Job profile
The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.
Job details
Job reference
REQ
Date posted
28/08/2025
Application closing date
14/09/2025
Location
BARROW
Salary
£28,598 - £29,540
Package
Contractual hours
37
Basis
Full time
Attachments
Direct Payment Officer - WMF2236e
Job description
Location: Barrow
Contract Type: Permanent
About this opportunity
The Community Finance Service provides several services including financial assessments to ascertain financial assistance for care services provided, invoicing of assessed client financial charge for residential and non-residential services and providing accurate and timely advice and information as well as monitoring and reconciling direct payment accounts and ensuring accurate recharges for joint funded packages of care.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for 3 candidates to join Westmorland and Furness Council as a new team is set up within the Service area.
The Direct Payment Officers will provide support and guidance to the Direct Payment recipients and to operational teams as they monitor and reconcile the Direct Payment accounts and deal with any customer queries in relation to the 4-weekly statements sent out by the Council for care and support. The Officers will action recharges to partners for care and support provided through the Council.
Who we are looking for…
We are looking for highly motivated individuals who have a strong attention to detail, a high level of accuracy and have a naturally inquisitive nature and an ability to problem solve, they must be flexible, be able to work within competing deadlines and have excellent customer care and communication skills. They must be a team player who is committed to continuous improvement. Someone who can work within technical policies and legislation.
Ideally, they will have an understanding of ASC (Adult Social Care) services. If so, then we would love to hear from you.
You will be working in a busy Operational Finance Service, the successful applicant will be required to monitor and reconcile accounts and to provide support and guidance to customers and colleagues, maintaining the day-to-day operations of the service in line with legislation and local policy.
You will need to have experience of working in a customer focussed environment, ideally of a financial nature, demonstrating patience and understanding. Be able to deal with clients or their representatives in a sensitive manner, whilst ensuring Information Governance legislation is always followed, when dealing with bill queries.
You will need to possess good problem-solving skills.
Applicants will need to be able to work on their own initiative, without close supervision, to tight deadlines, and must be able to keep accurate records and be able to use a variety of computerised systems, whilst actioning recharges to partner organisations. You will have strong organisational skills, being able prioritise work with frequent interruptions.
You will be a critical thinker with the ability to understand the needs of your customers. You will have excellent communication skills and be a team player. The ability to work harmoniously with others to achieve your personal goals, the goals of the team and that of the service.
The Team have adapted into Hybrid working and you will be expected to work from your local office on a 60/40 basis to enable working relationships to be forged.
The successful candidate will need to show that they can deal appropriately with issues of a financial nature, in line with legislation and policy, including lone working as you may be required to visit a client in their own home or care setting for example.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part or a new team.
For a full list of responsibilities for the post please see the attached job specification.
This post is subject to basic DBS check.
If you have any queries or would like to arrange an informal conversation, please contact Tracey Lightfoot on
What can we offer you
Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discounts schemes. For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site. Our benefits | Careers )
Would you like to find out more?
For further information about this role, such as responsibilities and essential criteria please view the below attachments:
* Post Specification
* Role Profile
Application and Interview information
Closing date: 14/09/2025
We are currently operating both in-person and virtual interviews. Options will be discussed with candidates once they have been invited to the interview stage of the process for this specific position, and if you have any concerns or adjustments are needed, we are happy to discuss this with you.
Westmorland and Furness Council are now able to offer sponsorship for Skilled Worker Visa applications for eligible roles. Please note, we cannot guarantee the eligibility of all of our roles, therefore, if you would like more information on roles that may be eligible please visit the government website - Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes - GOV.UK.
Safer Recruitment & DBS
At Westmorland and Furness Council we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and we expect all workers, employees and volunteers to share our commitment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences.
As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview.
We also offer guaranteed interviews to Armed Forces personnel and veterans and those in care or care experienced and under 24 years old (someone who has been looked after by a local authority at any point, for any length of time, e.g. foster care, residential care, or under the guardianship of a local authority) that meet the essential criteria for the role.
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