Welfare Recovery Officer

You will give essential support to vulnerable adults in South Gloucestershire ensuring they are able to pay invoices and will promptly contact their nominated representative where necessary. This is a vital role, and you will need to balance the delivery of a personalised service effectively and efficiently to clients, with the need to also protect the council’s financial interests.

What will you be doing? 

• It will be key for you to establish who is responsible, or legally appointed, to deal with the service users financial affairs.

• Strong communication skills are essential, as you will support customers with specific processes, ensuring that clear information and guidance is provided.

• It will be your responsibility to liaise with customers ensuring that service activities are supported, routine problems are resolved, and alternative courses of action are recommended where necessary.

• You will be empathetic and understanding while dealing with vulnerable people.

• From time to time, you will be required to refer disputed invoices or complaints to the correct department.

• In line with GDPR, you will check and verify the validity of all points of contact before releasing any personal details.

• You will accurately record and maintain financial information.

• It is essential you have an NVQ 2 or 3 GCSE’s grades C or above, or equivalent relevant experience.

• Due to the nature of the role, you should have good knowledge of credit control and collections processes.

• You will be liaising with clients and their families, often under difficult circumstances so you will need to have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• You will need to be able to manage your own workload, be a self-starter and have the confidence to work on your own initiative.

• Given the elements of this role, you will have the ability to liaise with internal departments, customers, social workers, family members and external care providers.

Please note that due to the nature of this role it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained for this post.

• We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance.

• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.

• As part of our benefits package you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. 
  
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We’re providing essential services across our internal network to ensure we can fully support our community.

• We’re positive and forward thinking, always looking for new and innovative ways of working work and we’re ambitious about the future.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference. 
  
We’re making a difference, be part of it!