Trainee Revenues & Welfare Benefits Officer

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive apprenticeship salary

Paid training time

Generous annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee discounts

Job summary

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is offering an 18-month apprenticeship in the Revenues, Benefits & Welfare team. You will gain hands-on experience, learn to manage records, and work towards a Level 4 Revenues & Welfare Practitioner qualification while you earn and learn.

The role involves supporting the team with Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits and Welfare, along with billing, collection, assessments and enforcement under statutory regulations.

Qualifications

• Must have Level 3 qualification or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 5 GCSEs Grade C/4 or above including English & Maths.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication and report writing abilities.
• Organised and able to work under pressure, with flexibility to work outside normal office hours, including weekends.

Responsibilities

• Support Revenues, Benefits and Welfare teams and maintain records.
• Understand and deliver Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits and Welfare processes.
• Explain complex matters to customers and provide advice to maximise entitlement.
• Work within statutory regulations and discretionary policies.

Skills

Communication skills

Team player

Organisational skills

Flexibility

Report writing

Working under pressure

Education

Level 3 qualification or equivalent

5 GCSEs including English & Maths

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word & Excel)

Case management systems

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 aLevel 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.

Please outline in your personal statement how you meet this criteria. Don’t forget to read the Job Description where you will find all the information you need on the apprenticeship and what skills we're looking for!

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.

In return, we offer an attractive benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing and work-life balance, including:

• 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.

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.

Important Applicant Guidance

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.

Application Updates and Communication:

All updates regarding your application, including interview invitations, will be sent from ‘[e-mail]’ to the email linked to your North East Jobs account, and will also appear in the ‘My Messages’ section of your account.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions):

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended). Applicants are therefore required to disclose all criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings, including those which would normally be considered spent, subject to the filtering rules applicable under current legislation.

Right to Work:

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.

Council Principles:

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

Limitations:

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.