Debt and Deferred Payment Officer

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

29 days leave pro rata

LGPS pension

Flexible working

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking a Debt and Deferred Payment Officer in Ipswich to support the Debt Recovery and Deferred Payments Team. The role combines compassionate debt recovery with adult social care responsibilities and a person-centred approach.

You will investigate non-payments, gather evidence, and work with social work and financial assessment teams to determine fair outcomes. A fixed-term up to nine months covers maternity leave.

Qualifications

• Experience of conducting detailed investigations and analysing financial information.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and sensitively.
• The ability to negotiate practical and sustainable payment arrangements.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Experience of working collaboratively with partners to resolve disputes and achieve positive outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills, with experience of maintaining accurate records and managing a varied caseload.
• Resilience and professionalism when dealing with challenging or sensitive situations.

Responsibilities

• Undertake detailed investigations into non-payment, gathering evidence, reviewing financial assessments, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring charges are accurate and lawful.
• Conduct independent home visits, using professional judgement to assess complex situations, verify information, identify risks, and implement strategies that improve engagement and deliver positive outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with social work, safeguarding and financial assessment teams to identify vulnerabilities, capacity concerns, safeguarding issues, or changes in circumstances that may influence recovery decisions.
• Liaise closely with the Council's Litigation Team, preparing and submitting cases for legal action, monitoring ongoing proceedings, and tracking progress.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate case records, ensuring systems are updated promptly, repayment arrangements are monitored, and follow-up actions are completed within agreed timescales.
• Provide clear and sensitive advice to adults and families on charging policies, debt recovery processes, responsibilities, and available support options.

Skills

Investigations

Financial analysis

Communication

Negotiation

Problem solving

Collaboration

Record keeping

Resilience

Job description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Beacon House, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5PB. Hybrid work
• Salary: £28,598 per annum (pro rata), plus 3.3% agreed pay rise
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Fixed Term Contract or Secondment for up to 9 months to cover maternity leave

As a modern and effective council, we understand the importance of being flexible and well-connected in the ways we work. We focus our ambitions on doing what's right for people, our partners and our communities, both now and for the future.

The support and care we offer encourages and enables you to be the best you can be. To make a meaningful impact on the world around you.

To achieve a unique sense of pride in what you do, why you do it and where.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

The Debt Recovery and Deferred Payments Team represent the final stage of Suffolk County Council's Adult Social Care charging and debt recovery process.

Working closely with charging, social work and finance colleagues, as a Debt and Deferred Payment Officer you will take a balanced and person-centred approach, combining effective debt recovery with compassionate support for adults and their families to achieve fair and proportionate outcomes.

You will:

• Undertake detailed investigations into non-payment, gathering evidence, reviewing financial assessments, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring charges are accurate and lawful.
• Conduct independent home visits, using professional judgement to assess complex situations, verify information, identify risks, and implement strategies that improve engagement and deliver positive outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with social work, safeguarding and financial assessment teams to identify vulnerabilities, capacity concerns, safeguarding issues, or changes in circumstances that may influence recovery decisions.
• Liaise closely with the Council's Litigation Team, preparing and submitting cases for legal action, monitoring ongoing proceedings, and tracking progress.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate case records, ensuring systems are updated promptly, repayment arrangements are monitored, and follow-up actions are completed within agreed timescales.
• Provide clear and sensitive advice to adults and families on charging policies, debt recovery processes, responsibilities, and available support options.

What you will need

We're looking for a motivated individual who has:

• Experience of conducting detailed investigations and analysing financial information.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and sensitively.
• The ability to negotiate practical and sustainable payment arrangements.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Experience of working collaboratively with partners to resolve disputes and achieve positive outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills, with experience of maintaining accurate records and managing a varied caseload.
• Resilience and professionalism when dealing with challenging or sensitive situations.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile, which you can find in the How to apply section towards the bottom of this advert.

The team

The Debt Recovery and Deferred Payments Team forms part of Suffolk County Council's Financial Inclusion and Advice Service (FIAS). We are committed to helping adults who receive support from Adult Social Care manage outstanding debts with the Council in a fair, supportive and proportionate way.

We are a knowledgeable, supportive and collaborative team, passionate about achieving positive outcomes for the people we work with. By sharing expertise, working closely with colleagues and embracing continuous improvement, we help ensure some of the most vulnerable members of our communities receive the support they need. We value flexible working, professional development and creating an environment where everyone can succeed.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report .

For more information

Please contact Sarah Nivison for a casual conversation. You can reach her by calling 01473 265198 or emailing [e-mail]

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.