RMF Case Worker

RMF is a registered charity founded in 1855 whose aim is to assist registered doctors and their families who are in financial hardship. The Royal Medical Foundation is a charity based at Epsom College in Surrey, UK. It was founded in 1855 by Dr. John Propert. The foundation s primary mission is to assist GMC-registered doctors and their families who are experiencing financial hardship. The foundation provides support in several ways: regular payments to doctors, widows, widowers, and children of doctors; One-off grants for emergency situations; and assistance with school fees for the children of doctors, helping to maintain educational stability during times of distress caused by illness, bereavement, or financial need.

The Role

The role will be assisting and supporting the case work manager in the good running, granting and management of awards to beneficiaries and the development of its impact in accordance with the RMF s charitable objectives. The caseworker will report to the Case Work Manager but is accountable to the Chair of the RMF.

Case Work Manager duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Investigating all applications, which meet the Foundation s guidelines to satisfy their eligibility for financial assistance. Checking the applicants personal and financial circumstances to make recommendations of the type and amount of assistance required. Investigating supporting documentation, potential beneficiaries and conducting due diligence to eliminate any fraudulent applications, particularly if information provided is inconsistent.

• Ensuring applicants meet the Foundation guidelines and eligibility criteria and provide the relevant information needed.

• Support the Casework Manager with preparing, drafting and presenting case papers for quarterly RMF Board meetings, as well as regularly reviewing cases and providing updates where necessary.

• Administering new and existing grants and awards, including administration of regular payments to beneficiaries. Maintaining regular contact with all beneficiaries and ensuring that any problems are dealt with swiftly. Regularly reviewing and updating existing beneficiaries financial circumstances and liaising with the finance department and Administrator accordingly.

• Signposting and referring as and when necessary to other agencies (e.g. social workers) and charities. Maintaining close liaison with all the other Medical Charities to ensure that all applicants receive the assistance they need, and to prevent unnecessary duplication in financial assistance. Attending regular meetings held by trusts and charities to stay connected with developments in the voluntary sector and for networking purposes.

• Signposting to support applicants with Welfare Benefit advice - ensuring that beneficiaries are in full receipt of all their eligible Welfare Benefits.

Office and management duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:

General Administration

• General office administration including dealing with all post, emails, and telephone calls for the RMF.

• Ensuring the various application forms and letter templates are kept up to date, including changes to state benefits.

• Track and monitor applicant and case load data, identifying any trends or patterns of behaviours. Regularly monitor and update key metrics relating to applicants and case work including number of applicants per quarter and their profile/demographic, number of open and closed cases and report to the Board on a quarterly basis.

• Draft a quarterly report to the Board, monitoring data and identifying trends relating to key metrics relating to applicants and case work including the number of applicants per quarter, their profile/demographic, number of open and closed cases.

• Providing timely information as requested by the auditors and responding to any queries form the Auditors. Assisting the Director of Finance and Secretary to Council in preparing for and drafting the Annual Report and Financial Statement.

RMF Board Meetings

• Support the Casework Manager with preparing the case papers and all supporting documentation for the Board meetings.

• Preparing the award and refusal letters after each meeting, in line with decisions made as recorded in the Minutes.

• Managing and tracking each beneficiary offer and acceptance of award.

Payment Arrangements

• Ensuring there is sufficient funding available for awards agreed by the Trustees. Liaising with the finance team to ensure payments are made on time and are accurate. Providing appropriate updated data to the Director of Finance (of Epsom College) to add to the Grants Financial Statement.

• Providing information for payment of the monthly BACS and other payments with supporting evidence and liaising with Director of Finance and Administrator for approval of payments.

• Ensuring the correct withdrawal of unused funds is put forward at each meeting and inform Accounts Department accordingly to deduct on the Grants Financial Statement when approved.

• Ensuring that the various payments requested by the beneficiaries are reasonable, are consistent with the minuted decision, that funding is available, and payment is actioned appropriately.

Marketing and Profile raising

• Support the Caseworker Manager in developing and implementing plans to raise the profile of the RMF and target appropriate audiences within the medical sector to increase appropriate applications and report back to the Board.

• Assisting the Caseworker Manager in raising awareness of the work of RMF including writing articles for medical publications, applying for charity grants and awards as well participating in charity award events;

Compliance

• Reporting any safeguarding concerns to the Casework Manager (or other senior manager) who will escalate to the Safeguarding Lead where appropriate following all safeguarding policies and procedures.

• Maintaining up to date knowledge of relevant regulatory and legislative guidance applicable to the Charity, including the Charities Commission guidance.

• Ensure board reporting, recording keeping and working practices are compliant with Data Protection principles, UK GDPR and other regulatory requirements;

• Maintaining a high standard of record keeping and detailed case records, including attendance notes of any communication with applicants.

Qualifications, skills, attributes, and experience

• Experience in promoting a charity s mission and goals to offer appropriate support to potential applicants
• A good working knowledge of the processing of grants and awards in compliance with regulatory standards, alongside financial acumen
• Strong working knowledge of the advice sector, and the welfare benefits system to support the Charity s beneficiaries, maximising their income and providing holistic signposting to other services
• An excellent understanding of the Data Protection and UK GDPR
• Excellent administrative skills and casework recording, with an attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to listen and discuss sometimes sensitive and challenging information, and impart information in a way that is accessible to applicants, Trustees, and the wider community.
• Empathy and the ability to identify applicant s areas of need
• Knowledge of working within safeguarding policies and principles
• Excellent time management and organisational skills and the ability to manage their workload
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Resilience and the ability to maintain a professional approach even in difficult circumstances
• Excellent critical thinking skills
• Excellent administration and IT skills including competent user of Word, spreadsheets, database management systems and financial recording software, online portals and Microsoft Teams
• Ability to work from home with reliable, high speed internet

This role is under the employment of the RMF. However, given the association and attendance from time to time at Epsom College all RMF staff are expected to be committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in addition to the applicants to and beneficiaries of the RMF. This will include regular attendance training sessions and any other training required by Epsom College.