HAR-013322 – Senior Housing Benefit Officer

Carrington Blake Recruitment; Harrow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency in the UK is seeking a Financial Assessment Officer to oversee housing benefits and council tax services for vulnerable households. This role requires managing complex cases, supervising staff, and ensuring compliance with regulations. A background in housing benefits and excellent communication skills are essential. The position also involves quality checking assessments and maximizing financial recoveries. This is a hybrid role based in Harrow offering competitive pay.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years experience working in a Housing Benefits office.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships across the service area.
• Good understanding of current and future technological developments.

Responsibilities

• Deliver Housing Benefits and Council Tax Benefit Service to vulnerable households.
• Manage complex appeal cases and supervise financial assessments.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and maximize subsidy recovery.

Skills

Knowledge of Housing Benefits legislation

Excellent oral and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Ability to work under pressure

Education

GCSE/O level standard in numeracy and literacy

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Northgate and Civica Systems

Job description

• Pay rate: £30.03 (Umbrella)
• Duration: 3–6 months, with possible extension
• Location: Hybrid – London Borough of Harrow, HA3 8NT

ROLE PURPOSE

Give in one or two sentences a summary of the job.

Against a background of ever changing regulation and guidance in the service areas to contribute to the provision of high performing customer centred financial assessment service and effective services through managing a team delivering financial assistance towards the rent, council Tax, and social care cost of some 21000 Households (1 in 5) who are the most vulnerable residents in the Borough.

To ensure the service achieves its maximum CPA as it contributes to both the Use of Resources Assessment and the Council’s overall CPA score

DIMENSIONS

Give details of any supervision of others / contribution to financial performance /budget management

The post does not have direct responsibility for staff but will on occasions deputise for the Team Leader and will also on an ad hoc basis supervise the overpayments staff and/or Joint Team staff.

This post is responsible for delivering the Housing Benefits and Council Tax Benefit Service and Fairer Charging Financial Assessment Service to some 21000 Households. It is also responsible for ensuring maximum recovery of some £3.1 million overpaid benefit and that subsidy of in excess of £120 million is maximised

CONTEXT

This covers the specific parameters of the role:

Provide brief details of how the role fits into the department / section and the level of effect regarding decisions and recommendations and the working environment.

This covers the specific parameters of the role:

1. Support and Deputise when required for a Team Leader [team of up to 14 Highly skilled Financial Benefit Officers and Assistants]
2. Assessment of complex cases, carrying out home visits where necessary
3. Managing of Appeal cases and attending Panels and Court Hearings as necessary
4. Responsibility for Quality checking work carried out by Assessment Officers
5. Provide support where necessary to Access Harrow
6. Ensure that Housing Benefit Subsidy of some £120 million is maximised by satisfying the annual audit undertaken by external Audit of the Financial Assessments undertaken against the complex regulations and guidance of the Department of Work and Pensions.
7. Ensure quality and performance targets for the services are met.
8. Ensure that in excess of £1.5 Million Overpaid benefit each year is recovered
9. Provide advice and guidance to up to 14 Highly skilled Financial Assesment Officers and Assistants with regard to complex Finance Assessments ensuring consistency of advice across the Service

MAIN DUTIES / ACCOUNTABILITIES

List the principal duties/accountabilities of the post and the role specific accountabilities.

GENERIC DUTIES/ACCOUNTABILITIES – FOR ALL POSTS H11 AND BELOW

1. To ensure compliance with your responsibilities as laid out in the council’s equal opportunity policy and take an active role in promoting and enabling equality of opportunity, promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of Harrow’s community, ensuring equality and diversity is mainstreamed in all service/directorate activities
2. To ensure compliance with your responsibilities as laid out in the council’s health and safety policy and take an active role in promoting a positive health and safety culture.
3. To promote and participate in the council’s investors in people (IIP) and individual performance appraisal and development (IPAD) initiatives and information management best practice.
4. To ensure compliance with the council’s information security policies and maintain confidentiality.

SERVICE SPECIFIC DUTIES/ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Deputise and support a Team Leader in the management of a team undertaking complex financial assessment recovering overpaid benefits and prevention of fraud in accordance with Government Regulation and guidance and in full compliance with Council guidelines, policies and procedures and full compliance
2. Be accountable for operational performance of a Financial Assessment services Team and undertake quality checking and analysis to feed into training plans and business practices Assist in the management and prioritising of the workload of the team. Set individual and group performance objectives, monitor and take remedial action, if necessary in accordance with the Performance Management system and Capability procedures Work with other Corporate Finance teams and managers within the Council to ensure appropriate prioritisation.
3. Review and make recommendations on Legislation and Council Policy changes in respect of Benefits and IT System
4. As the Senior Assessor in Team, to transfer knowledge and job skills to new and existing members of staff including any changes in regulation, systems and work familiarity.
5. Work with HITS, CAFT, Access Harrow, Revenues, Finance, Adults and Housing and External Partners including the Department of Work and Pensions and where appropriate the Business Transformation Partner to ensure delivery and performance targets are met.
6. Assist in implementing changes in processes as required by DWP business technical issues [eg.Government Connects/SHBE]
7. Deal with Complex Enquiries From MPs Elected Members and Claimants referred from Financial Assessment Officers and Assistants
8. Maintain up to date Knowledge of regulations and guidance in particular
   • Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987
   • Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992
   • The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001
   • Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997
   • The H B and C T B (State Pension Credit) Regulations 2003,
   • National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992
   • Other financial assessments
9. Responsible for undertaking full assessments to entitlement/contribution for the more complex cases including the carrying out of home visits where necessary. This requires the post holder to evaluate and be responsible for any review to the entitlement /contribution for the more complex cases as highlighted below:
   • Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit including more complex calculations in respect of self- employed, students etc
   • Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit the Claims relating to Registered Social Landlords , Housing Tenants and Council Tax Benefit
   • Fairer Charging/ Supporting People, Respite Care and Residential Care
   • Other assessments such as concessionary fares using relevant Regulations
   • All in accordance with Best Practice, Statutory Requirements, Verification Framework and SAFE scheme and maximising the use of technology to improve the experience of the customer
10. Responsible for providing quality checking of Benefit assessments made by Assessment Officers/Assistants in accordance with current Department for Work and Pensions Performance Standards, and local policies / procedures
11. As and when required, supervise the overpayment staff ensuring tasks are carried out to maintain overpayment collection by use of invoices and other recovery arrangements liaising with stakeholders and other departments. Write off overpayments where appropriate.
12. Support and as and when required supervise the Joint Team. Attend at surgeries, contribute to take up campaigns, share ideas and skills with colleagues, work with client groups to equip them with knowledge regarding benefits
13. Attend meetings with stakeholders and disseminate new procedures and practices
14. Deal with Assessment Appeals by both preparing the case for submission to the Appeals Service Tribunal & attending External DWP Appeals Panels. Put forward authority’s argument and represent the authority as required.
15. Attend court as representative of the Service as required. Give explanations or evidence as appropriate.
16. Identify and take responsibility for referral of any suspected fraud claims for investigation by the Corporate Anti Fraud Team
17. Be familiar with systems, processes, reports etc used within the service and where necessary provide training and assistance to staff on these systems.
18. Ensure that all work is carried out to the agreed Council and departmental standards. Challenge and improve operational processes and conform to the Council’s guidelines, standards, policies and procedures.
19. Input to the IPADS and 1-1s for the Financial Assessment Officers and Assistants
20. Any other duties commensurate with grade as determined by the Systems Manager

RANKING ORDER

• a. In depth knowledge of the Housing and Council Tax Benefits legislation
• b. In depth knowledge of Social Care Financial Assessments Regulations and guidance
• c. Ability to gain knowledge of Social Security and Child Support Regulations, CRAG and Pension Regulations etc
• d. Ability to learn Northgate and Civica Systems
• e. Good IT knowledge including Microsoft packages such as excel and access and working knowledge of crystal reports or first query view

EXPERIENCE

• f. A minimum of 3 years experience of working in a Housing Benefits office
• g. Must have excellent oral, presentation and written communication skills
• h. Must possess ability to construct and effectively maintain relationships across the service delivery area

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

• j. Excellent numeracy and literacy skills to at least GCSE / O level standard

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• l. Ability to work under pressure
• m. Good interpersonal skills and articulate
• n. Ability to construct and effectively maintain relationships across the service delivery area
• o. Ability to update and maintain relevant competences through continuing professional development, in particular tracking development of best practice and precedents within specialist area

OTHER ESSENTIAL FACTORS

• p. You will need to work on your own initiative in a highly pressurised environment with ever changing and conflicting priorities
• q. Good understanding of the current and future technological developments and their potential application within and for the Council.

If you think this job role is for you, please send your CV to [e-mail]