Nigel Wicks
Rustington,West Sussex
Summary
Results-oriented professional specialising in financial inclusion and income maximisation. Expertise in budgeting, debt guidance, and welfare benefits support enhances tenancy sustainment and arrears prevention. Delivers crisis intervention and effective case management while building stakeholder partnerships. Skilled in data management, compliance, and housing management systems, dedicated to optimising housing operations through strategic data recording.
Overview
1
1
Certification
11
11
years of professional experience
Work history
Financial Inclusion Officer
Southern Housing
2015.09 - 2026.07
- Delivered specialist financial inclusion support to residents in financial hardship, maximising income, managing finances, and sustaining tenancies.
- Deliver tailored financial inclusion advice and support to residents.
- Complete benefit entitlement checks and assist with benefit applications.
- Assisted customers with Universal Credit claims and welfare-related issues, ensuring access to necessary benefits.
- Assist residents with budgeting, debt management and money guidance.
- Identify and support vulnerable customers, including safeguarding referrals where appropriate.
- Provided crisis intervention and support during financial hardship, facilitating immediate relief and resources for affected residents.
- Work with housing teams and external agencies to improve customer outcomes.
- Manage complex caseload of working caseloads of 40 cases whilst managing cases on hold of up to 20 or more pending assessments. while maintaining accurate records and performance reporting.
Education
High School Diploma - English GCSE Grade 2
Secondary School
London1986-06
GCSE Grande 2 - Mathematics
High School Dipolma
LondonSkills
- Income maximisation
- Universal credit support
- Budgeting & Money Management
- Debt guidance
- Cost of Living Support
- Financial resilience
- Tenancy Sustainment
- Arrears Prevention
- Crisis Intervention
- Vulnerability assessment
- Safeguarding referrals
- Resident advocacy
- Client management
- Stakeholder & Partnership Working
- Complaint resolution
- Data management
- Housing Management
- Housing Management Systems
- CRM Systems
- Case management
- Data Recording & Reporting
- Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
Certification
- City & Guilds Money Guiders – Kent County Council (2023)
- NVQ Level 2 Team Building & Advanced Team Management – EDI Qualifications (2013)
- Various Welfare Benefits and Financial Inclusion Training Courses (2007–2014)
References
Available on request
Accomplishments
- Increased household income for numerous residents through successful benefit and grant applications.
- Supported vulnerable households to sustain tenancies and reduce financial hardship.
- Developed strong partnerships with local agencies and community organisations to enhance support services.
- Designed and implemented a management system for 68 frontline Housing Support Workers across East, West and Mid Sussex.
- Delivered welfare reform and benefits training to 68 Housing Support Workers and managers, improving service delivery and income maximisation outcomes.
Professional Development
- Safeguarding
- Welfare Benefits
- Universal Credit
- Debt Guidance
- Customer Service
- Housing Support
- Financial Inclusion
- Money Guidance
Timeline
Financial Inclusion Officer
Southern Housing
2015.09 - 2026.07
High School Diploma - English GCSE Grade 2
Secondary School
GCSE Grande 2 - Mathematics
High School Dipolma