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About the Role

We are recruiting two Benefits Officers on a 12-month fixed-term contract to support the Council's Corporate Debt Recovery Service. The successful candidates will primarily undertake debt recovery activities, managing a caseload of outstanding debts, contacting residents and businesses, negotiating repayment arrangements, and progressing recovery action in line with Council policies and legislation. Officers will work closely with internal services and external partners to maximise income collection whilst ensuring vulnerable residents are identified and supported appropriately. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates with experience in benefits, revenues, debt recovery, income collection, customer service, or financial administration. Strong communication, organisation, and case management skills are essential. We are a Home Office–licensed sponsor; however, for this specific role we are not able to provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. To be considered, you must already hold a form of UK work authorisation that does not require sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Process Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Free School Meals and discretionary support schemes accurately and within service timescales.
• Complete financial assessments and reassessments in accordance with legislation, Council policy and service procedures.
• Recover Housing Benefit overpayments and corporate debts, including negotiating repayment arrangements and progressing recovery action in line with Council policy and legislation.
• Provide a high-quality customer service, responding to enquiries from residents, landlords, partners and other stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate records, correspondence and management information using the Council's systems and databases.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives, including the use of automation, digital processes and robotic processing.
• Support the identification and prevention of fraud, subsidy loss and processing errors.
• Assist with training, mentoring and supporting colleagues and apprentices where required.

Requirements

• GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4 (or equivalent qualification).
• Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks.
• Satisfactory declaration of interest.
• This role is subject to safer recruitment practices as it involves work with children and/or vulnerable adults.
• Satisfactory DBS check.
• Must be able to speak fluent English with confidence and accuracy, sufficient for the effective performance of their role.

Skills

• Debt recovery
• Income collection
• Customer service
• Financial administration
• Communication
• Organisation
• Case management

Location

• London

Work Type

• Full time
• Fixed term (12 Months)

Experience Level

• Dependent on experience

Education Level

• GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4 (or equivalent qualification)
• Relevant NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 qualification desirable

Salary/Compensations

• Scale 6 to SO2 £35,520 - £42,000

Benefits

• Fair pay and conditions
• Workplace well-being
• Skills and progression
• Diversity and recruitment
• Flexible working options

About the Company

• Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work.
• We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities.
• Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.
• London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is a proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace.

Equal Opportunity

• Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff.
• The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population.
• We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace.
• The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all.
• Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.
• To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting.
• The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first.
• This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme.
• We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments.
• Wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council.