Care & Repair Caseworker

Are you passionate about helping people live safely and independently in their own homes? Do you enjoy working directly with residents and partner agencies to make a real difference?

Peterborough City Council is seeking a dedicated, compassionate, and proactive Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) Caseworker to join our Early Intervention and Prevention Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work within our well-established Care and Repair Service, supporting older people, disabled adults, children, and vulnerable residents to access funding and services that enable them to remain independent at home.

Interviews will take place at Sand Martin house on 29th and 30th October

About the Role

As a DFG Caseworker, you will manage a varied caseload and act as the main point of contact for residents throughout their adaptation journey. Working closely with Occupational Therapists, contractors, families, carers, and health and social care professionals, you will help individuals access funding and support to improve the safety, accessibility, and suitability of their homes.

You will provide advice, guidance, and practical support from the referral through to the completion of adaptation works, ensuring residents receive an excellent customer experience throughout the process.

Key Responsibilities

• Support residents with applications for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) and other available funding streams.
• Undertake means-testing assessments to determine client contributions towards adaptation works.
• Carry out welfare benefits checks, helping residents maximise their income and identify any unclaimed entitlements.
• Manage client cases from initial referral through to completion and post-installation review.
• Liaise effectively with residents, families, carers, contractors, suppliers, Occupational Therapists, and health and social care professionals.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Provide advice and information on adaptation options and available support services.

About the Service

The Care and Repair Team plays a vital role in helping people remain safe, independent, and comfortable in their own homes. The service supports older people, disabled adults, children, and vulnerable residents through a range of practical housing-related interventions.

Our work includes:

Home Improvements and Adaptations

• Level-access showers
• Stairlifts
• Access ramps
• Door widening and accessibility improvements
• Small extensions and major adaptations where required

Grants and Funding

• Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs)
• Discretionary Grants
• Advice on funding options and financial assistance

Minor Aids and Adaptations

• Grab rails
• Half steps
• Falls prevention measures
• Occupational Therapy-recommended adaptations

Additional Support

• Hospital discharge support
• Home safety interventions
• Deep cleaning and decluttering services
• Early intervention and prevention initiative

All about You

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about improving outcomes for residents and has the skills to manage a diverse caseload within a busy community-based service.

You will have:

• Experience working within housing, health, social care, welfare benefits, or a community-based environment.
• Experience supporting vulnerable people and working directly with members of the public.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with residents, families, carers, contractors, and partner organisations.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied caseload, work to deadlines, and maintain accurate records.
• The ability to complete assessments and complex forms accurately and confidently.
• Good IT skills and experience using electronic systems to record and share information.
• An understanding of the needs of older, disabled, and vulnerable people and a commitment to delivering excellent customer service.
• The ability to work independently, use initiative, and contribute positively as part of a team.
• A flexible and adaptable approach to meeting service demands.
• GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and Maths.
• A full driving licence and the ability to travel throughout Peterborough to undertake home visits.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Disabled Facilities Grants, welfare benefits, housing legislation, or the Care Act.
• Understanding of how housing conditions can impact health and wellbeing.
• Knowledge of adaptations and equipment that support independent living.
• Experience of partnership working across health, housing, and social care services.

Our Benefits

We value our colleagues and have developed a number of benefits in addition to our generous annual leave starting at 25 days + bank holidays, sick pay and local government pension scheme…

• Access to a range of benefits via our Employee Benefits Platform, including in-store and online discounts as well as our Cycle to Work and Home & Electronics schemes
• Buy up to 10 days additional annual leave (pro-rata)
• Access to car lease scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared Cost AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities including apprenticeships to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to our equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to receive Employee Recognition Awards

Our Commitments
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged and valued and will play a vital role in our success.

We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible. If you are a person who has or considers yourself to have a disability and you require reasonable adjustments to the application or interview process, please contact pccrecruitment@peterborough.gov.uk.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you've already applied and completed the recruitment process for this position within the last three months, there's no need to reapply. We really appreciate your interest and thank you for considering u

Documents

• Care Repair Caseworker JD Feb 2024 v1.pdf (184.74 KB)