Specialist Housing Income Recovery Officer

We are seeking an enthusiastic, empathetic, passionate, organised and team-oriented individual who enjoys a challenge. Working in the income team is not just about collecting rent but about trying to make a difference to the people's lives we work with and strengthen communities. We value our staff and the difference that they make to our customers.

Our Housing and Communities Teams are passionate about the people who live in our town; our vision is for everyone to have the opportunity to live in a good quality sustainable home within in a lively and thriving neighbourhood. We have a great track record in building strategic partnerships, successfully bidding for Government funding, major project delivery.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

This role is a hybrid of home and office working as well as being out on our estates. This is a very varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same.

You'll also carry out a range of tasks including looking at dedicated accounts and really getting to know your tenants, providing expert welfare benefit and income maximisation advice, assisting in preparing applications for court and case conferences. You will have an eye for detail and will want to do the best by our residents in supporting them to sustain their tenancies.

You'll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you'll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance - striving to be even better - and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

About you

The following experience is required for this role:

Experience in income management or debt recovery/collection up to court applications (preferably in a social housing environment although this is not essential)
Ability to show an understanding of the recovery process
Ability to understand the challenges of recovery
Excellent customer service skills
A working knowledge of welfare benefits
To be a self-starter with a proactive approach and possess the ability to work without close supervision
To have effective decision-making skills, a diplomatic and confidential approach and the ability to prioritise a busy workload., Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you'll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax