Positive Employment

Positive Employment is currently recruiting for a Benefits Assessor for our client, a local government organisation based in Cheshire. The successful post holder will under the guidance of the Senior Benefit Assessor, to assess Housing and Council Tax Benefit in accordance with legislation, case law, and the working practices and procedures of the council to the required standards of accuracy and achieving agreed clearance times as laid out in the Service plan Deal with customer enquiries by telephone, in person or on visit as required, and to support colleagues and partners in prioritising customer needs, and providing excellent customer care. This role is a temporary contract with an initial contract length of 3 months with the possibility to extend. THE ROLE IS FULLY REMOTE WORKING. Duties and Responsibilities but not limited to: Process all work allocated by the Benefit Team Leaders in accordance with service performance indicators and office procedures. Assess all types of Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB) applications, including applications from students, self-employed applicants and customers across all types of tenures. Undertake overpayment calculations and underlying entitlement assessments. Undertake initial investigations relating to complaints and verify claims to the required standard. Maintain accurate customer records using online computer systems, complying with Data Protection, Freedom of Information and other security standards. Provide accurate advice to customers, promoting take-up of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and other welfare benefits. Ensure customers receive the maximum benefits and additional income to which they are entitled. Identify and initiate recovery of overpaid benefits and classify overpayments for subsidy purposes. Ensure overpayments are identified, calculated, notified and recovered in accordance with relevant Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit legislation. Maintain effective communication with claimants and other stakeholders throughout the overpayment process. Provide support, training or mentoring to colleagues and partners as required. Conduct quality control exercises by checking colleagues' work, identifying discrepancies and errors, and reporting findings to the Benefits Team Leader. Conduct home visits, with a colleague where necessary, to facilitate benefit-related enquiries. Deal with telephone enquiries and provide assistance on complex issues to employees within One-Stop-Shops and, where appropriate, conduct customer interviews. Work in partnership with Council Tax Billing, Recovery and Fraud teams and maintain effective communication on common issues. Liaise with DWP offices, the Rent Officer Service, Housing Associations and private landlords regarding individual cases. Keep up to date with changes in relevant legislation. Comply with Health and Safety legislation and the organisation's Equal Opportunities Policy. Provide customer services and process Housing Benefit claims at the frontline and at alternative venues as required. Identify and refer potential fraud cases to the Fraud Team for investigation and liaise with investigators as required. Personal Requirements: Experience of using Academy and Civica is preferable. Experience of assessing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit applications. Experience of dealing with a range of benefit claims, including applications from students, self-employed applicants and different types of tenancy. Knowledge and understanding of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit legislation. Experience of calculating, notifying and recovering benefit overpayments. Ability to assess underlying entitlement and accurately verify claims. Ability to provide accurate advice to customers regarding benefits and welfare support. Experience of maintaining accurate customer records and working in accordance with data protection and information security requirements. Ability to deal with complex customer enquiries and provide appropriate advice and assistance. Ability to work effectively with internal teams and external organisations, including DWP offices, Housing Associations, private landlords and the Rent Officer Service. Working Hours: 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Pay: £23.05 per hour. Please note this role is within the scope of IR35.

Positive Employment is currently recruiting for a Rent Income Manager for our client, a local government organisation based in West London. The successful post holder will manage and develop an effective Income Team, overseeing the recovery of outstanding rent and maximising income across residential and non-residential properties. The role will involve managing complex arrears cases, monitoring team performance, overseeing legal action, and ensuring the effective delivery of the Rent Income Service Plan. This role is a temporary contract with an initial contract length of 3 months with the possibility to extend. Hybrid working with 3 days per week in the office. Duties and Responsibilities but not limited to: Monitor and line manage a team of officers dealing with current and former rent accounts to recover outstanding monies in accordance with organisational policies and procedures, best practice, statutory and contractual requirements, including legal protocols. Provide a full reporting suite on team activities, including top arrears cases, complex cases involving multiple specialities and teams, disputed cases and introductory tenancy management. Provide support, guidance, training and performance management to officers, ensuring the team has clear goals and objectives. Oversee negotiations leading to payment agreements, ensuring arrangements are regularly monitored and appropriate action is taken where agreements are not maintained. Meet with tenants and their representatives to resolve complex cases, including those involving customers with specific communication requirements and complex vulnerabilities. Authorise applications for court proceedings and evictions. Represent this organisation at court, external forums and internal meetings as required. Deliver all income elements of the Rent Income Service Plan. Investigate, resolve and respond to Stage 1 complaints and Member Enquiries relating to the team's activities. Take responsibility for income and legal costs, ensuring value for money and monitoring payment plans, account balances and payment trends. Develop productive relationships with support and advice agencies operating within the borough and align policy and strategy accordingly. Build effective relationships with Revenues teams, the DWP and welfare reform working groups, providing updates to the team and senior management on the impact of welfare reform on income collection. Work closely with ICT to develop a consistent approach to the effective use of Capita Housing and CRM systems for income recovery. Maintain and develop Direct Debit facilities and provide reporting as required. Continually develop payment methods in line with current trends, ensuring tenants have accessible and convenient ways to make payments. Maintain accurate records to meet statutory and service-wide reporting requirements relating to performance. Proactively monitor and report to the Head of Income and Financial Inclusion on service delivery, performance indicators and targets. Share knowledge, learning and best practice across the team and maintain up-to-date knowledge of procedures and housing legislation. Contribute to customer consultation, involvement and participation to support continuous improvement in service standards. Ensure compliance with Health and Safety responsibilities relevant to the role. Deputise for the Head of Income and Financial Inclusion when appropriate. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the responsibilities of the role. Personal Requirements: Relevant Housing qualification or working towards a recognised qualification, such as CIH accreditation or a professional body qualification. Experience of managing and developing staff. Knowledge of public sector housing and housing law. Detailed knowledge of rent arrears issues and recovery processes. Demonstrable experience of working within a social housing environment in a similar or related role. Detailed knowledge of housing and welfare benefits. Working Hours: 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Pay: £36.08 per hour. Please note this role is within the scope of IR35.

Are you looking to join a progressive and dynamic local government organisation in Gloucestershire? If so, this opportunity might be perfect for you! Our client is looking for Transport Professionals and Engineers with some experience and with a background in Highways Development Management, who will quickly understand the Gloucestershire context and can display their expertise and solid professional experience in achieving ambitious targets. The successful candidate will provide timely advice and recommendations to the Local Planning Authority making sure that the Highways Authority's position is clearly represented. Provide direction and guidance to less experienced colleagues within Highways Development Management, so as to provide a proactive, effective and cost-efficient service. Provide a Highways Development Management perspective to the development of policy and strategy for the Local Transport Plan, and the Highway Authority. Facilitate economic sustainable development within the County in the context of the organisations. Key Responsibilities: Engage in pre-application discussions with Planning Officers, developers and consultants as appropriate. Provide HDM advice on the need for, and scope of, Transportation Assessments, Transportation Statements and Travel Plans, and to undertake an assessment of these documents when submitted in support of planning applications. Provide appropriate recommendations on highways and transport issues within agreed timelines to District planning authorities in response to consultation on planning applications including mitigation and developer contributions. Represent the Highways Authority at County and District Planning Committee meetings, and other stakeholder meetings, and site visits, to provide highways and transport advice in relation to planning applications and Local Plan spatial growth options. Negotiate Section 106 financial contributions to strategic infrastructure that supports the objectives of the Local Transport Plan. Instruct the Major Projects team concerning the design and delivery of Section 106 funded schemes. Instruct Legal officers to prepare and enter into legal agreements with 3rd party developers. Commission supporting services from transport consultants. Establish and maintain appropriate professional working relations with Elected Members. Prepare evidence and present the highway authorities case at planning appeals or Public Inquiries. Train and mentor junior members of staff. Line manage the development coordinator's and technicians within your geographic areas of responsibility. Personal Requirements: Substantial experience in a public or private organisation dealing with Highways development management issues. Substantial experience in Highways Planning and Development legislation. Experience of public presentation at planning committees and planning hearings. Experience of negotiating complex legal agreements. Experience of engineering design standards. Experience of using transport modelling applications. Experience of preparing reports for technical appraisal and public review. Degree in Civil Engineering, or relevant degree with compensatory knowledge, abilities and skill. Working Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday Salary: £51,356.00 per annum