Direct Payments Officer x 2

London Borough of Hounslow; Hounslow; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

London Borough of Hounslow is seeking a Direct Payments Officer on a fixed-term contract to support vulnerable residents, children and families with Direct Payments, care package setup and ongoing monitoring of accounts.

You will work with the Direct Payments Team to advise on options, ensure compliance with agreements and collaborate with social workers to achieve positive outcomes.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Direct Payments processes and outcomes.
• Understanding of Direct Payments legislation, recruitment, payroll and disputes.
• Ability to set up payments and reconcile spend using IT systems.
• Awareness of safeguarding issues related to Direct Payments.
• Capacity to plan and manage own caseload under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Support improvements and positive outcomes for vulnerable residents.
• Understand and apply Direct Payments to residents/children/carers.
• Navigate Direct Payments legislation, recruitment, payroll, disputes.
• Use IT packages to set up payments and reconcile spend.
• Identify safeguarding issues and coordinate with social workers.

Skills

Direct Payments knowledge

Payroll understanding

IT packages (Agresso/Controcc)

Safeguarding awareness

Tools

Agresso

Controcc

Job description

About us at Hounslow

We'd love you to join us at the London Borough of Hounslow! Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be.

We are an outstanding council, serving an outstanding borough. With brilliant, visionary leadership, a dynamic Cabinet and a can-do culture, we've built strong partnerships which have transformed how we serve one of London's most diverse boroughs. Hounslow is the world in one place and full of potential.

We are stepping up for our residents like never before.

About our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We live by five core values: Lead with Heart, Do New, Pass on the Power, Harness the Mix and Be a Rock. All our work has equality, diversity and inclusion at its very heart, best articulated in "Harness the Mix". It's about breaking down barriers between our parts and people and unlocking the problem-solving power of our amazing mix of minds. We serve a diverse community, we have a diverse workforce and we are committed to being an inclusive employer.

We work hard to create representation across our workforce and leadership community, we have thriving employee network groups and our learning and development programmes help us lead, model and breathe ways of working that eliminate inequality, inequity, injustice and bias.

As part of this and under our commitments as a Disability Confident Employer, we make reasonable adjustments to accommodate our candidates. There's space for you to tell us what you need within our application form.

Our Benefits

If you join us, you'll have access to a range of employee benefits. Read more about these here.

About The Role

Direct Payments Officer - Fixed Term contract (18-months)

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our Direct Payments Team as a Direct Payments Officer. In this role, you will be dealing with vulnerable adults, children, and families, supporting them to understand Direct Payments, dealing with referrals to setup care packages and regular monitoring of the care packages and accounts. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills in all areas of direct payments.

About The Team You'll Be Working In

Direct Payments Team supports people to exercise choice and control in planning how they will use their Direct Payments, by providing them with clear advice and information and/or helping them to arrange services so that they manage their Direct Payments effectively.

Direct Payments Team deals with and respond promptly to enquiries from Social Care staff, other teams, residents/, carers, children and their families/representatives, service providers or members of the public prioritising and progressing appropriately. To implement principles of customer care in relation to services provided by the department and complaints from customers in line with the Council's complaints procedure.

About You

You will manage your work effectively, in compliance with relevant procedures and systems, referrals received by the Direct Payments Team from Adults, Children and Health. You will support people in planning for greater independence and improved outcomes, this will involve visiting residents, carers, children and families in their homes and/or at a suitable agreed place. You will ensure residents and their Carer's are aware of the range of options available to them for purchasing their own care and employing private Personal Assistants. You will support and provide advice on all aspects of recruiting in line with employment law, including checking their right to work status, setting up payroll, Liability Insurance, DBS checks etc. Scrutinise individual direct payment accounts to check that direct payment usage complies with support plans and agreed outcomes including identifying non-compliance by residents/Carers and families. You will work closely with your colleagues, social workers and managers to assist in bringing about necessary improvements.

You will work under pressure, be self-motivated, plan organise and prioritise own caseload, communicate effectively with a wide range of professional including Social Workers, Health Care Residents, Carers, Families, and care providers, respect and relate positively with people of different cultural backgrounds.

To have awareness of current legislation relevant to the Direct Payment and the Care Act.

• 1. Support improvements and positive outcomes for vulnerable residents
• 2. Some understanding and knowledge of the Direct Payments to deliver a seamless service to vulnerable residents/Children/carers.
• 3. Some understanding of the complexities of direct payments, and their application including legislation, recruitment, payroll, disputes etc.
• 4. Able to use IT packages inc. Agresso, Controcc for setting up payments, manage and reconcile spend to support with monitoring residents/carers and children's Direct Payment accounts
• 5. Awareness and ability to identify Safeguarding issues

When Interviews Will Be Held And Who To Contact

The key information you need about the role should be in the Role Profile, but if you have any further questions about the role, please contact:

Email: [e-mail]

Telephone: [phone]

Interviews for this job will be held during week commencing 2nd November 2026.

(please seek line manager approval before applying for this role as secondment.)