About The Role:

Crawley Homes is customer focused housing provider dedicated to supporting our tenants to maintain their tenancies. We know that the current cost of living pressures are having a huge impact on many of our residents, and we are taking steps to expand our Financial Inclusion Service so that we can provide increased support and advice to those who experiencing financial hardship. This post is initially for one year, but with a possibility of extending beyond.

The successful candidate will join our small but established Financial Inclusion Service which forms part of our Tenancy Services Team. Operationally, you will manage your own caseload, and will work directly with our residents on a daily basis supporting them to overcome financial difficulties by providing advice and assistance to maximise income, ensure full benefit entitlement is claimed, helping with benefit claims and support to access debt services.

You will work closely with our Housing Officers, Tenancy Support Officer, other Council departments and external agencies such as the Department for Work and Pensions to facilitate positive outcomes and achieve income gains.

You will also play a critical role in researching financial inclusion initiatives, embedding good practice throughout the department, and will contribute to leading on our financial inclusion strategy.

What we are looking for someone who has:

• A passion for people and who is committed to providing a proactive service to residents, including those who are hard-to-engage
• Initiative, is a self-starter, and is keen to innovate and generate new ideas to improve our service to residents
• In-depth knowledge of welfare benefits and welfare reform
• Experience of working with vulnerable members of the public experiencing financial difficulties
• Excellent communication and customer services skills

The Council operates a flexible working approach and there will be the scope for an element of working from home, however, you will be expected to work with residents on a day-to-day basis both at the Council town hall and within people’s homes.

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible, as we may close this advert before the stated closing date if enough applications are received.

Additional Information:

A full and current UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes will be required.

Satisfactory completion of an Enhanced DBS check will be a condition of employment.

Employee Benefits:

We offer a generous employee benefits package, with a range of discounts, benefits and wellbeing incentives to suit everyone.

Our Way of Working:

Our shared values and behaviours reflect the special nature of our council.  We encourage all colleagues to put them into practice, whatever job they do. Take a look to see if we are the perfect match.

Proposed Interview Date: 29 or 30 March 2023

Crawley Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.