Service based around volunteers:

As with all CABs across the country, volunteers are at the heart the provision of our service to the community. We will welcome your contribution to almost any aspect of the Bureau’s work. As a volunteer with us, you could,
for example:

• Help with clerical and administrative work;
• Help with Information Technology (IT) support;
• Work on social policy or campaigning for change;
• Serve as a trustee on our management committee;
• Raise funds for us;
• Advise clients in person, by telephone or email;

The following paragraphs focus what is involved in becoming an adviser with us. If you are interested in helping us in any other ways, click on contact us.

What our advisers do

Voluntary advisers deliver most of our ‘front line’ advice services to the community. This means working with clients on the wide variety of issues they consult us about every day. Click on services for more on typical issues that we deal with.

As an adviser you work in a team with full support from experienced supervisors, specialists and colleagues. In addition we have comprehensive information and computer support to help you to deliver a quality service.

Specifically a CAB adviser:

• interviews clients and helps them find a solution to their problem
• uses our information systems to find the information the client needs to find a way forward
• helps clients negotiate with people such as creditors or service providers
• drafts letters and make telephone calls on behalf of clients
• refers clients to other agencies where appropriate
• makes accurate case records of work with clients.

When you have more experience you could also represent clients in court and at tribunals.

How much time will it take?

We ask you to contribute a minimum of six hours per week. This could include interviewing clients, follow up work, reading and writing case sheets or letters. You may choose to offer a single day each week or spread your time over 2 ‘shifts’.

You will also need to attend at least 6 staff meetings or training courses each year.

What about training

The basic training for all advisers is known as the ‘certificate program’. This is a mix of self instruction packs, tutorials, observing interviews by experienced advisers and skills practice; as well as a four day Citizens Advice Certificate Course over two weeks to learn about the interviewing process.

The Certificate Program is accredited to national standards. On an average of one day per week, it takes approximately ten months for an adviser to qualify.

After you complete basic training, we offer further training on more complex subjects. We also help experienced workers to keep up to date, or to gain more in depth knowledge.

Can I specialise?

As CAB work has become more complex, opportunities for specialisation have increased. Issues where we frequently offer clients ongoing support - sometimes requiring representation and more detailed knowledge of the law – are:

• Benefits
• Money Advice
• Employment
• Housing

‘Generalist’ advice suits many people, as it provides variety. Others gain satisfaction from learning about one area in depth and gaining results for clients from in-depth casework.

How is modern technology affecting CAB work?

Wokingham CAB making full use of technology, computers and the Internet in order to serve our clients better. We use networked computer systems to access the information we need to give advice; to manage and record details of cases; and to communicate with clients and external agencies.

We also want to help more clients by telephone and by email: we would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone who wants to specialise in these.

What do we look for?

As we provide full training, we do not ask for any formal qualifications or experience - although we will of course make good use of your specialist knowledge. The qualities we look for are:

• Ability and willingness to work within the aims, principles and equal opportunities of the CAB service
• Sound literacy and numeracy skills
• Good communication skills: in person, by telephone and in writing.
• Ability to interact with and respect others from a variety of backgrounds
• Warmth, empathy and openness
• Openness to new ideas and willingness to learn
• Familiarity and willingness to work with modern computer systems (full training will be given)

What will you gain?

Each adviser gets different rewards and satisfactions from the work. And these can change over time.

Some advisers enjoy making a positive difference, especially for those less able to stand up for themselves. Others enjoy learning new skills – perhaps after being away from work for some years - or the stimulation of learning completely new subjects. On the other hand, others may have specialised knowledge or experience – say of benefits, the law or finance - which they want to harness to new ends. For yet others the satisfaction is about working with people: of helping someone share a problem – perhaps for the first time – and then empowering them to find a way forward.

Most advisers like our Social Policy approach, which means that experience gleaned from individual cases is used centrally as evidence for change. And finally nearly everyone mentions the pleasures of working in a team of people from diverse background who are united in their commitment to give the best possible advice to our clients.

What do I do next?

If you’re are interested in finding out more about how you could join our team then please contact us for an informal discussion:

  by telephoning our manager on 0118 978 7258
  or email to manager@wokingham-cab.org.uk
                       or writing to The Manager, Wokingham CAB, Wellington House,
                                           Wellington Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AG