Recruiting for a Income Maximisation Officer in our services in Kent!


GBP £28,000 per annum, 40 hours per week, plus 25 days Annual Leave, Pension schemes, Staff discounts, healthcare and more. The role will cover several services in Kent, which includes Dartford, Gravesham, Tunbridge wells, Maidstone, Dover and Folkestone.


Job Overview:
Delivering welfare benefits and money advice to Look Ahead's residents across Kent services to maximise both the customers' and the organisations' income. Focusing on those residents whose rent and service charge accounts are problematic, the Income Maximisation Officer will monitor all rent accounts in Kent, identifying trends and patterns on individual accounts and then liaise with local staff and residents to rectify income issues, address arrears and exceed company targets.

The post holder will be required to work flexibly across the county and use technology as required to ensure time is effectively used across the service provision.

Key Responsibilities:
- Perform the timely and accurate processing of all periodic and ad-hoc invoices for contracts, rebilling other activities undertaken by the business, on the invoicing system (CSB) per the required timescales, and in line with Finance processes
- Ensure the integrity of customer data including contact and address information on CSB and SUN in line with Finance processes
- Interact with a wide range of stakeholders and build effective relationships between the business and external parties in order to resolve issues and barriers to payment
- Effectively perform credit control duties including email, telephone and letter chases and arrange and attend external liaison meetings as required
- Arrange and lead on regular internal debt review meetings with Heads of Operations and Managers
- Liaise with the Finance Banking and Rents team to ensure the correct allocation of payments
- Provide regular debt analysis ( spreadsheet and/or reports generated by the arrears management module (Collect Plus), for Senior Management
- To deliver welfare benefits and money advice in a proactive manner via telephone, resident events and office interviews
- To work closely with colleagues to minimise arrears, particularly due to the issues with claiming correct benefit entitlement and identify new ways to maximise resident income and reduce arrears
- To advocate and negotiate on behalf of residents including representation at tribunals, review and appeal boards in agreement with Contract Managers
- To develop and maintain personal professional expertise in welfare reform and income maximisation
- To use existing resident profiling information to better understand our residents needs and behaviours
- To maintain resident information and provide statistical and performance information as required
- To liaise with other departments on a regular basis to ensure that close joint working takes place
- To work with external agencies and local authority partners to develop solutions for Look Ahead residents linked to welfare reform and Income maximisation
- To work to annually agreed performance targets
- To contribute to Look Ahead's corporate activities as and when required
- To record minutes of customer meetings and send to service staff in a timely fashion
- To act at all times in accordance with the aims, philosophy and practice of the service
- To treat all information - both verbal and written - in accordance with Look Ahead's policy on confidentiality
- To maintain good relationships with all involved professionals and agencies
- Report any observations relating to customers welfare
- Adhere to all the policies and procedures of Look Ahead Care, Support & Housing plus those specific to the project including any statutory requirements
- Ensure Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are adhered to at all times
- Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as may be reasonably assigned


Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
Essential:
- Minimum of two years providing specialist welfare benefit support
- Minimum of two years experience of collating/monitoring arrears data and producing reports for management
- Demonstrable skills using all Microsoft Office software


Desirable:
- Experience of working in an environment that supports vulnerable adults
- Full Driving Licence and access to use of vehicle

For the full job description, please visit the Look Ahead website.