Specialist Housing Income Recovery Officer

Reading Borough Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in the United Kingdom is seeking an enthusiastic individual for a hybrid role in income management. This challenging position involves supporting residents with income collection and welfare benefits, ensuring optimal service. The perfect candidate will have excellent customer service skills and experience in debt recovery. The role offers a supportive environment with generous holiday entitlement and career development opportunities.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

On-site day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in a social housing environment is preferable but not essential.
• Ability to prioritize a busy workload.
• A working knowledge of welfare benefits is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Visit residents to discuss affordable payment arrangements.
• Support customers and ensure optimal income collection.
• Prepare applications for court and attend hearings.

Skills

Experience in income management or debt recovery/collection

Excellent customer service skills

Understanding of the recovery process

Self-starter with a proactive approach

Diplomatic and confidential approach

Job description

Overview

23 Month contract, Full-time hours – 37 per week.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, empathetic, passionate, organised and team-oriented individual who enjoys a challenge. Working in the income team is not just about collecting rent but about trying to make a difference to the people’s lives we work with and strengthen communities. We value our staff and the difference that they make to our customers.

About the role

This role, although contractually office based, allows for hybrid working with an aim of making it easier to manage workloads and a work/life balance. You will also be out and about on the estates, visiting people in their homes. This is a very varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. One day you will be visiting residents in their home to discuss affordable payment arrangements and the next carrying out tenancy sign ups.

You will be creative in your approach to support customers and ensure optimal income collection. You\'ll also carry out a range of tasks including looking at dedicated accounts and really getting to know your tenants, providing expert welfare benefit and income maximisation advice, assisting in preparing applications for court, organising and attending case conferences and court hearings. You will have an eye for detail and will want to do the best by our residents in supporting them to sustain their tenancies.

About you

The following experience is required for this role:

• Experience in income management or debt recovery/collection up to court applications (preferably in a social housing environment although this is not essential) or a similar environment
• Ability to show an understanding of the recovery process
• Ability to understand the challenges of recovery
• Excellent customer service skills
• A working knowledge of welfare benefits or an ability to learn, understand and give advice on welfare benefits
• To be a self-starter with a proactive approach and possess the ability to work without close supervision
• To have effective decision-making skills, a diplomatic and confidential approach and the ability to prioritise a busy workload
• Preferable to have a full driving licence

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability, working with our Team Reading values to help make Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

• A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years\' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

Closing Date: Sunday 5th October 2025

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Interview Process: Question Based

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.