At Release, we believe that expert advice can change lives — especially for people who are pushed to the margins by poverty, stigma, criminalisation and complex legal problems. We are looking for a debt adviser who wants to do more than provide technical advice: someone who shares our commitment to social justice, dignity and practical support, and who wants to be part of a specialist legal team working alongside people at the point they need help most.

This is not a traditional debt adviser role. It is an opportunity to help shape a newly established debt unit within our legal team, creating a holistic service that responds to the full reality of people’s lives rather than treating debt in isolation. You will work alongside legal advisers and solicitors delivering free welfare benefits, debt and housing advice through our outreach services, with referrals coming directly from colleagues supporting clients with overlapping legal and financial problems. You will also provide training and support to colleagues and host centre staff, helping build confidence and understanding around debt, its impact, and how to identify when someone may need specialist advice. Many of the people we work with are facing crisis, exclusion and multiple barriers to support. In this role, you will help ensure they are met with compassion, specialist advice and joined-up support that gives them a clearer route forward.

The new Debt Adviser wil join Release’s multidisciplinary legal services team. The postholder will 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.

Key Responsibilities:

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, keyworkers, peer advocates, volunteers and partner organisations to support warm referrals and coordinated care.
Record casework accurately on AdvicePro and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, quality assurance, client feedback and learning from the debt advice project.

Essential Requirements:

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

Holidays: 29 days + public holidays
Location: Hybrid - Spitalfields, London / Remote (minimum 3 days in the office)
Closing Date: Until vacancy filled
Interviews: Rolling
Start Date: As soon as possible

An enhanced DBS check will be required for the successful candidate.

We particularly welcome applications from people from Black and racialised communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, people from working-class backgrounds, and people with lived experience of the issues we work on. We are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve, and we know that lived experience and diverse perspectives strengthen our legal practice and our work for systemic change.

Release is committed to equal opportunities.

Important Notice: For this job, Release will only consider applications from those who already have the right to live and work in the UK. See the Home Office Immigration & Nationality Directorate for information on the UK Government's immigration policy.

Release - L.E.A.D.S jobs

Debt Adviser