We have an excellent opportunity for a Benefits & Welfare Officer to join our Welfare Assessments Team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a Full-time, 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract basis.
As Benefits & Welfare Officer, you will administer and deliver the Council's Crisis and Resilience Fund, providing timely, fair, and legally compliant financial assistance to residents facing exceptional hardship. Working closely with internal services and external partners, you will assess applications against eligibility criteria, gather and verify financial information, and make evidence-based decisions to help residents stabilize their circumstances and build longer-term resilience.
You'll communicate decisions clearly and sensitively, explaining award reasons and review rights, while processing payments accurately and maintaining robust audit trails. You will also identify safeguarding and risk factors, escalate concerns appropriately, and provide expert advice and signposting to welfare benefits, debt advice, and housing support. Additionally, you'll collaborate with teams such as Housing and Adult Social Care, liaise with external partners like the DWP and voluntary sectors, and contribute to policy development and performance reporting.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an empathetic, professional, and resilient individual with experience in benefits, welfare, financial inclusion, or customer support, particularly in administering discretionary funds and working with vulnerable residents, to join our team.
⭐Staff Benefits⭐
Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:
⭐Generous Annual Leave – 28 days annual leave (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays
⭐Local Government Pension Scheme
⭐GP Helpline - Available 7 days a week
⭐Employee Assistance Programme - Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline
⭐Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines
⭐Free Onsite Gym - Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham
⭐Local & Lifestyle Discounts - Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more
⭐Move through Menopause Course
⭐Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more
⭐Learning & Development Opportunities
⭐Employee Networks
⭐And more!
Key Responsibilities
1. Assess and determine applications to the Crisis and Resilience Fund in line with agreed policy, eligibility criteria and financial thresholds
2. Provide advice and signposting to welfare benefits, debt advice, housing support and other relevant services to promote longer-term resilience
3. Work collaboratively with internal teams (including Housing, Revenues, Adult Social Care and Customer Services) to coordinate support for residents.
4. Gather, verify and evaluate financial and personal information to make proportionate, evidence-based decisions.
5. Process payments accurately and promptly, ensuring appropriate audit trails and controls are maintained
Candidate Requirements
6. Ability to work on your own initiative and take ownership as well as working as part of a team
7. Ability to manage a varied workload
8. Strong customer care skills and the ability to put customers at ease and explain complex procedures effectively
9. Resilient and calm when dealing with challenging or emotive situations
10. Ability to interpret, extract and assess important information
Our Area:
Wokingham Borough Council has recently been ranked 2nd most productive council in England by the Impower Productivity Index, recognising our strong performance and efficient use of public money.
Our Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.
We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.
Click the link below and Apply Today!
Alternatively, to arrange an informal discussion about the role, contact Andrea Thorne Welfare Manager, via Andrea.Thorne@wokingham.gov.uk (Strictly no agencies).