Local Welfare Business Support Officer

Portsmouth City Council; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council in Portsmouth is seeking a part-time Tackling Poverty Strategic Co-ordinator to join a small team delivering the Crisis and Resilience Fund. The role is 22.2 hours per week on a fixed-term contract/secondment until 31 March 2029, based at the Civic Offices.

You will support residents in financial hardship, work with internal and external partners, and ensure data protection compliance while using Microsoft Outlook and Excel.

Qualifications

• Understanding of the impact of poverty on people’s lives and life chances.
• Passion for helping residents in financial hardship in the city.
• Experience developing relationships with staff at all levels and external stakeholders.
• Organised and methodical in managing demands.
• Understanding of Data Protection regulations and data security.
• Able to work autonomously and in a team to resolve problems.
• Able to liaise with internal and external contacts when managing demands.
• Effective communication and customer service skills.
• Enthusiasm for innovating and problem solving with Microsoft applications.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and use initiative.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) and engage funding to support residents in crisis.
• Help shape Portsmouth's response to the cost of living crisis within the council.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to deliver resilience services.
• Ensure compliance with data protection and information governance requirements.

Skills

Poverty understanding

Stakeholder relations

Organisational skills

Data protection knowledge

Microsoft Office proficiency

Time management

Problem solving

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Civic Offices, Portsmouth

Band 6 - £28,239 - £32,061 p.a. (£16,943 - £19,236 pro rata for 22.2 hours per week)

Working Hours:

22.2

Location:

Civic Offices, Portsmouth

Closing Date:

13/09/2026

Job Category:

Administration

Region / Division:

UK Region

Directorate:

Housing, Neighbourhood & Building Services

Job Introduction

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a small team delivering an important new project that will make a difference to people in Portsmouth affected by the cost of living crisis. This role is a Fixed Term Contract/Secondment until 31st March 2029, and is based at the Civic Offices in Portsmouth. The role is 22.2 hours per week with days & times to be discussed.

Your new role

The council’s Tackling Poverty Strategic Co-ordinator is responsible for Portsmouth's Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), using grant funding from the Department for Work and Pensions to provide additional financial support with the costs of essentials to residents in crisis and to fund organisations to provide resilience services. The new fund commenced on the 1st April 2026 replacing the former Household Support Fund. The Business Support Officer will play a vital role in the CRF team and will have the opportunity to help shape the council's response to the cost of living crisis.

Please see the full job profile attached at the bottom of this page for full details of this role and what it will involve!

Who is the person?

You will be able to clearly demonstrate that you:

• Have an understanding of the impact of poverty on people’s lives, what poverty looks like for people who experience it, and how it affects people's life chances.
• Have a real passion for making a difference to people in financial hardship in the city.
• Have experience of developing relationships with staff of all levels and external stakeholders.
• Are organised and methodical when managing demands.
• Have an understanding of Data Protection regulations and keeping data secure.
• Can work well in a small team, and manage your time and prioritise effectively in a busy environment.
• Have the ability to work autonomously and as part of a team to resolve problems and find appropriate and effective solutions.
• Be able to liaise and communicate with both internal and external contacts when managing demands and responding to queries.
• Effective communication and customer service skills.
• Have enthusiasm for innovating and trying new things, and the ability to problem solve.
• Proficient in all Microsoft applications including Outlook and Excel.
• Experience of working to tight deadlines and using own initiative to problem solve.
• Ability to think ahead and plan workload.

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals.Learn more about our values and behaviours .

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

As part of Local Government Reorganisation, current plans will see Portsmouth City Council combine with the district and borough councils of Fareham, Gosport and Havant and parts of East Hampshire and Winchester district councils to form a new, larger unitary authority for south east Hampshire.

We are working towards an implementation date of 1st April 2028, known as vesting day, subject to Parliamentary approval. Until then, we remain focused on maintaining continuity, supporting our workforce, and continuing to deliver excellent services to our residents throughout the transition to the new unitary authority.

This is an exciting time to join us, offering the opportunity to contribute to organisational transformation, develop your career, and help shape future services for our communities.

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person'points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

If applying as a secondment you will need permission from your current line manager releasing you for this secondment. Please state you have this on your personal statement on the application.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please [e-mail] or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.