MaPS Community Based Debt Caseworker/Trainee Caseworker

Working within the aims, policies, and principles of the Citizens Advice Service, the MaPS-funded Community Debt Caseworker will provide specialist debt advice and casework support to clients experiencing financial difficulty and problem debt.

The postholder will deliver holistic, person-centred advice across a range of channels including face-to-face, telephone, video conferencing, email, outreach settings, and community locations across Hertfordshire, ensuring services remain accessible, inclusive, and responsive to client needs, vulnerability, and complexity.

The role requires the delivery of high-quality debt advice in accordance with Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) quality standards, Citizens Advice membership requirements, and the Debt Advice Quality Framework.

Debt Advice and Casework

• Provide specialist casework covering the full range of debt advice and debt solutions, ensuring all advice meets MaPS and Citizens Advice quality standards.
• Manage a caseload of clients with complex debt issues, including priority and non-priority debts, insolvency options, enforcement action, and financial hardship.
• Conduct detailed client assessments, including identifying emergencies, vulnerability, safeguarding concerns, and barriers to accessing services.
• Deliver debt advice through a range of channels including face-to-face appointments, telephone, video call, email, outreach sessions, and home visits where appropriate.
• Carry out Standard Financial Statement (SFS) budgeting, debt prioritisation, affordability assessments, and referral to appropriate debt remedies.
• Prepare financial statements, debt assessments, income and expenditure calculations, and supporting documentation.
• Act on behalf of clients through negotiation with creditors, enforcement agencies, utility providers, landlords, and statutory bodies.
• Prepare and present cases to statutory bodies, tribunals, courts, and insolvency services where appropriate, including Debt Relief Orders (DROs), bankruptcy applications, Breathing Space applications, and other formal debt remedies.
• Deliver holistic debt and financial capability advice, including budgeting, money management, financial resilience, and maximising income.
• Ensure income maximisation through welfare benefit entitlement checks, grants, charitable support, discretionary schemes, and other financial assistance.
• Assist clients with related issues integral to their debt case, including welfare benefits, housing, energy debt, employment, and financial exclusion, making referrals where appropriate.
• Provide tailored support to clients experiencing vulnerability, mental health issues, digital exclusion, language barriers, or crisis situations.
• Empower clients to make informed decisions and support them to improve long-term financial wellbeing and independence.
• Offer access to holistic services and onward referrals for non-debt issues to ensure comprehensive client support.
• Travel across Hertfordshire to deliver community-based outreach and face-to-face support where necessary.

Administration and Quality

• Use IT systems for case recording, statistical monitoring, reporting, and document production.
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date case records in line with MaPS, Citizens Advice, GDPR, and organisational requirements.
• Ensure all casework complies with Citizens Advice quality standards, organisational procedures, safeguarding policies, and the Advice Quality Standard.
• Monitor progress of cases and ensure timely follow-up, review, and closure in accordance with service requirements.
• Contribute to achieving service targets, contractual requirements, key performance indicators (KPIs), and quality standards.
• Utilise digital systems, internal tools, and emerging technologies to support effective case management and service delivery.
• Participate in service audits, peer reviews, and quality assurance processes.
• Follow all relevant policies and procedures and undertake required training.

Research and Campaigns

• Assist with research and campaigns activity by providing anonymised client information and feedback on local debt trends and emerging issues.
• Record statistical information on client numbers, demographics, outcomes, and case types, providing reports, case studies, and analysis as required.
• Identify trends affecting local communities including financial exclusion, energy debt, cost of living pressures, and access to financial support.
• Raise awareness of local and national issues relevant to debt, poverty, financial capability, and social inclusion.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and service development initiatives.

Partnership Working and Public Relations

• Maintain effective liaison with statutory and non-statutory agencies, creditors, local authorities, housing providers, support organisations, and community partners.
• Represent the service at partnership meetings, outreach events, forums, and external bodies as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers, and partner agencies to ensure joined-up support for clients.
• Contribute positively to team learning, mentoring, knowledge sharing, and service improvement activities.

Professional Development

• Keep up to date with legislation, policy, and best practice relating to debt, welfare benefits, housing, consumer issues, and financial capability.
• Undertake mandatory MaPS and Citizens Advice training, including DRO, Breathing Space, safeguarding, vulnerability, and data protection training.
• Maintain MaPS-accredited advice standards and continuous professional development.
• Attend internal and external meetings, supervision sessions, development activities, and team meetings as required.
• Engage positively with feedback, reflective practice, and continuous improvement.

Other Duties

• Carry out any other duties required to ensure effective service delivery.
• Demonstrate commitment to the aims, principles, and equality, diversity, and inclusion policies of the Citizens Advice Service.
• Follow health and safety procedures and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.
• Promote an inclusive and accessible service for all clients, respecting diversity and individual circumstances.