothian Council Training Programme, have a disability or you are a care experienced young person who has previously been a looked after child you are eligible for a guaranteed interview if you meet the essential criteria for the post.