With living costs rising and the need for financial support ever growing, Age UK have built a dedicated team of Benefit Advisors to guide and advise older people on the relevant benefits available to them.
To lead and support this fantastic service, we are recruiting for a Benefits Team Leader to monitor quality and performance and be the first port of call for any enquiries or support from the team. Line managing a team of Benefits Advisers, you will provide wellbeing support and support with challenging and/or safeguarding calls, whilst working alongside other Team Leaders within our division to deliver a fantastic service to the older people we support all over the UK.
The successful applicant will be an expert in all things benefit related, and have a knowledge of the issues affecting older people. You will use your leadership skills and experience to help support those in need. We are looking for someone who is passionate about making a measurable difference to the lives of older people.
This role can either be based at our office in Blackpool in Lancashire, or in Ashburton
Devon. We offer a hybrid model of home and office based-working, so you will need to be within a reasonable distance of either the Blackpool or Devon office and be willing to travel there regularly.
As a guide, the team currently work from the office once a week but may be required to go into the office more frequently when necessary.
Must haves:
The below competencies will be assessed at the indicated stage of the recruitment process: Application = A, Interview = I, Test = T, Presentation = P
Experience
Experience with computer-based systems including Microsoft Excel. (A, I, T)
Skills and knowledge
* Comprehensive knowledge of the benefits system. (A, I, T, P)
* Highly accurate and having attention to detail. (A, I, T)
* Excellent literacy and numeracy skills. (A, T)
* Ability to handle confidential, sensitive information and personal details professionally and in line with current legislation. (I)
* Ability to deliver high quality, in-depth benefits training, clearly and concisely. (I, T,
Personal Attributes
* Excellent communication skills. (A, I, T, P)
* Commitment to providing a high-quality customer service and equal opportunities. (A, I)
* Ability to support, supervise and lead staff. (I)
Great to haves:
Experience
* Previous experience of working in an information and advice services role. (A, I)
* Previous experience of working in a Contact Centre type environment. (A, I)
* Previous experience of supervising and leading staff. (A, I)
Skills and Knowledge
Knowledge of issues affecting older people e.g. the health system, social care. (A, I)
Other relevant details
* We work in a hybrid style and colleagues come into the office at least 1 or 2 days a week, although individuals may work in the office more regularly if preferred.
* The role will occasionally require travel to the other office location (Blackpool or Devon), which will involve overnight stays.
What we offer in return
* Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
* Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, health cashback plan and EAP
* Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
* Techscheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
* Blue Light Card Scheme
* You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.
Additional Information
Supporting statements and anonymisation
Candidates are expected to provide a supporting statement that explains how they meet the competencies annotated with an 'A' in the job description, to assess suitability for the position. Age UK acknowledges and accepts that AI may be used to support the application; we do expect candidates to personalise experience, knowledge and skills and failure to do so, may result in your application being rejected.
CVs will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role. Our system is unable to anonymise supporting statements. Please could you remove any personal information including your name before you upload to support our inclusive recruitment process. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us if invited for interview.
Equal opportunities & Disability Confident Scheme
Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. Age UK is a Disability Confident Scheme employer. Due to high numbers of applications received, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Reasonable adjustments
Disabled job seekers can access reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All requests for reasonable adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the disabled job seeker to best meet their needs, by contacting the Recruitment Team. Disability disclosures will be kept confidential and only shared on a need-to-know basis to support the implementation of adjustments. Disclosures will not be used to inform hiring decisions.
Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.
For a full list of benefits please visit our website.