Financial Assessment Officer

**Job Description
Grade 5-£27978-£31044pa**
**About Us**
At the London Borough of Havering, we pride ourselves on being an innovative organisation with a commitment to meeting the needs of our residents. In accordance with the Care Act, and the Council’s own local charging policies, the Financial Assessment & Benefits Team are responsible for the calculation of client contributions towards care fees. We endeavour to provide an efficient, transparent and holistic service, covering information collection and verification, benefit take-up advice and the financial assessment completion.

This is a great opportunity to join the Financial Assessment & Benefit Team and help us continue to develop the effectiveness of our service.

**About the Job**
The Financial Assessment & Benefits Team undertakes its work to a high standard and is looking for an individual to help us continue our good work. The role is important because when establishing an individual’s liability to their care fees we are ensuring that public funds are applied correctly to those individuals who need them and that we are not maintaining, or over-maintaining, individuals at public expense.

The main purpose of the role is;
- Completing timely and accurate financial assessments for service users to establish their liability to their care fees.
- Assist individuals, where required, in completing their financial disclosure forms, either over the telephone or in person.
- Enabling individuals to maximise their income by providing accurate benefits advice as.
- This role is pivotal in establishing correct Council expenditure and income as well as ensuring the wellbeing of customers is not compromised by their care needs and the associated costs.
- Work closely with our Welfare Rights Unit, Brokerage and Quality Teams, as well as social work and debt recovery staff.
- Be responsible for identifying any safeguarding concerns and escalating them as appropriate.

**About You**
You will have an understanding of the Care Act, and specifically the elements that relate to charging for services and financial assessments.

We deal with complex issues and vulnerable adults so you will have high quality customer care and communication skills. Experience of dealing with a diverse group of customers, including pensioners and people with disabilities, will be required.

You will have experience of working in constructive partnerships with other agencies e.g. CAB, voluntary organisations, Department of Work and Pensions.

You will have experience of working in local authority financial environment, and ideally experience of working in an advice setting (wages or unwaged)

It is essential that you have experience of working in a job requiring accurate figure work.

**Additional Information**

**Additional Information**

Priority consideration on all advertised roles will be given to London Borough of Havering Redeployees.

The London Borough of Havering is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Please be aware that a Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) check will be required for any position with access to these groups under the provision of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

In addition, the Authority reserves the right to request employees undertake a basic disclosure check (Disclosure Scotland) where required for the role this includes anyone who has access to (or information obtained directly from) a government database, or has a GCSX account. These posts will be required to have a Basic Disclosure Scotland check as per the requirements of BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standards).**Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.**
- About Us
With its excellent transport links into central London, extensive town centre regeneration and the highest concentration of green space anywhere in London, Havering has a unique offer as a place to live, work and visit. By making the most of its position and opportunities, Havering is becoming a hub for start-ups and expanding businesses, as well as construction, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries._