Welfare Rights Officer - 2 Posts, Pullar House, Perth - Internal

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Welfare Rights Officer, 2 Posts (Fixed Term until 31 March 2028) - PKC13666
£34,424 - £37,784
Pullar House, Perth

Please note: Only existing employees of Perth & Kinross Council may apply.

This is a demanding role, working in a fast-paced environment advising, assisting and representing vulnerable clients and households with regard to all aspects of the benefits system.

You will provide advice and information on welfare benefits and other welfare rights issues to residents, frontline workers (internal and external) and to elected members through telephone, online and face-to-face at outreach (as required).

Some of your duties are as follows:

• Advocate for and represent service users and vulnerable people at Benefit Appeal Tribunals in relation to their entitlement to state benefits and tax credits.
• To provide quality case work and appeals representation at the standard required by the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers.
• Negotiate and mediate with appropriate agencies and organisations in the process of enabling service users and vulnerable people to secure their entitlement to state benefits, tax credits and other rights such as housing, employment, debt etc.
• Identifying cases where money advice is required and making referrals to money advice agencies and the monitoring and recording of subsequent outcomes.
• Develop and deliver training programmes for internal and external agencies i. e NHS, voluntary organisations.
• Undertake campaign work targeted at vulnerable clients particularly those who are vulnerable due to age, frailty, disability, mental ill-health or substance misuse.
• Take part in outreach work by establishing links with and undertaking talks to voluntary groups and organisations in order to promote the work of the Welfare Rights Team.
• Engage in partnership working with other relevant services and agencies, e.g. DWP, Social Security Scotland, NHS Tayside, Housing Benefits, Local Taxes etc.
• Keep clear records and statistics as required to enable the Welfare Rights service to be monitored and assessed.
• Ensure that the individuality, personal dignity and confidentiality of clients are respected at all times.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the eligibility criteria for benefits and other income sources.
• Have the ability to understand and interpret complex benefit legislation and case law.
• Undertake appropriate training as directed by the Senior Welfare Rights Officer and co-operate with the introduction of new procedures and/or new technological systems.
• Participate in team meetings, personal development and supervision and contribute to the development of the service by attending working groups and other forums as deemed appropriate.

Please note, we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this post.

Skills & Experience Required

• Ideally, you will have significant experience of providing welfare rights advice in either a paid or voluntary capacity.
• A working knowledge of the eligibility criteria for welfare benefits and tax credits.
• You will have experience of advocating on behalf of service-users.
• Good general education.
• Ability to use IT programmes and packages such as Word, Excel, and Powerpoint etc.

Customer Care

• You will have excellent customer care skills.

Health & Safety

• You have a personal responsibility for taking care of yourself and others and must comply with all relevant Health and Safety legislation.
• Knowledge of health and safety issues and experience of undertaking risk assessments.

Equality & Dignity at Work

• The ability to treat colleagues and customers with dignity and respect as per the Employee Charter.

Communications

• Effective communication skills (verbal and written).
• Ability to produce clear, concise written guidance and information.
• Ability to produce, develop and deliver benefit training programmes.
• Effective negotiation skills.
• Effective presentation skills.
• Listening skills

Flexibility

• Ability to travel to appointments/meetings.

Achievement of Results

• Ability to plan and organise own workload.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to compile reports and maintain detailed records.

Quality

• You must have the ability to champion change and work autonomously.

Team Working

• Ability to build good working relationships with others.

Decision Making & Problem Solving

• Ability to make decisions as per responsibilities of this post.
• Ability to problem solve either alone or with appropriate colleagues.

Any Additional Requirements

• Must be able to cope with the demands of the job and attend on a regular basis.
• To work well as part of a team.
• Empathic and non-judgemental approach.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Willingness to undertake training.
• Flexible approach to working.
• Self-motivated.
• Ability to use your initiative.

 

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree.

Our FAQs on hybrid working can be found here Hybrid working FAQs

We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Nicola Sutherland on 01738 476905 to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW”

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses.  One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

Internal applicants applying for secondment must obtain line manager approval through the secondment form available under My Forms – Secondment Request Form on MyView. Please note that secondment requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. 

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

To comply with Baseline Personnel Security Standard, you will be required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.