Remote Advice Volunteer

About Crisis at Christmas 

Christmas can be very challenging, but particularly for people who do not have a place that they can call home. We mobilise a huge volunteer effort to bring warmth, companionship, and vital services to people at one of the hardest times of the year. We help people take their first steps out of homelessness, offering Crisis’ year-round support and training to help them leave homelessness behind for good. 

About the role  

• You can perform this remote role in any part of Great Britain, all we ask is that you conduct the calls in a confidential environment.
• As a Remote Advice Volunteer, you will make a vital contribution to the smooth running of Crisis at Christmas. You will be part of a team of volunteers who will be providing advice on a variety of issues affecting our callers, who can be calling from all over Great Britain. 
• You will be delivering practical advice as well as assessing clients' needs to identify desired outcomes and actions. We empower you to use your initiative to do whatever you can to support and resolve your client's issues. 
• The role is remote, and calls will take place between 24th December and 4th January. 
• You will be expected to do your own administration during each shift by inputting data/ documenting advice given, into an excellent user-friendly application.    
• You will use the telephone system 3CX to call clients. This is free to volunteers with the added bonus their personal mobile phone numbers are not divulged to clients.  
• All Remote Advice Volunteers receive full online training and ongoing support from their designated Remote Advice Manager. You will have access to a full manual and resources via Microsoft Teams and will be briefed/debriefed as a team with other remote advisors at the start and finish of each of your shifts. 

Skills and experience we are looking for  

This role would be suitable for Advice Managers and Advisors looking for a socially distanced role. 

We are looking for specialists with up-to-date knowledge and experience of working in the following fields: 

• Housing and homelessness 
• Immigration 
• Benefits and welfare rights 
• Women's rights issues and family law 
• Criminal law 

In addition, we particularly welcome people who work in relevant fields such as CAB Advisors, resettlement workers or those from Homeless Persons' Units. 

Additional info  

• Immigration advisors must be qualified. The minimum requirement is Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner [OISC] level 1 or a member of a professional body that is exempt e.g. members of the General Council of the Bar, Law  Society of England & Wales. 
• Please note, we may conduct a short telephone interview to talk about your background and/or qualifications. 
• You may be only able to work for half a shift and we will do our best to accommodate your preferences. Please send an email to ccservices@crisis.org.uk if this is the case.
• We strive to ensure that our services are welcoming, remain relevant and are fully accessible to everyone that we help and support. We are particularly welcoming of volunteers from diverse and other marginalised communities, as this helps us ensure the best experience for those that we are here to help. People who have lived experience of homelessness are also particularly welcome to apply.
• This role requires a Basic DBS check. If you hold a DBS certificate issued for Crisis in 2020, this will still be valid for your volunteering this year.