Advertised from 5 August 2025

Role

The ABCAB Energy Debt Project has developed in response to the ongoing fuel crisis experienced in the UK in recent years and is set to continue as a measure to address the high levels of fuel poverty and debt in this locality.

The project is promoted through the ABCAB common channels to encourage members of our communities to engage with their Bureau for advice and support with their own specific concerns.

The support offered includes advocacy for clients with ongoing supplier issues; assistance with fuel debt through credit vouchers, grant funding, and repayment negotiation; energy efficiency + carbon reduction advice with home improvement grant advice; and referral to partner agencies where appropriate.

The project also takes a proactive approach to promoting energy efficiency and fuel stability by delivering outreach events to community groups which provides essential information on understanding domestic energy usage and costs.

The direct beneficiaries of the project are residents of the Argyll & Bute communities who are struggling to fund, manage or fully understand their fuel costs and energy usage, those seeking to improve the energy efficiency of their home, and those facing a breakdown of communication with their utility supplier.

The Energy Debt Project is open to all with a focus on vulnerable consumers including:

• Older People
• People with Disabilities
• Low Income Families
• Families with Young Children
• People in Fuel Poverty People in Hard to Heat Homes

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide impartial and verified energy advice to clients of the Argyll & Bute Bureau, with additional holistic advice in accordance with CAB principles;
• Complete casework required for those clients with short-term fuel crisis or long-term fuel poverty to assist in resolving utility debt, including: completing the debt process + producing CFS; acting as advocate for clients in repayment negotiation with suppliers; arranging fuel vouchers for short-term need; sourcing and completing funding applications to relive long-term debt;
• Complete casework required for clients presenting problems with their utility supplier; acting as advocate for the client in negotiation with the supplier; raising formal complaints with suppliers where resolutions have not been reached;
• Complete casework required for clients with significant supplier complaints who seek to escalate a dispute to the energy Ombudsman;
• Promote engagement with local and national energy support schemes such as ALI Energy, Home Energy Scotland, HEEPS and ECO4 / ECO Flex, to ensure clients receive thorough solutions for fuel poverty and energy efficiency issues;
• Raise Social Policy cases where incidences of poor practice, unfairness, or negligence occur;
• Provide consultancy support to build the energy advice capacity of the Generalist CAB advisers and to assist partner agencies;
• Actively engage with stakeholder groups including Ofgem, Energy Action Scotland, Argyll & Bute Energy Efficiency Forum, Energy Saving Trust, and Money Advice Scotland;
• Undergo a continuous programme of learning to maintain a high standard of in-depth and current knowledge regarding energy efficiency and carbon reduction; domestic energy supply and systems; the energy industry market; energy debt and energy efficiency grants; non-regulated alternative fuel use; domestic fuel rights and supplier License Conditions;

Report and review of utiity debt cases within Bureau to manage target numbers required for funded energy projects

Employee benefits

Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau offers excellent terms and conditions, including a total of 25 days (pro rata) annual leave plus public holidays and a pension scheme with a 6% employer contribution. A 4 day working week is in operation and a wellbeing approach is undertaken. Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau is an inclusive employer considering flexible working arrangements where appropriate.

Application notes

Please contact the Bureau Manager for an application pack:

By telephone   01546 60 5550

By email          recruitment@abcab.org.uk

Closing date for applications is Friday 15th August, 12 midday

Please note that the post is subject to the disclosure of criminal history information.

About the employer

Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau is committed to equal opportunities both in service provision and employment. We are an accredited advice provider with bot Citizens Advice Scotland and Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers (SNSIAPS)

Charity number: SC030477

Charity name:    Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau

Downloads