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Staff

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Staff

Staff

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Teresa O'Hara

Chief Executive Officer

As the CEO of East Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (ERCAB), I am responsible for leading the organisation and setting its overall direction.
I make sure the bureau runs smoothly and provides high-quality advice services to the community of East Renfrewshire. 

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Julie Brown

Operations Manager

I am the Operations Manager of the Bureau, ensuring high standards across all staff to deliver the best outcomes for the communities of East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. I previously worked as a Money Adviser at the Bureau for 20 years.

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Ashleigh Young

Volunteer Co-Ordinator

As Volunteer Co-ordinator, I oversee and support our team of volunteers, providing guidance to help them build confidence and develop their skills. I am responsible for recruiting and training new volunteers, and I support their progression towards independently managing client enquiries. 

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Aimee Caldwell

Money Adviser

As Money Adviser in the bureau, I support clients by going over their debt options, guiding them step by step towards sustainable solutions as well as helping them budget effectively to avoid further debt in future.

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Angela Moore

Benefits Adviser

I am the Mental Health and Wellbeing Benefits Advisor within the bureau. I support working-age clients with completing applications and managing claims for a range of benefits, including Adult Disability Payment, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, and other benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Social Security Scotland. 

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Brigitta Nemeth

Money Talks Plus Adviser

I am currently working on the Council Tax project, where I support clients with council tax reduction and discount applications, as well as assisting with council tax arrears and arranging repayment plans.

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Caitlyn Gray

Veterans Advice Project & Benefits/Fuel Adviser

My role within the bureau is split between 2 areas. As a Veterans Adviser, I provide tailored advice and support to members of the armed forces community: including both serving & ex-serving personnel, as well as their families and carers, across East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde & Renfrewshire. In addition to this, I am part of the benefits team where I assist with all aspects of queries from checking entitlement representing clients at First Tier Benefit Tribunals. 

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Cara McCarthy

Immigration Adviser

I'm the immigration adviser for the Bureau, who specialises in level 1 Immigration advice currently. I am our Bureau's lead advisor for in the National Scotland Migration services project, and can assist clients with a range of areas, including: Nationality, Citizenship, visa applications, EUSS support, Evisa, Travel documents, Indefinite leave to remain.

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Carla Ferguson

SPACE Adviser

As a SPACE Advisor, I support families with children who have additional needs by helping them navigate complex systems and access the support they are entitled to. This includes carrying out benefit checks, assisting with applications for Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment, supporting with redeterminations and appeals, and helping families apply for grants and other financial support. 

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Emily Clague

Admin Support

I am an Admin assistant offering admin support to the MTP, such as sending out holding and offer letters to creditors and updating CASTLE records. Scanning and attaching forms or any other paperwork for advisers onto CASTLE. Answering phones/reception cover. 

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Grace Deighan

ROCC Adviser

I am the ‘Routes Out of Crisis’ Adviser for the East Renfrewshire Bureau. This project is new to the Citizens Advice Network and aims to provide holistic advice and support for clients experiencing food insecurity. Additionally, this project aims to record common barriers individuals face while living in a period of crisis, in order to inform policy that can change how we address poverty in Scotland. 

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Helen Higgins

Benefits Adviser

I am a full time Benefit adviser, dealing with all aspects of benefit enquiries. These can be wide ranging from benefit checks, one off questions, benefit overpayments, applications, calculations, signposting, benefit decision challenges and appeal representation.

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Katie Gavienas-Tweedlie

PASS Adviser

I am a Patient Adviser. The Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) helps support anyone who uses the NHS to understand their rights and responsibilities as a patient in Scotland, raise concerns, give feedback or comments, or make a complaint about NHS treatment in Scotland. 

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Sujata Borkar

Benefits Adviser

I am a Benefit Adviser, supporting clients to understand and access welfare benefits. I assess individual circumstances, provide tailored advice, and assist with various applications and benefit checks. 

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Stephanie Fraser

Older People Project Adviser

I am the Older People’s Project adviser and provide support to clients of pension age. This includes assistance with pension related matters such as State Pension enquiries, Pension Age Disability Payment applications, and general benefits advice. 

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Stephanie Small

Housing Officer

I'm the Housing Officer in the bureau. I deal with all housing related enquires including, all aspects of homeless including appealing homelessness decisions or a property that has been offered via homelessness, evictions for both private sector and social housing, completing all housing related forms, neighbourhood and factoring issues, formal complaints, housing options.