About the Role
The role of Financial Inclusion Officer is to provide an in depth income maximisation and money management service to Kingston Council tenants to support them to sustain their tenancy.
Within the role of financial inclusion officer you will be expected to:
1. Achieve income maximisation including the completion of welfare benefits applications.
2. Provide support and advice on money management and effective budgeting.
3. Complete income and expenditure forms to support tenants to set up affordable repayment plans for outstanding debts.
4. Complete welfare benefits mandatory reconsiderations and appeals.
5. Work collaboratively with both internal and external departments and partner agencies to support tenants to manage their finances in the best way possible.
About Us
The team works with tenants to develop financial capability and independence by offering:
6. The delivery of a proactive service offering an appointment to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
7. Free impartial advice and support on a range of welfare benefits and tax credits.
8. Face to face appointments offered to support tenants with their welfare benefit or debt issues.
9. Assistance with housing benefit disputes and back dates.
10. Guidance and support when making benefit appeals.
11. Advice concerning Universal Credit.
12. Expected to manage casework for an average of 30 households/individuals
13. Money guidance advice and signposting to specialist agencies when necessary.
14. To provide monthly statistics on performance and financial outcomes for those we support.
About You
The essential qualifications for the role of financial inclusion officer is a minimum of 5 GCSEs. Additionally it is essential that you have full in depth knowledge of welfare benefits and are able to evidence providing money management and budgeting advice in a previous role.
We are also looking for candidates with excellent verbal and written communication skills who are able to provide detailed and clear case recording.
You will be expected to work empathetically with financially vulnerable tenants who may present with a range of support needs.
We offer our tenants face to face appointments in Guildhall 2 so it is essential that you are able and willing to attend our offices in Guildhall 2, Kingston for a minimum of 2 days per week.
It would be desirable if you have completed Citizens Advice Adviser training. Along with this a knowledge of NEC/Iworld and Civica systems would be advantageous but full training will be provided if required.
Our Offer To You
As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across - however big or small - will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.
In addition, we offer a modern and flexible working environment for our staff, supported by our IT infrastructure, including Google Chromebooks and Google Apps. Our Flexible Working - Smarter Working Scheme embraces new ways of working. It provides improved work life balance for our staff as it allows staff to work from a variety of locations and staff are not required to work within the office 5 days a week.
Employees have access to a wide range of benefits, some of which include:
15. Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply)
16. Flexi-time (Please note, this applies to roles at grades 1-9 only)
17. Three volunteering days per year in Sutton or Kingston
18. Comprehensive learning and development programme
19. Local and national discounts for shopping, eating out and leisure activities
20. Interest free season ticket loans
21. Local Government Pension Scheme
22. Car parking scheme
23. Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
24. Zip car scheme
25. Free eye tests and contribution towards glasses
26. Confidential wellbeing and counselling support
27. Subsidised gym membership