Overview
Community Help Officer - Early Intervention
East Suffolk Council, East Suffolk House IP12 1RT/Riverside Office NR33 0EQ
Salary: £28,598 to £31,022 per annum Band 4
Contract: Fixed term for 24 months
Hours: 37 hours per week
Responsibilities
* You will join the Community Help Hub team and use the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) software with other local data sources to identify residents in financial need, design and deliver campaigns to identify and engage appropriate households, and connect them to relevant support, including from the Community Help Hub. You will monitor and track campaign responses, trends and outcomes.
* You will work collaboratively with the Community Help Officers, alongside a range of organisations and partnerships across East Suffolk including parenting support and Family Hubs, Citizens Advice East Suffolk, Disability Advice North East Suffolk (DANES) and Disability Advice Service East Suffolk (DAS). You will liaise with Financial Inclusion Officers across other District and Borough Councils in Suffolk to share best practice.
* To take a data led approach, using the Low-Income Family Tracker (LIFT) software, to identify families and individuals in East Suffolk who are (or are at risk of becoming) financially vulnerable.
* To work with local organisations and support providers on outreach events to provide a caring, responsive and customer focused service to residents by establishing and maintaining personal contact through a range of mechanisms including letters, telephone calls, emails, video calls and home visits to maximise engagement.
* Work closely with your Community Help Hub colleagues, the Communities Officers, and other Council Departments, including Customer Services, Housing Needs, and Tenant Services, collaborating as part of the wider Suffolk network with colleagues from the other District and Borough Councils in the county.
What you will need
* Experience of analysing and interpreting data and intelligence
* Previous experience of working in a public facing role
* Experience of dealing with the public in difficult situations and of providing constructive challenge
* Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to convey complex information to a range of audiences in a creative and understandable way
* Excellent organisational skills
* Strong team player
* High level of computer literacy and able to use Microsoft Office
* Must be mobile / have access to a car and a valid driving licence and be willing to travel
* Flexible and willing to work outside of normal working hours, with occasional work in the evening and at weekends
If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don't meet all the essential requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
Why work for us?
East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work (YouTube).
* Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays)
* Local government pension scheme
* Flexible working arrangements
* Learning and development tailored to your role
* A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes.
* Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.
Find more information about what we offer in our benefits brochure (pdf).
These roles will primarily be remotely based, utilising local community assets, but will also involve travel across the district to provide face-to-face services as well as providing client support over the phone and via our digital platform. A full drivers' license and access to a car is essential for this role.
For more information
For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Megan Clifford, Senior Community Help Officer at Megan.clifford@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
Closing date: Midday Wednesday 17 September 2025
Interview date: week commencing 29 th September 2025
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification
Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement template (docx). Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).
Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.
For more information, check out the How to Apply section of our Career Site (URL).
East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people's lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.
We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers.
To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council and to hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work, take a look at our video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWedQksWt0
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