An opportunity has arisen in the Income Maximisation Team for a permanent Income Assistant Officer.
Lambeth Council rents numerous non-residential properties to customers boroughwide. The post holder will assist with the provision of a customer focused day-to-day income management for non-residential properties and an administrative support service for residential void properties within the Income Maximisation Team.
The Income Maximisation Team is responsible for the management of empty homes, garages, sheds, parking spaces and bike storage ensuring the asset is re-let as quickly as possible after it becomes void. The service is also responsible for the management of parking permits for Housing sites across the borough.
What You'll Need To Succeed
You will also have strong customer service background via telephone and face as well as strong IT systems and admin skills. Previous experience of working in a Local Authority setting is not essential but would be an advantageous.
Principal Accountabilities
Income Management
• Assist in supporting the monitoring rent accounts that are in arrears, pursuing
recharge debts and administering rent account credit refund applications in
accordance with current Council policies, processes and procedures.
• Assist in ensuring that customers are aware of their responsibilities in regards
to the payment of rent, rent arrears and in providing assistance and advice in
regards to benefit entitlement.
• Liaise with customers and Revenues & Benefits to ensure that Housing benefit
applications are completed and any necessary housing benefit proof of
identification and income proof are provided to support claims.
• To identify, assist and advise customers in need of welfare benefits advice or
debt counselling and then to make appropriate referrals and provide assistance
with housing benefit issues.
• Collect rental and recharge payments in accordance with the policy and
procedures and promote income collection initiatives to customers.
• Work closely with statutory and voluntary support services to ensure that
sufficient support is provided to young vulnerable customers to manage their
rent accounts and sustain their tenancy.
Administrative Services
• Attend income surgeries as required and provide a front-line service for the
Income Maximisation Team.
• Ensure that all incoming post, Members Enquiries and Complaints are
recorded, acknowledged, distributed and progressed within an efficient
administrative system.
• Draft responses to general correspondence and investigations of complaints,
Members Enquiries and Local Government Ombudsman enquiries as required.
• Receive and deal with queries and enquiries relating to the work area either
face to face or by phone for customers and clients, internal and external
departments, agencies and stakeholders.
• To perform relevant administrative tasks for the section; including filing,
scanning, faxing, photocopying, postal management, data inputting and any
other appropriate task as directed by line management.
• Responsible for updating, recording and maintaining staff absence return
records. This includes the recording of the monthly absence return sheet, the
yearly absence cards and monthly sickness statistics.
• Raise purchase orders, input invoice information and verify payment requests,
processing payments to suppliers and contractors.
Generic Responsibilities
• Carry out the duties of the post in accordance with the Date Protection Act, the
Computer Misuse Act, the Health & Safety at Work Act and all other relevant
legislation, whilst also taking into account organizational policies, procedures,
standing orders and financial regulations.
• At all times carry out the duties of the post with due regard to the organizations
Equal Opportunities and Valuing Diversity Policies, whilst ensuring that these
policies are also adhered to throughout the Central Income Team.
• Undertake any other duties that may be required to meet the needs of the
service and / or organization.
Other
• The post holder should be prepared to work outside of normal hours, on
occasion.
• The job holder’s decision making authority is determined by Council policy and
procedures