Benefits and Housing Needs Assistant – SC6

Job Description

Job Title : Benefits and Housing Needs Assistant – SC6
Job Category : Housing
Location : Hackney Service Centre, Hackney Council
Hours Per Week : 36.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £17.27
PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

⦁ To provide support across Benefits and Housing Needs Service, and to be responsible for updating, collecting and collating a range of data and information, including HR returns, recruitment, performance information, complaints, enquiries and raising and receipting purchase orders.

⦁ To provide an effective and efficient discretionary awards and money management advice service to customers to afford solutions to mitigate the impact of welfare reforms and the economic recession and prevent homelessness.

⦁ To actively develop and maintain an excellent working knowledge of the full range of welfare provision, benefits and localised schemes that are applicable to customers and to work with them to identify the benefits and welfare support they are entitled to.

⦁ To work constructively with partners and stakeholders from a range of other Services and agencies in order to maximise the effectiveness of the Benefits and Housing Needs Service and to provide solutions for customers.

⦁ To deliver an efficient, high quality and customer-focussed service for a diverse client group including high numbers of vulnerable and disadvantaged households.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

⦁ To adhere in full to the Council’s Code of Conduct, Diversity and Equality policies and Health and Safety procedures.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

1. Numerate and literate.

2. Excellent working knowledge of the full range of welfare provision, benefits and localised schemes that are applicable to customers and to work with them to identify the benefits and welfare support they are entitled to.

3. Ability to select and deliver an interim discretionary award or item from a range of options to satisfy urgent identified need within a budgetary framework.

4. To ensure value for money by comparing and negotiating most affordable solution available at the time.

5. Excellent organisational skills and the ability work as part of a team as well as on own initiative, including prioritising of own workload to meet required deadlines.

6. Good communication skills including oral, written and presentation skills.
7. Experience of using a wide range of IT software and adapt to changing IT requirements, particularly MS systems.

8. Awareness of confidentiality issues and understanding of the Data Protection Act and its significance within the role.

9. Ability to manage conflicting priorities in a pressurised working environment that are subject to frequently changing circumstances in order to achieve targets within challenging timescales.

10. Excellent verbal and written communication and the ability to communicate effectively.

11. Ability to adapt to new legislative, technological and financial developments whilst maintaining and developing services in periods of change.

12. Provide support for events and meetings by booking and sourcing best prices for venues.

13. Experience of building positive relationships with a range of both internal and external customers and stakeholders and sign posting and referring as necessary.

14. Be available to work outside normal working hours including at weekends if required.

15. Must demonstrate an understanding and be committed to the Council’s Equalities policy carrying out all duties with regard to the policy.

16. Must demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the importance of confidentiality.

17. Must demonstrate an ability to carry out research independently using electronic communication systems and other sources of relevant information.

Desirable

⦁ Previous experience of working within at least one of the following disciplines:
⦁ Homeless assessments and reviews; o Homeless prevention and housing advice;
⦁ Temporary Accommodation management, maintenance,
Housing Supply and procurement; o Lettings and the Housing Register;
⦁ Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction schemes;
⦁ Discretionary payments and Local Welfare Support; o Advice sector organisation