Ipswich & District Citizens Advice Bureau

Volunteering • Gateway Assessors

Gateway assessors help clients get the right help in the fastest time possible. They assess people’s needs, either face-to-face or over the phone, and identify the most appropriate course of action. That might be self-help information, referral to a specialist organisation or an appointment with a CAB adviser. As a gateway assessor you would:

greet clients and explain the gateway assessment process
explore the client’s problem(s) and situation
assess the risk/urgency of the client’s issue and their ability to deal with the problem themselves
identify the next step that needs to be taken
summarise the content of the interview for the client and explain what happens next
ensure clients know they can return if necessary
update the database, completing the gateway assessment screens

Specific qualifications or experience are not required to train for the role. You need to:

be good at listening
have a good manner when talking to people
have basic computing skills
be open minded and non-judgmental
enjoy helping people

pdf Volunteer application form
pdf What do Citizens Advice bureaux do?
pdf What do our volunteers do? (advisers, administrators, receptionists, and IT co-ordinators)
pdf What do our volunteers do? (trustees, campaigners and social policy co-ordinators) What do our volunteers say?
pdf Why volunteer for us? What should I do next?
pdf Notes on volunteer application form