Trainee Revenues and Welfare Benefits Officer

Stockton; Tees Valley; Remote; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Paid training

Generous leave

Local Government Pension

Flexible home-working

Job summary

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is offering an Apprenticeship Programme in the Revenues, Benefits & Welfare team. You will gain hands-on experience while working towards a Level 4 qualification, earning as you learn over 18 months.

You will support the teams, maintain records, and learn all aspects of Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits and Welfare. Training is provided, and there is potential for longer-term employment. Right to work in the UK is required.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification or equivalent (A-levels or BTec) or comparable work experience.
• Minimum 5 GCSEs at C/4 or above including English & Maths.
• Strong IT skills and experience with Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Support Revenues, Benefits and Welfare teams and maintain records.
• Handle data in accordance with GDPR and legal requirements.
• Learn all aspects of Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits and Welfare including billing, collection, assessments and enforcement.
• Gather information from customers and provide explanations of complex matters.
• Support customers and help maximise entitlement opportunities.

Skills

IT Skills

MS Office

Communication

Report writing

Team player

Organised under pressure

After-hours flexibility

Case management systems

Education

Level 3 qualification or equivalent

GCSEs incl English & Maths

Tools

Case management systems

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)

Job description

Kick-start your career with our Apprenticeship Programme! This is a fantastic opportunity to join our Revenues, Benefits & Welfare team, gain hands-on experience, and work towards a Level 4 Revenues & Welfare Practitioner qualification while you earn and learn.

We are looking for someone who wants to make a difference, to serve the people of our borough, and who is committed to their own development.

About the role

The role will involve supporting the Revenues, Benefits and Welfare teams, maintaining records and sensitive information in accordance with legal and GDPR requirements.

You will develop your skills, to understand and deliver all aspects of Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits and Welfare including billing, collection, assessments and enforcement, whilst working within statutory regulations and/or discretionary policies.

No two days are the same.

You will learn to support a range of customers, gathering information and provide explanations of often complex matters and provide advice to maximise customer income and receiving appropriate entitlements.

The duration of the apprenticeship is 18 months.

About you

We are looking for someone with excellent IT skills, to be able to use case management systems for extracting information and creating and updating records.

As this is an apprenticeship opportunity, you will be provided with all the training and support you need to be a success.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has a Level 3 qualification (A-levels or BTec - Expected or Obtained) or the equivalent level of work experience
• Has a minimum 5 GCSEs Grade C/4 or above or equivalent Level 2 qualifications (must include English & Maths)
• Has strong IT Skills – Microsoft Office (Word & Excel)
• Has great communication skills, including report writing
• Is organised and is able to work effectively under pressure
• Has flexibility to work outside normal office hours inc. weekends.
• Is a team player, who isn'tafraid to try something new
• Has a commitment to their own personal and professional development.

Why join us?

At Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, we know that great people deliver great services. That's why we are committed to creating a workplace where employees are trusted, valued and supported.

• A competitive apprenticeship salary
• Paid time to attend training
• Generous annual leave
• Membership to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Access to a number of other benefits like discounts at high street and online retailers, and health & wellbeing support including access to mental wellbeing support and physiotherapy services.

And that’s not all – you can also work flexibly where you can work part of your week at home (following completion of a 6-month probation).

We are committed to supporting you throughout your apprenticeship with a dedicated mentor, and additional training & development opportunities. There is also the potential for you to secure long term employment with the Council upon completion of your qualification, and the ability to also apply for internal vacancies throughout your apprenticeship.

Think this could be the right opportunity for you?

Please note that we’re unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role, so candidates will need to have an existing right to work in the UK.

Accuracy and Use of AI Tools: You must ensure that anything submitted in your application is factually accurate. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Whilst we accept candidates may use AI tools within job applications; submissions must be truthful and relevant to your own experience.

All applicants must provide valid proof of their right to work in the UK in accordance with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s statutory employment checks. Employment cannot commence or continue unless this has been verified.

The Council’s recruitment principles require fairness, transparency, and a commitment to attracting and developing local talent.

Where an individual cannot demonstrate a valid right to work in the UK, the Council will be unable to progress or continue the appointment. This includes cases where an existing employee’s visa is due to expire and sponsorship is not granted.