Direct Payments Officer

This role focuses on providing effective, customer-focused support to Direct Payment users and Adult Social Care colleagues through efficient systems and processes. Serving as a key contact for queries, you will manage complex issues when needed.

The position involves ensuring an integrated approach to Direct Payments for Financial Operations by assisting with the implementation of new technologies, methodologies, and processes.

Additionally, the role includes identifying and investigating potential mismanagement of Direct Payments by service users and recommending appropriate actions to address any issues.
Our benefitsWe offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
Cycle to Work scheme. 
Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
Car Lease scheme
Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
Ongoing training and development opportunities.
A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

What will you be doing?In this role, you'll develop and maintain business processes to support Senior Officers and Team Leaders, while coaching and mentoring less experienced colleagues. You'll arrange and minute internal and inter-agency meetings with strict confidentiality, and manage IT and office systems like Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and Teams.

Providing confidential support to Senior Managers, you'll handle detailed queries and act as a key point of contact for staff. Efficiently planning and coordinating diaries and meeting schedules, you'll ensure business needs are met. By building strong relationships and gathering data for management reports, you'll contribute to service performance. With a commitment to equal opportunities and diverse needs, you'll take on various duties within the role's scope. Join us to make a significant impact and thrive in a dynamic environment.
About youAre you a dynamic professional who thrives in both team settings and independent roles? We are looking for a motivated Direct Payments Officer who is ready to make a difference. In this role, you will empower users by monitoring, supporting, advising, and facilitating their management of Direct Payments packages and finances. You will ensure compliance by checking, monitoring, and analysing financial records and other relevant evidence held by recipients.

Additionally, you will actively promote Direct Payments, raise awareness in the community, and contribute to the ongoing development of the service. Staying informed on employment issues and agency provisions is crucial, as is your expertise in using Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, along with Finance and Adult Services Systems. You will excel if you possess strong time management skills, thrive under pressure, and are adept at meeting deadlines.

The work is varied and challenging, offering you the chance to grow and make a significant impact. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to improving lives through effective management and support of Direct Payments. If you are ready to take on a rewarding and impactful role, we want to hear from you!

 
About usAt West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU  

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.