The Welfare and Benefits officer is tasked with providing support, guidance and advice to improve financial capability amongst Housing Solutions residents and maximise the organisation’s rental income. To investigate and implement initiatives to minimise the impact of welfare reform and Universal Credit from the customer and Associations point of view.
You will assess our customers entitlement to benefits, complete financial assessments and assist customers in making claims for Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Discretionary Housing Payments and any other benefits they may be entitled to, and to ensure they are appropriately signposted to budgeting support or debt advice.
You will proactively identify "vulnerable" claimants and prospective claimants for early intervention work on their benefit entitlements. You will support the Income Team by helping to arrange managed payments in agreement with the claimant or via direct benefit deductions.
We are looking for someone who will thrive on our values of Ownership, Innovation, Teamwork and Inclusion and incorporate them in their working day.
You must have previous experience within the Welfare and Benefits sector and have working knowledge of Housing legislation. In particular, you will have worked with both the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit systems and be able to advise customers on both and the process of transfer between the two.
Our ideal candidate will have previous experience of a customer facing role and be able to manage complex caseloads and balance competing priorities. Someone who has experience of building and maintaining relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
You will be understanding of the financial difficulties that people on benefits face, whilst at the same time understanding the need to prevent rent arrears and get any arrears that do arise paid as soon as possible. You will have a natural instinct to want to help people improve their situation and you will thrive on rising to a challenge. You will have excellent listening skills and you will be able to think quickly and clearly even under pressure to ensure that the customers get the best service and advice possible.
The successful applicant will require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate which is considered satisfactory to Housing Solutions.
Housing Solutions is a not for profit Housing Association, rooted in the local community providing quality, affordable homes to rent and buy across the local area. Our mission is to make our residents proud of where they live and our colleagues proud of where they work. Our services are driven by our strategic goals of safe, satisfied and sustainable, underpinned by our company values of ownership, innovation, teamwork and inclusion.
Established in 1995 we provide quality, affordable homes to rent and buy across the South East of England. We are rooted in the local community and we offer a wide range of housing services and housing options, including affordable homes to rent, properties to buy under shared ownership; market rent properties, and specialist accommodation for older people and people who need care and support to live within the community.
We pride ourselves on putting our residents at the heart of everything we do. We are invested in our local community and can see the difference we make in the area we live and work. Our employees are passionate and driven to achieve the best results for our residents, and are rewarded for their hard work and commitment.
Our modern and fresh working space allows us to work collaboratively together. You will make connections across the whole team and be part of our inclusive and open culture. Achieving the best of both worlds we successfully combine remote working as well as time together in our spacious and modern offices.
Our substantial benefit package includes company pension contributions of up to 14% and a strong focus on employee wellbeing, including generous annual leave and our ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy Minds’ programme.
Our commitment to Learning and Development can be seen across the organisation and aims to bring our future leaders to the fore, whilst supporting our employees to reach their career aspirations by offering in house development programmes and sponsorship through our development fund.
https://www.housingsolutions.co.uk/job-and-careers/company-benefits/
To apply for this vacancy please visit the Jobs & Careers page of our website:
https://www.housingsolutions.co.uk/job-and-careers/
The closing date is 12 May 2024 and we plan to hold interviews on 22 May 2024.
We reserve the right to shortlist and arrange interviews for potentially suitable candidates ahead of the scheduled close date, therefore we look forward to your application as soon as you are ready.
We will not be accepting applications through recruitment agencies for this position.
Internal applications are welcome from employees who have passed their probation period, are not currently being standard set for absence or performance or on a disciplinary warning (unless able to demonstrate significant improvement over the last six months).
For internal applications please apply through the intranet under the Vacancies section.
Our Supported Housing Officers provide excellent front-line tenancy liaison services to our supported housing residents dealing with a range of tenancy matters including assessment that accommodation meets the needs of the person, supporting customers to manage their rent accounts, sustain their tenancies individually or through multi-agency working, provide advice on a range of tenancy management issues including housing benefit. Establish and maintain good working relationships with all support providers, local authorities, and other external agencies, reporting safeguarding concerns.
You will conduct site visits/inspections to ensure compliance in accordance with Housing Solutions Health and Safety and Fire Safety Policies and Procedures, getting to know our customers and building strong relationships across our supported housing schemes. Providing the first line of support to our tenants, offering positive advice and guidance to residents as well as signposting to relevant internal services and external agencies, both local and national.
You must have experience of working in a housing management and/or housing support service as well as experience of partnership working with local authorities, healthcare and other public bodies, as well as voluntary organisations.
You will be good at understanding people and will enjoy talking to and listening to customers. You will have experience in dealing with customers who have a range of support needs and assessing customer’s risks and needs and developing support plans, which lead to the promotion of independence and reduce the overall risk and needs in the identified areas. You will be an effective communicator both verbally and in writing.
Ideally, you will have a recognised qualification in Housing Practice. You will have a passion for delivering excellent customer service and you will care about the outcomes you produce for your customers.
The successful applicant will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate which is considered satisfactory to Housing Solutions.
You will need to be able to drive and have use of a car insured for business use and a full, clean UK driving licence.
To apply for this vacancy please visit the Jobs & Careers page of our website www.housingsolutions.co.uk
The closing date is 12 May 2024 Interviews will be held on 17 May 2024.