Senior Housing Benefit Officer
1 Month Contract, 36 Hours Per Week.
Responsibilities
* To ensure compliance with your responsibilities as laid out in the councils equal opportunity policy and take an active role in promoting and enabling equality of opportunity, promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of Harrows community, ensuring equality and diversity is mainstreamed in all service/directorate activities.
* To ensure compliance with your responsibilities as laid out in the councils health and safety policy and take an active role in promoting a positive health and safety culture.
* To promote and participate in the councils investors in people (IIP) and individual performance appraisal and development (IPAD) initiatives and information management best practice.
* To ensure compliance with the councils information security policies and maintain confidentiality.
Service Specific Duties / Accountabilities
* Deputise and support a Team Leader in the management of a team undertaking complex financial assessment recovering overpaid benefits and prevention of fraud in accordance with Government Regulation and guidance and in full compliance with Council guidelines, policies and procedures and full compliance.
* Be accountable for operational performance of a Financial Assessment services Team and undertake quality checking and analysis to feed into training plans and business practices. Assist in the management and prioritising of the workload of the team. Set individual and group performance objectives, monitor and take remedial action, if necessary in accordance with the Performance Management system and Capability procedures. Work with other Corporate Finance teams and managers within the Council to ensure appropriate prioritisation.
* Review and make recommendations on Legislation and Council Policy changes in respect of Benefits and IT System.
* As the Senior Assessor in Team, to transfer knowledge and job skills to new and existing members of staff including any changes in regulation, systems and work familiarity.
* Work with HITS, CAFT, Access Harrow, Revenues, Finance, Adults and Housing and External Partners including the Department of Work and Pensions and where appropriate the Business Transformation Partner to ensure delivery and performance targets are met.
* Assist in implementing changes in processes as required by DWP business technical issues [eg. Government Connects/SHBE].
* Deal with complex enquiries from MPs, elected members and claimants referred from Financial Assessment Officers and Assistants.
* Maintain up to date knowledge of regulations and guidance in particular.
Regulations Knowledge
* Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987
* Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992
* The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001
* Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997
* The H B and C T B (State Pension Credit) Regulations 2003
* National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992
* Other financial assessments
Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.
J-18808-Ljbffr