London Borough of Havering
Location
Romford, Greater London | United Kingdom
Job description
Job Category : Financial
Location : Mercury House, London Borough of Havering
Hours Per Week : 36.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £17.50
Income Services
Main Purpose of the Job/Key Objectives:
The post holder will deliver a high quality and comprehensive Financial Inclusion service to Havering residents in order to reduce financial exclusion in our neighbourhoods.
Through your work you will;
Build financial capabilities through financial education
Plan and respond effectively to welfare reforms
Increase access to appropriate financial services and affordable credit
Increase access to money and debt advice
Promote savings, assets and insurance
Help residents move from unemployment to employment
Reduce rent arrears amongst Havering Council residents
Key objectives
To deliver specialist advice in all aspects of financial inclusion and household budgeting with a view to maximising tenants’ income and empowering them to become financially included.
Work closely with colleagues across the Income team to maximise rental income and reduce rent arrears and other housing debt.
Accept referrals from colleagues and liaise with Arrears Prevention & Recovery Officers on arrears cases to sustain tenancies wherever possible.
Provide detailed casework, with direct involvement in advising residents, taking on and managing cases.
To provide intensive support to new residents by contacting, advising, training and ensuring every new resident understands the importance of managing their tenancy and has the best possible chance of tenancy sustainment.
Assist residents who are experiencing fuel poverty to access low cost tariffs from utility providers.
Carry out benefit entitlement checks and assist with or complete application or change of circumstance forms on behalf of Havering residents.
To approach and apply to local charities for financial assistance on behalf of residents when appropriate.
Assist with designing and delivering financial capability training courses, briefing sessions and surgeries on money management skills and all other aspects of financial inclusion.
Maintain an up to date working knowledge of existing and new welfare benefit and housing legislation in order to support colleagues working with residents with complex and challenging needs.
Provide budgeting support and facilitate digital inclusion to help people manage their money better and anticipate changes to frequency of payments with the continued roll-out of Universal Credit.
Work closely with Havering Works and other internal and external partners to help residents move from unemployment into or low paid work to sustainable and fulfilling employment.
Identify residents that are experiencing difficulty in paying their rent as a result of a shortfall in a housing benefit and assist them with or complete Discretionary Housing Payment applications on their behalf.
Provide outreach and home visits to residents.
Utilise the full range of communication techniques in dealing with residents.
Keep full, detailed and accurate records of all contact with residents and ensure the computer system is updated with details of rent arears actions.
Work proactively to identify residents at risk of falling into arrears and provide tailored advice, guidance and support to prevent this from happening.
Identify tenant vulnerabilities and risks and signpost as appropriate.
Use existing knowledge about our tenants and respond to new information and circumstances to ensure that vulnerable tenants and other high-risk groups are appropriately supported.
Ensure that every resident has sufficient access to financial services and their basic needs are met.
Work closely with the Arrears Prevention & Recovery and Court Officers to conduct pre-court assessments, ensuring that the Council has done all that it can to avoid litigation and has complied with its duties under the Pre Action Protocol for Social Landlords.
Demonstrate empathy, build rapport and an understanding with customers and recognise and appeal to tenant behavioural drivers.
Provide regular reports on rent arrears cases to the Arrears Prevention & Recovery Officer.
Document the impact of any project in Financial Inclusion and disseminate any findings.
Work in partnership across the housing directorate, being flexible over tasks and responsibilities to ensure the best customer service to tenants.
Conduct peer training and support the Council’s aim to promote a rent first culture throughout the housing directorate.
Assist the management team in compiling responses to complaints and Member’s enquiries.
Any other reasonable tasks as instructed by your line manager, to support the Council’s objectives.
Job tags
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