Description Salary £27,269 - £31,067 per annum of April 2024 | Permanent, Full Time, 37 hours per week | Care Finance Assessment Team, Exchequer Services International Sponsorship – this role is not open to international sponsorship Lancashire is the fourth largest local authority in England spanning over a large geographical area with a diverse range of communities. The County Council provides services to approximately 1.2 million people who live within Lancashire. We have an excellent opportunity for someone who is highly motivated and ready to join our busy team in the role of an Assessment Officer (AO) within the Care Finance Assessment Team completing financial assessments, Deferred Payment Agreements and direct payment audit reviews for adults across Lancashire in receipt of care services in residential/nursing homes, their own home or the community. The successful candidate will complete financial assessments in accordance with statutory and local guidance and the Authority's charging policy to calculate the amount a person can afford to pay towards the cost of their social care services. You will be able to explain how the charges are calculated. You will also complete welfare benefit checks and You need to demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively using interpersonal skills, including the ability to exercise sensitivity and empathy at what could be a difficult time. Assessment Officers are expected to complete welfare benefit checks using the Department for Work & Pensions system. Maximising income, providing advice and guidance to individuals to access welfare benefits where they are eligible but not yet claiming and signpost to appropriate services for assistance. To have an awareness of, including any disability related expenses a person may incur due to their disability. This role is designated as agile and is attached to an administrative base at County Hall, Preston. In addition, the post holder is required to attend training, team briefings, management task days and other meetings at other venues across the County. You will be required to hold a full U.K driving licence and access to a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability. This is an essential car user post. This post requires equipment to complete the financial assessments, utilising laptops and portable printers, which will be provided to the successful candidate. It is essential as part of the application process that you provide a supporting statement, which is your opportunity to evidence how your skills, knowledge and experience match what we are looking for based on the Person Specification and Role Profile attached and the information detailed. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for an interview without this evidence. Working for the County Council also comes with benefits such as 26 paid annual leave days and in our service area we do not work on Bank Holidays. We provide and actively encourage self-development offering a wide range of training opportunities. We also offer a generous pension scheme. Key Accountabilities: Responsible for conducting telephone or face to face home visits to complete social care financial assessments. Accountable for ensuring that all telephone calls or visits are conducted in an appropriate manner respecting the diverse needs and circumstances presented by a person and responding in a sensitive and supportive manner. Responsible for liaising with colleagues across the Local Authority's Directorates to advise of an individual's requests and concerns and for signposting to relevant points of contact including partner agencies and advice centres as appropriate. Accountable for meeting performance indicator outputs as defined by Head of Service. To be able to work independently organising workload to ensure set targets are achieved within an allocated length of time. Skills & Experience: Substantial office experience at administrative level. Experience of dealing with vulnerable people, social care service users and of working in a social care finance or welfare benefits assessment environment. Previous experience of conducting financial assessments would be advantageous however full training will be given. It is advantageous to be aware of the Care Act 2014, legislation the local authority follows when completing financial assessments. Knowledge of Department of Work and Pensions benefit entitlements would be desirable. A high degree of literacy and numeracy skills including an aptitude for working with figures. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. This includes writing formal letters when responding to complex cases in a word format as well as utilising excel spread sheets. The ability to write clear, concise, and accurate notes. An ability to complete telephone financial assessments and home visits in a sensitive and supportive manner. Ability to use Information technology efficiently. The ability to follow instructions and processes as well as offering new ideas and contributing towards improving the delivery of our service. Further information in relation to the Care – Financial Assessment Team can be obtained via the following link: https://www.lancashireappp.co.uk/financial-factsheets/ For an informal discussion regarding this role, please do not hesitate to contact Lynzi Lowe Team Leader, North on 01772 537664 or Richard Beckwith Team Leader, Central Team Leader 01772 54360. In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website. We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications. You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful, you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab. Job Description & Person Specification