Benefits and Housing Needs officer

Description:

Responsibilities

To formally respond to all stage 1 assigned casework / follow-ups, Members Enquiries, MP enquiries, Mayor & Cabinet Enquiries and Freedom of information requests within the standard KPI turnaround time and to occasionally assist the exploratory enquiries of the Business Improvement & Complaints Team (BACT) with stage 2 escalated complaint investigations and to complete Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) investigation outcome action points.
To have strong verbal and adept written communication skills during casework engagement with; customers, staff colleagues and partners of the Council and a successful track record of positively de-escalating and settling matters during challenging conversations with various vulnerable customer groups and appointed legal/voluntary community based advocates.
To efficiently track, monitor and prioritise business critical casework responses and FOI’s by order of deadline or by instructions from line management or higher. 
To implement robust measures of casework management / investigation methods to ensure all lines of enquiries are sufficiently explored, managing expectations and offering the most up to date deliverable solutions to successfully resolve formal disputes and all other forms of casework.

Requirements 

Must have a strong understanding of the key challenges facing local and national government in the professional field of benefits, Council tax reduction scheme and all statutory obligations applicable under Part 7 (Homelessness) & Part 6 (Allocations) of the Housing Act 1996.
Must have a minimum of at least 5 years experience of working in Local Government and/or any other government / political organisation. 
Must have experience in housing benefits and housing needs 

Contract 

Initial 3 to 6 month ongoing contract with the opportunity to extend 
PAYE via Umbrella 
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Hybrid position 

If you are interested in this position AND meet the requirements, APPLY NOW