Deferred Payment Assistant

Lancashire County Council; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Flexible working options

Bank Holidays off

Access to training and development

Job summary

Lancashire County Council is seeking a Deferred Payment Assistant to support the Deprivation and Deferred Payments Team in Preston. The role involves coordinating assessments, setting up Deferred Payment Agreements, and liaising with legal services to manage care fees and asset deprivation cases.

Based at County Hall with potential home working options, the post requires accurate records, sensitive communication with vulnerable clients, and flexible hours to cover 8:45am–5:00pm as needed.

Qualifications

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Knowledge of using specialised systems.
• Effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills and empathy.
• Experience in administrative work, ideally within a social care or finance setting.
• Able to follow processes while contributing ideas for service improvement.
• Organised, self-motivated and able to work independently to meet targets.

Responsibilities

• Schedule telephone appointments and home visits for Financial Assessment Officers.
• Handle duty calls and emails, and gather relevant information.
• Prepare documentation for Deferred Payment Agreements.
• Liaise with legal services and solicitors regarding outstanding care fees and property sprzeda?
• Coordinate property valuations with suppliers.
• Support Financial Assessment Officers in making decisions related to deprivation of assets.
• Provide general advice and guidance to service users and colleagues.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure tasks are completed to deadlines.
• Communicate sensitively and professionally with vulnerable individuals and their families.
• Collaborate with internal departments and external agencies to resolve queries and signpost appropriately.
• Attend training, team briefings, and meetings across the county as required.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Effective communication

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Administrative experience

Process adherence

Tools

Specialised systems

Job description

Description

Salary £26,847 to £29,071 per annum | Permanent, Full Time, 37 hours per week | Care Finance Assessment Team Preston |

Description

Salary £26,847 to £29,071 per annum | Permanent, Full Time, 37 hours per week | Care Finance Assessment Team Preston |

Lancashire County Council is one of the largest local authorities in England, serving a population of approximately 1.2 million residents across a diverse and expansive region. We are proud to deliver high-quality services that make a real difference in our communities.

We are currently seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Deferred Payment Assistant to join our busy Deprivation and Deferred Payments Team within the Care Finance Assessment Team. The role is based at County Hall, Preston, however, you may currently work from home. Flexible working requests may be considered for the successful candidate e.g. home working, compressed hours. Office cover is required on a rota basis between 8:45am and 5:00pm.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

About The Role

You will play a key role in supporting the Team Leader and Financial Assessment Officers who deliver financial assessments for residential care, setting up Deferred Payment Agreements, and investigating cases involving deprivation of assets and income.

Key Responsibilities

• Schedule telephone appointments and home visits for Financial Assessment Officers
• Handle duty phone calls and emails, and gather relevant information
• Prepare documentation for Deferred Payment Agreements
• Liaise with legal services and solicitors regarding outstanding care fees and property sales
• Coordinate property valuations with suppliers
• Support Financial Assessment Officers in making decisions related to deprivation of assets
• Provide general advice and guidance to service users and colleagues
• Maintain accurate records and ensure tasks are completed to deadlines
• Communicate sensitively and professionally with vulnerable individuals and their families
• Collaborate with internal departments and external agencies to resolve queries and signpost appropriately
• Attend training, team briefings, and meetings across the county as required

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Has knowledge of using specialised systems
• An effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills and empathy
• Experienced in administrative work, ideally within a social care or finance setting
• Able to follow processes while contributing ideas for service improvement
• Organised, self-motivated, and capable of working independently to meet targets
• Is a team player who can work effectively as part of a team
• Experience of working with vulnerable adults or in a social care finance environment is desirable but not essential.

Why Join Us?

• 26 days annual leave (rising with service)
• Generous pension scheme
• Flexible working options, subject to business need
• Bank Holidays off
• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
• Supportive team environment

For more information about the benefits of working with Lancashire County Council, please visit our employee page here.

To learn more about the work of the Deferred Payment and Deprivation Team, visit: https://www.lancashireappp.co.uk/financial-factsheets/

Further Information

We encourage all applicants to submit a supporting statement as part of their application. This is your opportunity to demonstrate how your skills, experience, and knowledge align with the role profile and person specification. Applications without a supporting statement may not be shortlisted.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Antony McCarthy, Team Leader – Deprivation and Deferred Payments, on 01772 530192 or Adeel Khan, Care Finance Assessment Manager, on 01772 534631.

Interviews are provisionally scheduled for Monday 2 November 2026 and Tuesday 3 November 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab.

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, found on our website here.

Job Description & Person Specification

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 2028.

If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2028, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation.

Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.