Advice Caseworker

Union at MMU – a friendly organisation that genuinely cares about its community – is looking for an Advice Caseworker to play a key role in providing specialist advice and representation to students at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing casework support to students on a wide range of issues including landlord and tenant issues, student funding, welfare benefits, debt, disciplinary issues and institutional complaints.
• Liaising with other internal and external agencies or organisations.
• Providing formal and informal advocacy in a range of settings.
• Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of areas of casework, including legislative reforms, research and advocacy skills.
• Making appropriate referrals to other services within the University and the wider community.
• Supporting and supervising the triage function within the Advice Centre.
• Assisting the Advice Centre management team in all aspects of running the Advice Centre, ensuring high standards of competence and consistency at all times.
• Supporting change campaigns run by the Union and other social policy work through the sharing of expert knowledge in areas of casework operation.
• Ensuring the maintenance of contact and good relations with relevant external advice agencies and services, including those services provided by the University.
• Supporting the advice centre’s mediation provision.
• Contributing to team planning days and delivery of team goals and objectives.

Skills and Experience

• The ability to locate and understand information resources and legislation and explain them to clients.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to create persuasive content for decision makers and tribunal members.
• Display an empathic, non-judgemental, client-centred and approachable manner to clients.
• A working understanding of confidentiality.
• A good understanding of how to organise case administration and plan effective submissions.
• A collaborator with excellent interpersonal skills who is able to build appropriate relationships with and work alongside people at all levels.
• Significant experience of advice/casework in at least one of the following areas: academic matters, student funding, housing, welfare/disability benefits or other relevant area of specialism.
• Demonstrable experience in casework and advocacy.
• Demonstrable experience of and compliance with legal considerations, including safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection (desirable).
• Experience of working with a complex external stakeholder (desirable).

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus at least six discretionary days (four at Christmas and two at Easter) and Bank holidays.
• Employer pension contribution matched up to 6%.
• Hybrid working supported in line with business needs.
• Supportive, needs-based compassionate and other leave.
• Supportive maternity, parental, adoption and partner’s leave.
• Cover the cost of your eye test and £100 towards new glasses.
• An employee assistance programme to support your wellbeing.
• Plenty of opportunities for learning and development.
• Access to student discounts online and in the city.

Salary: £31,104 to 34,199 per annum.

Contract and Hours: 12-month fixed term (maternity cover), 37 hours per week (part-time considered).

Location: The Union, Manchester, M15 6AD.

Closing date: Midday on Monday 25th May 2026.