Advice Worker

An advice worker responds to requests for help from members of the public and assists clients by providing information and confidential advice on a wide range of issues.

Some advice workers are generalists, working in advice bureau that offer guidance on a variety of issues: debt; employment; housing; social security; and other day-to-day problems. Others work in specialist services offering advice in one of the areas mentioned above or on immigration issues, homelessness, drug dependency or legal matters.

Clients are either the general public or members of a specific group, e.g. students at university, members of a refugee community or people with disabilities.
The mix of activities varies according to: the post; the type of advice offered; experience and seniority of the adviser. Tasks typically involve: responding to requests for help made in person, on the telephone, by letter or email.

Providing information in person, on the telephone, or by offering appropriate leaflets and guides, interpreting and explaining legislation, official documents or the content of letters to clients interviewing clients to assess their current situations, researching and identifying possible courses of action and advising clients on the options they have identified.

Researching general or specialist fields of advice work to remain up to date with appropriate legislation and procedures, writing reports and maintaining and developing own administrative systems.

Guiding clients towards taking appropriate action, producing written material, explanatory leaflets and/or information displays, following up information queries on behalf of clients, mediating, for example by writing a letter on behalf of a client or attending a meeting with them, referring clients to other sources of help, setting up support groups if appropriate.