- Hours: 26 hours per week, flexible working options available

- Contract: Permanent

As a modern, flexible and effective organisation, we’re driven to make a positive difference to the communities we serve and the careers of our people. When you join us as a Benefits and Housing Advisor, you’ll be a vital part of a dedicated team supporting professionals in their work with vulnerable and disadvantaged adults and children in Suffolk, by providing expert benefits and housing advice.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

You will play a key role in delivering a specialist second-tier advice service to Suffolk County Council practitioners, independent advice agencies, and support organisations across Suffolk. Acting as the first point of contact for benefit and housing enquiries, you will provide expert advice and guidance via telephone and email.

Working as part of Adult Social Care’s Financial Inclusion and Advice Service, you will support colleagues through the provision of advice, casework assistance, and quality assurance. You will also monitor and analyse helpline data to identify trends, inform service development, and shape training and learning opportunities.

You will develop and maintain practice guidance and resource materials for use both within the council and across partner organisations. Collaborating with colleagues in the independent advice sector, you will share best practice, build strong partnerships, and keep stakeholders informed of legislative and policy developments.

There will also be opportunities to support the Ipswich County Court Advice and Representation Service, helping unrepresented defendants access advice and support to protect their tenancy and prevent homelessness.

You will need to have

- Significant and up-to-date knowledge of social security and housing law, with experience of advising on benefit entitlement, reconsiderations and appeals, homelessness applications and reviews, and possession proceedings.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly to people with different levels of understanding.



You will be able to produce professional, Plain English guidance for Suffolk County Council staff, external partners, and members of the public.
- A genuine passion for making a positive difference to the lives of people in Suffolk by supporting advice agencies, independent charities, and social work practitioners.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to find effective solutions to complex benefit and housing issues.
- A working knowledge of the Care Act and charging regulations.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

The team

The Specialist Support and Training Team provides expert advice to practitioners inside and outside the council, about benefits, housing and social care eligibility. We deliver training and team briefings and assist with the development of policies and practice guidance.

We are a small team of five within the Financial Inclusion and Advice Service (FIAS). FIAS also includes teams responsible for carrying out financial assessments for residential and community care, authorising and monitoring direct payments, managing people’s financial affairs, and providing support to people with cancer in conjunction with Macmillan.

We work closely with our colleagues in adult social care, children’s services and the independent advice sector, helping them to resolve financial and housing problems that impact on the outcomes they are hoping to achieve with individuals and families.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage,



respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Jason Whittaker for a casual conversation. You can reach him by calling or emailing

This role is being advertised as Benefits and Housing Advisor for advertising purposes. If appointed, you will be employed as Financial Inclusion Officer.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).

- up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
- membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
- performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
- training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
- a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
- diverse and active staff networks
- flexible working options, with the right to request versatile working from your first day

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📌 Benefits and Housing Advisor (City of Ipswich)
🏢 Suffolk County Council
📍 City of Ipswich