Relieving Officers - From
www.a-day-in-the-life.powys.org.uk/eng/social/es_relieving.php - 6k

Relieving officers were employed to receive applications for relief, and make payments when these had been approved by the Board. They also issued orders to admit people to workhouses.

Eminently suitable I would have thought. He had the clerical experience, probably knew the area well and was used to dealing with all sorts of people!

Regards
Chris