Naval Children’s Charity – Outreach Caseworker Southeast

Salary: £35,000

30 days annual leave, 7.5% matched pension contribution

Full-time, permanent contract

Location: Portsmouth and Southeast

Line management:

• Head of Operations (Strategic & HR line management)
• Senior Caseworkers (day-to-day oversight & management of casework).

Purpose of role

The Outreach Caseworker will focus primarily on supporting beneficiaries across the Southeast region. The role combines community outreach, partnership development and direct casework to ensure that eligible children and families can access the Naval Children’s Charity’s support.

Working pattern and travel

This is a full-time role of 35 hours per week, based at the Head Office in Portsmouth. The postholder must be available for weekend work and be able to travel locally, with some longer-distance travel, to attend events across the Southeast region.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Core casework support
Caseworkers are often the first point of contact for Naval families facing difficult circumstances. They provide timely support and advice, working closely with partner organisations to help ensure that children and families receive appropriate assistance.

Assessment and recommendations
The Caseworkers assess the needs of children and families by taking time to understand each family’s circumstances. They prepare clear recommendations for appropriate assistance for consideration by the Senior Caseworkers, Senior Leadership Team and, where relevant, the Grants Committee. Support may include welfare related financial assistance, guidance for families managing personal affairs and finances, and assessment of child specific needs. All casework must be undertaken with empathy and without judgement.

Comprehensive induction training will be provided internally and externally, including training on the Charity’s bespoke CRM systems. Appointment to the role is subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

Outreach Casework:

• Lead regional stakeholder engagement, establishing and maintaining relationships across the Royal Navy divisional system and command, schools, and with local statutory and voluntary-sector partners to strengthen referral pathways and coordinated support.
• Promote awareness of the Naval Children’s Charity across the Royal Navy community, proactively identifying potential beneficiaries and improving understanding of eligibility, pathways and the support available.
• Respond to enquiries from beneficiaries and stakeholders, ensuring timely, accurate and professionally recorded correspondence in line with Charity standards and confidentiality requirements.
• Plan and attend external events across the region, including Naval Families Days and establishment and unit events. Responsibilities include:
  • Maintain and update the events calendar to support decisions about Charity attendance.
  • Complete the event checklist, obtain approval for associated costs and secure sign-off from the Head of Operations or CEO.
  • Arrange an appropriate location for the Charity gazebo and ensure it is staffed throughout the event by the postholder and volunteers.
  • Prepare and transport all equipment and materials required for the event.
  • Ensure that all required risk assessments and licenses are in place.
  • Maintain compliance with health and safety requirements throughout the event.
  • Publicise events through the Charity’s social media channels and website.
• Undertake home visits where appropriate, informed by need and risk, to support assessment and relationship-building.
• Support other Outreach areas if required.
• Provide regular regional insight and performance reporting (e.g., demand trends, outcomes and emerging risks) to the Head of Operations to inform Grants Committee and Board reporting and strategic decision-making.
• Identify community projects with potential for development by the Project Manager.
• Deliver presentations about the Charity to interested parties and organisations or support the Senior Caseworkers or Head of Operations in doing so.

Casework:

• Respond promptly and professionally to enquiries and correspondence from beneficiaries.
• Investigate grant applications, assess need and prepare clear, evidence based recommendations for the Senior Caseworkers, Senior Leadership Team and Grants Committee.
• Liaise with caseworkers from SSAFA, RN FPS and other organisations to support comprehensive, coordinated casework for beneficiaries.
• Build relationships of trust with beneficiaries. Provide appropriate advice and guidance, including signposting or referral to statutory services, external organisations and Armed Forces charities
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, childcare matters and the benefits system, together with an awareness of the Ministry of Defence allowance system.
• Investigate beneficiaries’ entitlement to statutory support and advise on other potential sources of charitable funding. With the beneficiary’s consent, make referrals and coordinate with other charities to develop an appropriate package of support.
• Identify opportunities for partner organisations to work proactively with beneficiaries.
• Maintain thorough, accurate, confidential and systematic records of enquiries, applications and grant awards, in accordance with the Naval Children’s Charity’s data protection policies.
• Maintain and develop relevant professional knowledge, training and skills.
• Undertake other relevant duties as reasonably assigned from time to time.

To apply, please complete an application form and submit it alongside a letter/personal statement to Sara Smith, Head of Operations, by the deadlines indicated below.

Alongside the application form, candidates are asked to send in a letter/ personal statement. It should set out the values, skills and experience that you have that makes you suitable for this role.

We hope that this candidate recruitment pack has piqued your interest in joining us and we would actively encourage you to have a pre-application chat if you would like to do so. To arrange please contact Sara Smith, Head of Operations, at sara.smith@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk

 A timeline for the recruitment process for this role is detailed below:

Applications will be assessed as they are submitted on a rolling basis so early application is encouraged.

We are committed to finding the best fit for our team and creating a fair, objective recruitment process. Therefore, as part of our selection process, shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete the following assessments provided by Thomas International:

• Personal Profile Analysis (PPA)
• Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEIQue)
• High Potential Trait Indicator (HPTI)

To find out more please visit:

https://www.thomas.co/assessments/psychometric-assessment-aptitude-tests

Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, evidence of the right to work in the UK and an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Find out more here.