Court Recovery Officer

**Oadby and Wigston Borough Council**

**Recruitment Advertisement**

**POSITION**

**Court Recovery Officer**

**CONTRACT TYPE**

**Permanent**

**PART TIME/FULL TIME**

**Full time**

**BAND AND SCALE POINT**

**Band 5 SCP 12-17**

**SALARY PER ANNUM**

**£24,494 - £26,845**

**SERVICE AREA**

**Revenues and Benefits**

**Brief overview**

Oadby & Wigston Borough Council are looking to a full-time Court Recovery Officer to join our Revenues and Benefits team on a permanent basis. The role will be a split of home working and office based.

You will be part of the Recovery Team in the Revenues and Benefits department with a focus on recovery of Council Tax, Business Rates, and Housing Benefit. You will use your listening and negotiation skills to agree suitable payment arrangements, and will liaise with enforcement agents if required to recover debts that you have secured in Leicester Magistrates Court.
- Experience of working in a customer service environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to negotiate sensitively and effectively
- Excellent written skills, effective organisation skills and good attention to detail
- Excellent IT Skills - working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Good problem-solving skills
- The ability to work well under pressure
- The ability to work closely with the team and on own initiative with minimum supervision
- A flexible attitude and a genuine desire to help customers

**What this role has to offer**:

- On-the-job training on all aspects of Recovery, and the ability to help shape the team
- Great job satisfaction
- Chance to be part of a positive and collaborative workplace with a strong culture recognising that employees are at the heart of what we do
- Generous holiday entitlement

**CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 14th March 2023**

**JOB CONTEXT**:
1. Assist the Senior Recovery Officer and attend the Magistrates Court to represent the Council in the recovery of arrears of all local taxes.

2. Be the key point of contact for technical queries relating to the collection and recovery of overdue Council Tax and Business Rates, and overpaid Housing Benefit.

3. Make decisions on matters of Council Tax, Business Rates, and Housing Benefit recovery to maximise council income in line with customer affordability.

**MAIN DUTIES ANDRESPONSIBILITIES**:
2. Work with the Senior Recovery Officer to improve collection rates.

3. Liaise with external agencies including DWP, Enforcement Agents, Probation Officers, other Officers of the Council, and employers, to maximise opportunities to recover unpaid debt.

4. Attend the Magistrates Court to obtain Liability Orders and prepare all the documentation for court.

5. Monitor accounts following the issue of a liability order from the Magistrates Court. Arrange for follow up contact with taxpayers who have defaulted on their payments.

7. Check and issue all relevant arrears notices including reminders, final notices, summons and letters confirming special payment arrangements.

8. Make decisions on:

- Payment arrangements for Council Tax accounts in arrears and decide, instigate and communicate the next stage of recovery action including enforcement agent action.
- Payment arrangements for Business Rates accounts in arrears and decide, instigate and communicate the next stage of recovery action including enforcement agent action.
- Payment arrangements for overpaid Housing Benefit and decide and decide, instigate and communicate the next stage of recovery action.
- How and when to issue refunds to customers in credit.
- Process work in a timely and accurate manner to enable internal and national targets and performance indicators to be achieved.
- Accurately update the Revenues and Benefits computer system with relevant information.
- Use experience in the role to suggest improvements to processes that will benefit customers and improve team and individual performance.

**RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESOURCES**:
1. The post holder will be required to ensure that any data systems under his/her control are kept secure and properly managed.

**KEY FUNCTIONAL LINKS WITH**:
**Internal**: All employees and sections of the Council

**External**: Residents of the Borough, the general public, other Local Authorities, external suppliers and consultants, and other external bodies, partnerships and organisations as required.

**WORKING CONDITIONS & ENVIRONMENT**

1. The post is situated within the Main Council Offices, however you may be required to work from other sites and places within the Borough where your professional attendance is required.

2. The post holder will be required to make an annual declaration in respect of interests in the Borough.

**ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS**

1. This job description outlines the main duties of the post but does not exclude other duties, which may be undertaken to ensure the efficient operation of the department. Other duties required will be consistent with those listed above and appropriate to the title