Income Maximisation Officer

This is an 8 month fixed term contract with the possibility to extend to 12 months.

Important Information for Current Barnet Council Employees

Where possible, employees who have access to Oracle are encouraged to apply via the Opportunity Marketplace (Internal Career Site). This helps to ensure applications are correctly identified as internal and avoids potential delays during the recruitment process.

About Barnet Council

Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative - which drive everything we do.

About the role

We are looking for an Income Maximisation Officer on an initial 8-month fixed-term contract to support the team in assessing applications from residents for Council Tax Discretionary Relief, Housing Payments and the Crisis Scheme, whilst working to support our residents holistically and ensuring that Barnet residents get the right support through referral pathways and assistance to help improve their financial wellbeing by identifying and securing all benefits, grants, discounts, and other sources of financial assistance. The role involves providing advice and guidance, undertaking benefit entitlement checks, assisting with applications and appeals, and working with partners to help residents maximise income, reduce financial hardship, and maintain independence. The post holder will play a key role in supporting vulnerable households and contributing to the Council's wider objectives around poverty reduction, financial inclusion and resident wellbeing.

About you

Income Maximisation officers will help deliver a high quality and comprehensive welfare benefit, financial support, assessment and debt advice service to residents, drawing on technical expertise, knowledge and experience to add value, lead on the resolution of challenges and drive process improvements across a range of service areas (Financial Assessment, Income, Debt, Cost of Living and Housing),

Income Maximisation officers will ensure advice and guidance is delivered in a consistent, standardised, and efficient manner, dealing with a full range of income related welfare benefit and cost of living customer enquiries, from advice to processing.

Income Maximisation officers will actively champion continuous improvement, the implementation of automation, efficient ways of working and pro-active use of data to improve outcomes for residents and the organisation.

The nature of the role requires a solution mindset.

What we offer

• 31 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, which provides a valuable guaranteed income in your retirement together with security for your dependents
• A comprehensive Flexible Working Policy which supports work-life balance by empowering staff and management to make decisions around when, where, and how work is done
• A vast range of lifestyle discounts from major retailers, supermarkets, energy suppliers and more
• Broad range of payroll benefits including cycle to work, eye care vouchers, travel and gym membership
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Employee well- being training programs including confidential employee assistance

How to apply

Read the job description and person specification before clicking 'Apply' to commence the online application form. If you would like any further information about the role before applying, please contact Nicholas on Nicholas.Houlton@Barnet.gov.uk

System notice: Some dates shown on our online application system (such as "Apply Before") appear in US date format (MM/DD/YYYY) due to Oracle system settings.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a useful tool to support your application as a reasonable adjustment, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn, escalated to counter Fraud for further investigation and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Barnet Council embraces all forms of flexible working (including part-time, compressed hours, and hybrid working) and is committed to offering employees a healthy work-life balance. Candidates are encouraged to talk about relevant requirements and preferences at interview. We can't promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

All posts with the council are subject to a probationary period of six months, during which time you will be required to demonstrate to the council satisfaction your suitability for the position in which you will be employed.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient number of applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Please ensure you regularly check the email account (including JUNK MAIL folders) that you use to submit your application, as any further communication regarding your application will be sent electronically. Should you not hear from us within four working weeks of the closing date for this post, then regretfully in this instance, you have not been shortlisted.