Help us deliver great value for residents – Get great prospects for your career
We want to provide excellent customer service to those who need help with meeting the costs of rent and council tax. It’s why we are looking for a Welfare Support and Assessment Team Leader who will have the opportunity to shape our communications with resident, help shape our service and support a small but dedicated team. Along the way, you’ll have the support and training you need to thrive. We’ll help you to be at your best, so we can be at ours.
What’s it like working in our team?
We are a small team who work closely with our partners across the authority including housing and social care to make sure that we are providing the very best support to members of our community who come to us for help in meeting their rent and council tax costs and a high degree of accuracy resulting in a zero qualification on our subsidy for the last 2 years.
At times, the work can be pressurised, and we are looking for someone able to work to a high degree of accuracy but also someone able to think creatively, to exercise their discretion and to have a solution focussed outlook. You will have the opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of residents, particularly important during difficult financial times.
You will be supported to carry out the following duties, responsibilities, and training
- To provide effective staff management, supervision, and support, developing and motivating teams within the service to ensure that customer contacts and service delivery meet agreed performance targets
- To oversee the timely and accurate assessment of awards of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Discretionary Housing and Council Tax Support payments and other Local Welfare Provision functions, whilst maintaining Data Protection and freedom of information issues at all times.
- Assist with the development and training of staff and provide support to Senior Welfare Support and Assessment Officer and wider team concerning complex, technical legislation and procedural issues.
- To prepare and present Appeal Submissions at First Tier Tribunals or the Valuation Office as required and to attend legal proceedings on behalf of the Council as necessary.
- Deal with correspondence including formal and informal complaints, Councillor, Ombudsman and MP enquiries and more complex enquiries from the public as required.
- To deputise for the Head of Welfare as necessary.
What we are looking for
We are looking for an enthusiastic, confident, and reliable person who is able to work in an environment which is governed by legislation, and which can be pressurised. With previous experience of working in a housing benefit-based role, we would like people who can come with new ideas and ways to improve our service.
If you think you could be the person to bring new ideas to the service and help us deliver them, this could be just the role for you.
Ready to apply or maybe you would like to know more?
For an informal discussing or to ask any questions about this role, please contact Sharon Warner, Head of Welfare – sharon.warner@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
To apply for the position, please visit Welfare Support and Assessment Team Leader | Time Square, Bracknell | February 2023 (lgjobs.com)
