Direct Payments Officer

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Direct Payment team, which is part of the System and Finance service, within Integrated Commissioning and Partnerships, at Calderdale Council. The Team supports both the Adults and Children's Social Care directorates and is responsible for supporting people that have an assessed social care need and want to manage their personal budget through a Direct Payment, to provide greater choice, control and independence. The team's remit is dealing with the setup of Direct Payments, supporting individuals to understand Direct Payments and their responsibilities, and dealing with queries promptly and professionally from both internal, external colleagues and customers.

We are looking to recruit a professional, friendly, and customer-focused Direct Payment Officer to become part of the Direct Payment team. You will be required to promote and maintain a customer focussed high-quality service and your duties will include meeting with people and/or their representatives who are new to Direct Payments, providing on-going support to individuals in receipt of a Direct Payment, and undertaking reviews to ensure compliance with the Direct Payment Agreement, providing support where needed. If you have experience of working within a Direct Payment/Customer Service team, we welcome your application. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience of working within a customer focused role, using a range of media including telephone, emails, letters and meeting face to face with people understanding the differing needs they may have.
• Experience of dealing positively with challenging situations, either face to face or by phone.
• Be able to deal empathetically with customers in challenging situations to achieve a positive outcome.
• Knowledge of the principles of Direct Payments under the Care Act 2014, the Care and Support Statutory guidance and an understanding of how Direct Payments can be used to support independent living and other outcomes for individuals, would be a benefit.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. Applicants to posts that are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act will require a DBS from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.