Garry Miller

Helping people navigate what may be available to them in terms of support with differing issues affecting them in difficult times. Assessing their situations and supporting them with food and fuel help mainly. Some support we deliver for the local council and other partners. The Housing Support fund being a delivery service for the Pensioner Winter Fuel Payments for example.. Some support is delivered by ourselves in the form of E-Vouchers and Fuel Bank. Some support we have in the form of donations as The Volunteer center is a charity. We have some clothing and Footwear. My job is also to signpost to other organisations such as The Citizens Advice Bureau where their support is best. I also take referrals from other partner agencies , Citizens Advice, DWP work coaches and a myriad of others with cases they have that they think I can help with. I work part time 15 hours a week and work one day a week in another role helping people into voluntary positions. We call it brokerage. I also man the desk on Mondays taking and organizing calls coming in.

• Contributed towards a positive work environment by assisting colleagues as needed during busy periods or absences due to illness or holidays.
• Contributed to team success by providing clerical support with the intake of people. Keeping records up to date for the Counsellors. Making courtesy calls to clients and to organisations who had primary duty of care. Doctors , Probation Services etc.
• Enjoyed my time here had to leave due to bereavement.

Had training into helping people understand the world around them .. For example if someone was talking to solicitor my job would be to make sure they understood what was being relayed to them as the language used by a solicitor can be challenging for some people with learning difficulties and life challenges. Took training looking into Assumptions we can easily make and stereotypes.

• Supported team by demonstrating respect and willingness to help.
• Offered friendly, efficient customer service and handled challenging situations
• Trained in Citizens Advice , Benefits , Debt and money , Housing , Employment , Consumer Issues , Families and Relationships , Legal and Immigration . health.
• Went through about 12 months Training with final training in Manchester to pass as an advisor. Very proud of this achievement over a lot of things in my working life. Helping people with rights , responsibilities and finding possible outcomes for people who otherwise may struggle navigating some of the commonly used sites such as Gov.Uk.
• Helped people filling in forms creating better outcomes.
• Worked on the phone. Some people could not make it into the office for differing reasons. Disabilities physical and mental. We made sure they were getting the support they need from other agencies. Linking them.