Debt Adviser

We are seeking a Debt Adviser to join Release’s multidisciplinary legal services team. The postholder will receive debt referrals from the legal services team and provide high-quality, non-judgmental debt advice to people experiencing financial hardship alongside issues such as substance use, homelessness, poor mental health, benefit problems and social exclusion. Ideally, you’ll be qualified to Level 3 Certificate in Money and Debt Advice, the Certificate in Money Advice Practice (CertMAP), or the CMA Award in Generalist Debt Advice.

Should you not have these or equivalent certifications, the appointee would be required and supported to achieve a certification within an agreed timeframe.

• Deliver specialist debt advice through direct referrals for our legal team who support clients in trusted community and treatment settings.
• Complete financial assessments, income and expenditure work, debt screening, priority-debt triage and casework using clear, accessible and trauma-informed approaches.
• Advise on appropriate debt options, including Breathing Space, Debt Relief Orders, negotiated write-offs, informal and formal repayment arrangements, and referrals where another provider is better placed to help.
• Work closely with legal advisers, drug and alcohol services, key workers, peer advocates, volunteers and partner organisations to support warm referrals and coordinated care.
• Record casework accurately on Advice Pro and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, quality assurance, client feedback and learning from the debt advice project.

• At least 12 months’ experience delivering debt advice in a community, advice, legal or outreach setting.
• Strong understanding of UK debt solutions, priority debts, social security, housing-related debt and the impact of financial hardship on people in vulnerable circumstances.
• Ability to provide clear, fair and not misleading advice, based on a full assessment of the client’s financial and personal circumstances.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate case notes, letters and reports in plain English.

This is a full-time position, 35 hours per week. The postholder can work through a mixed model of home working and office-based work, with a minimum of three days per week in the office. Working hours are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday, with a one-hour lunch break.

The successful candidate will join Release’s specialist debt unit provision, working alongside legal advisers and community partners to reach people who may be excluded from mainstream advice. The role will focus on debt advice, financial assessment, income maximisation, creditor negotiation, debt options, priority-debt action and practical support that helps clients understand their rights and next steps.

The postholder will support Release’s by helping to embed standard debt screening, clear referral routes, accessible client tools, Advice Pro reporting, client feedback and quality assurance processes across our outreach network.

This is an opportunity to help strengthen a growing specialist debt team within a rights-based charity working with people affected by drug use, poverty, homelessness, criminal justice contact, benefit problems and other forms of exclusion.

• Provide high-quality, free-to-client debt advice and casework to people experiencing financial hardship and multiple disadvantage.
• Support clients to understand their options, risks, responsibilities and likely outcomes, using clear language and a trauma-informed approach.
• Help embed consistent debt screening, referral, case recording, quality assurance and outcome measurement across Release’s outreach services.