Assessment Officer

Salary £28,142 – £32,061 per annum | Permanent, Full Time | 37 hours per week | Care Finance Assessment Team – Exchequer Services | County Hall, Preston (agile working applies) 

Flexible working requests may be considered for the successful candidate e.g. home working, compressed hours | Office cover is required on a rota basis between 8:45am and 5:00pm.

About Lancashire County Council:

Lancashire is one of the largest local authorities in England, serving around 1.2 million residents across a diverse and expansive region. We are committed to delivering high-quality services that make a real difference in people's lives.

About the Role:

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and empathetic individual to join our busy Care Finance Assessment Team as an Assessment Officer. You will complete financial assessments for adults receiving care services in residential/nursing homes, their own homes, or the community.

Your role will involve:

• Calculating what individuals can afford to contribute towards their social care services in line with statutory guidance and local policy.

• Explaining charges clearly and sensitively.

• Completing welfare benefit checks using Department for Work & Pensions systems and signposting individuals to claim benefits to which they are entitled.

• Conducting home visits and telephone assessments with professionalism and empathy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct financial assessments via telephone or home visits.

• Communicate sensitively and professionally with vulnerable individuals and their families, respecting diverse needs.

• Liaise with colleagues and partner agencies to provide advice, guidance and signposting.

• Meet performance targets and manage your workload independently.

• Maintain accurate records and produce clear, concise written communication.

What We Are Looking For:

We are looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in administrative work, ideally within a social care finance or welfare benefit setting.

• Skilled in communicating effectively and empathetically with vulnerable individuals.

• Highly literate and numerate, with an aptitude for working with figures.

• Able to follow processes whilst contributing to service improvement.

• Proficient in IT systems, including Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.

• Organised, self-motivated, and able to work independently to meet deadlines/targets.

• A team player who can work effectively as part of a team.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and Department for Work & Pensions benefit entitlements.

• Previous experience of financial assessments (training will be provided).

Essential:

• Full UK driving licence and access to a car insured for business use (reasonable adjustments considered for disability).

Why Join Us?

• 26 days annual leave (rising with service, plus Bank Holidays)

• Generous pension scheme

• Flexible and agile working arrangements (subject to business need)

• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities

• Supportive team environment

Further Information

Please submit a supporting statement with your application to demonstrate how your skills and experience match the role profile and person specification. Applications without this may not be shortlisted.

For an informal discussion, contact:

• Richard Beckwith, Team Leader – Central Area Care Finance Assessment Team, on
• Janice Stevens, Team Leader - East Area Care Finance Assessment Team, on Monday to Wednesday)
• John Read, Team Leader – East Area Care Finance Assessment Team, on Thursday & Friday).

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended). If successful, you will need to apply for a DBS disclosure.

Learn more about the Care Finance Assessment Team: 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Grade profile

Person specification