The North Yorkshire Council Welfare & Benefits Service, based across a variety of key locations across the county serves a wide range of residents of the community. The service administers applications for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Discretionary Housing Payments, and Exceptional Hardship Awards whilst delivering against statutory requirements. The service provides specialist advice and guidance to residents of North Yorkshire, other council service areas and external partners. Role summary… To control and co-ordinate the day-to-day management of a team responsible for the assessment of claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. Assists the Benefits Operational Manager in associated project work as required. Duties and responsibilities… · You are responsible for the management of your team and their work loads, ensuring the delivery of a specialist service to the quality, organisational and professional standards required. · Proactively lead, motivate and manage staff to support their performance, conduct and development to enable them to fulfil their roles effectively and meet current and future service needs; associated activities will include conducting one to ones, appraisals, managing attendance and following other HR Policies and procedures · Support the Benefits Operational Manager in the day to day running of the service. · Work to broad managerial direction, with scope to exercise initiative and determine which to help staff understand and deal with difficult and complex Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction cases · Effectively communicate changes to working practices and processes to the team to ensure all work is effectively and efficiently processed. · Identify and recommend improvement opportunities for the service and assess what learning, development and plans will be required to achieve them. · Be a technical and procedural advisor on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction along with maintaining a knowledge of other Welfare Benefits available. · Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of systems (including DWP systems) in order to promptly and accurately assess Benefits Entitlement. Experience / Qualifications: Extensive knowledge of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and Discretionary Housing Payment legislation Knowledge of Universal Credit, other Welfare Benefits, and housing law in relation to the assessment of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. Experience of supervising staff in a busy benefits office across a diverse range of functions Proven experience conducting effective, proactive people management in compliance with organisational HR policy and procedure. Experience of interpreting complex legislation and apply this to development of policy and procedures Experience of making decisions relating to complex issues, including revision of benefit decisions Contact and apply… For an informal conversation about this opportunity, please contact mark.smithnorthyorks.gov.uk Key Documents: Job Description To apply please click the Apply Now link below.