Our Organisation-

Centrally located in the Thames Gateway, Gravesham Borough Council provides a range of services to over 106,000 people and 4,000 businesses.

The Borough of Gravesham, situated in the north west corner of Kent, covers 25,000 acres of the most varied countryside in south east England.

Bordered by the River Thames to the north, it is at the heart of Thames Gateway and has a significant role to play in the regeneration of a major government growth area.

Gravesham Borough Council is committed to delivering to the community and working with us means you are part of delivering the level of growth and improvement our community needs and deserves.

The role

This is a career graded post dependent on experience and training to work within the overpayments section within the Revenues and Benefits Department, providing a quality service that is Customer focused, modern and efficient. To recover outstanding housing benefit overpayments from tenants and landlords in the private and public rented sectors complying with Statute and Council policy in all respects

Main responsibilities

Undertake a range of specialist tasks including:

Ensure correct notification letters are issued and all enquiries are dealt with accordingly

Providing statistical and management information on all aspects of overpayments

Endeavour to recover all overpayments using all available tracing sources

Ensure all recoverable overpayments are correctly recovered utilising all available methods

To liaise with claimants to make arrangements

Monitor all arrangements on a monthly basis

Progress invoices for further action

To adhere to the Overpayment policy

Effective liaison with internal and external departments

To deal with enquiries from claimants in person, by telephone or by written correspondence

Essential qualifications/experience-

You should have knowledge of Gravesham Borough Council and the services it provides. A conscientious and methodical approach to work, together with effective verbal and written communication skills.  It is essential that you are organised, have the ability to work under pressure to strict deadlines, meet challenging targets and are a good team worker. Strong IT and customer care skills and a commitment to confidentiality are essential and you should hold 5 GCSE’s or equivalent A-C grade.

Desirable qualifications/experience-

Knowledge of Gravesham Borough Council and the services particularly administered by Revenues & Benefits. Experience of working in an office environment or dealing with Customers in a front-line service.  Experience in basic debt recovery

In return we offer you:

Holiday entitlement

A generous holiday entitlement, plus paid bank holidays.

Training

In-house and external training including non-qualification, Continued Personal Development (CPD), NVQ and other qualification training.

Employee Assistance Programme

The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a free and confidential support service, offering you unlimited access to advice and information as well as coaching and counselling where appropriate. 

Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the service is there to help you manage all of life's events and support you through the challenges. Their expert advisers are there to help,

whenever you need them. Support on the telephone, online and face to face.

Pensions

A very secure pension scheme which both you and we pay into. More information can be found on the Local Government Pension Scheme website.

Occupational health

An on-site Occupational Health Advisor. We have an occupational health service provided by East Kent Hospitals University Foundation NHS Trust. The service is delivered by a team of health professionals who specialise in occupational medicine and deal with the relationship between your work and your health. Occupational Health also works with us to resolve any issues in the workplace and also to ensure that well-being at work is maintained.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager call Mrs Joy Adkins on 01474 337430

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Gravesham Borough Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.  All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.