Financial Assessment Officer

1-2 months contract with A Local Authority Job Summary: To financially assess adults for social care services for both Residential and Community Care in accordance with the Care Act 2014 and Council policy and to provide financial support to vulnerable adults and their carers. To maximise the income of service users and the Council by providing advice and assistance on appropriate Welfare Benefits. To provide an effective, customer-focused support service to users of the Financial Assessment service, systems, and processes. A point of contact for colleagues and service users for queries. To ensure an integrated approach to Financial Assessments by assisting with the implementation of new technologies, methodologies, and processes that meet the needs of service users, customers, and client organisation. To work alongside Social Care colleagues and vulnerable service users, where significant emphasis is placed on providing expert advice in a pressured environment. To identify and investigate potential safeguarding issues that can be conducted in difficult circumstances and environments. Key Duties/Accountabilities: Responsible for the prompt and accurate production of client Financial Assessments and reassessments for Adult Social Care service users ensuring that financial regulations and statutory obligations are met through home visits, postal and email correspondence. This includes, where appropriate, identifying and recording Service Users' Disability Related Expenditure and seeking advice about such expenditure from Adult Social Care Team Managers and investigating property issues where necessary. To maximise the service users and Council's income through advice and assistance, identifying customer benefits and assisting the service user with these claims. Investigate, respond to, and resolve service requests and queries ensuring operational service priorities are met through ownership, adhering to agreed service standards, legislation and guidance and according to operational procedures. Escalate any complaints and potential safeguarding issues in accordance with the relevant procedures. Take responsibility and ownership on areas of the service where improvements could be made. Recognising and adapting to the changing needs of the service by making recommendations and implementing agreed changes to improve efficiency and the service provided. To deal with all incoming queries relating to Financial Assessments, and invoices in line with SBC timescales. To obtain and verify financial information from clients and/or their legal, business, or personal representatives and carry out a Financial Assessment of clients receiving chargeable care services, identifying any gaps in information and making additional inquiries as necessary to ensure maximum accuracy of the assessment. To inform clients of their assessed contributions, the invoicing procedure and payment methods available to them. To deal with queries arising from the assessments and invoices. Essential Experience Required: Experience in dealing with the public. Experience in conducting Financial Assessments, gathering relevant information, and querying evidence provided so that the right outcome is achieved. Essential Qualifications Required: Educated to GCSE level, NVQ Level 3 or experience gained in a similar or related work environment. Experience of working under pressure in a busy environment. Experience in utilising, inputting, and interrogating records into corporate ICT applications and systems. The closing date for this position is 26/02/24.