Debt Adviser

East Durham Trust is seeking an experienced and motivated Debt Adviser to support the delivery of Money EED – Money Education East Durham, funded by Believe Housing.

The postholder will provide high-quality, confidential and person-centred debt advice to residents experiencing financial hardship, with a particular focus on Peterlee and Horden. Support will be provided through community drop-in sessions, pre-booked appointments and ongoing casework.

The role will help residents to manage problem debt, maximise their income, identify appropriate debt solutions and improve their financial wellbeing. Through early intervention the adviser will also support residents to address rent arrears, sustain their tenancies and reduce the risk of financial difficulties escalating into crisis.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Debt advice and casework

• Provide confidential, impartial and person-centred debt advice.
• Complete comprehensive assessments of clients’ financial circumstances, including income, expenditure, assets and liabilities.
• Identify priority debts and explain the debt solutions and options available to clients.
• Provide budgeting support and undertake income-maximisation checks.
• Support clients with creditor negotiations, repayment arrangements and appropriate debt solutions.
• Manage an active caseload of clients with complex financial circumstances.
• Provide ongoing casework where clients require sustained support over several appointments.
• Maintain accurate, complete and confidential client records.

Community delivery and tenancy sustainment

• Deliver regular debt-advice drop-in sessions within community venues across Peterlee and Horden.
• Provide pre-booked appointments and flexible outreach support where appropriate.
• Support clients experiencing rent arrears, household debt, fuel poverty and wider financial hardship.
• Help residents address financial difficulties that may place their home or tenancy at risk.
• Work particularly closely with Believe Housing tenants while ensuring the project remains accessible to other eligible local residents.
• Promote early engagement with debt advice to help prevent financial problems escalating.

Partnership working and referrals

• Develop effective working relationships with Believe Housing, community venues and referral partners.
• Receive and respond appropriately to referrals from East Durham Trust’s established partner network.
• Refer and signpost clients to welfare benefits advice, crisis support, food support, health and wellbeing services and other appropriate agencies.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and external organisations to provide joined-up support for clients with multiple or complex needs.
• Promote the Money EED service within local communities.

Monitoring and compliance

• Record client outcomes and beneficiary information required for project monitoring and reporting.
• Support the collection of client feedback, case studies and evidence of impact.
• Contribute to the achievement of the project’s agreed delivery targets and outcomes.
• Comply with all relevant requirements relating to FCA-regulated debt advice, safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection, equality and diversity, and health and safety.
• Participate in supervision, case reviews, quality assurance, training and continuing professional development.

General Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively as part of the wider East Durham Trust team.
• Attend team meetings, supervision sessions and relevant training.
• Maintain professional boundaries when supporting people experiencing challenging circumstances.
• Promote equality, dignity, inclusion and respect throughout service delivery.
• Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the nature and level of the post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Qualifications and knowledge

• Minimum Level 3 qualification in Generalist Debt Advice, or an equivalent recognised debt-advice qualification.
• Good knowledge of debt-advice processes and available debt solutions.
• Understanding of budgeting, income maximisation and financial resilience.
• Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding, data protection and accurate case recording.

Experience

• Experience of providing debt or money advice to people experiencing financial difficulty.
• Experience of managing an advice caseload and supporting clients with complex circumstances.
• Experience of undertaking financial assessments and identifying appropriate options for clients.
• Experience of maintaining accurate and confidential client records.

Skills and attributes

• Excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to explain complex financial information clearly and sensitively.
• Strong organisational and case-management skills.
• Ability to prioritise work and manage competing demands.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with community organisations, housing providers and referral partners.
• A compassionate, non-judgemental and person-centred approach.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability and willingness to work flexibly from community venues across Peterlee and Horden.

Desirable

• Experience of specialist debt casework and creditor negotiations.
• Experience of supporting clients with rent arrears or housing-related debt.
• Experience of working within an FCA-regulated advice service.
• Knowledge of welfare benefits and income maximisation.
• Experience of community outreach or working from community venues.
• Experience of working with social housing tenants or housing providers.
• Knowledge of Peterlee, Horden and the wider East Durham area.
• A higher-level or specialist debt-advice qualification.