Assessment Officer

Full Time - 37 hours per week, Permanent

Are you ready for an exciting opportunity to join the Benefits Service team at Bristol City Council?

We're responsible for delivering Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support to approximately 35,000 households and we're looking for dedicated individuals to be a part of this essential mission.

If you meet the requirements outlined in the Person Specification for this role, experience is not an essential prerequisite as we provide comprehensive training over an extended period.

What you’ll be doing

In this crucial role, you'll be at the heart of our operation, responsible for assessing and administrating all claims for these benefits. This includes cases for self-employed individuals, students, and individuals from abroad.

We also manage welfare discretionary awards under various government schemes.

We take a flexible approach to work, which means that while you may have fixed hours during your training, you'll have the freedom to manage your working day once you've completed it.

Responsibilities:

• Engage with citizens, ensuring they receive their entitlement promptly and in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and legislation.
• Gather all necessary evidence to support new applications and changes in circumstances, processing this information with the utmost accuracy.
• Maintain excellent communication with citizens through phone, email, text, and occasional face-to-face interactions.

Qualifications and Skills:

We are looking for individuals who possess the following:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in using IT systems including producing letters.
• A strong commitment to delivering high-quality customer care.
• The ability to work in a performance-oriented environment, meeting targets and deadlines.

Please note that this role is subject to a Basic DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we believe in going the extra mile for our people. We offer a fast-paced and supportive work environment, providing you with opportunities to utilize your existing skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organization. Join us in making a positive impact on the lives of our citizens and the community we serve.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online “Microsoft Teams” interview conducted on a date to be confirmed.

If you have any further queries after reading the job advert along with the attached job paperwork then please contact Andrew Dixon (Andrew.Dixon@bristol.gov.uk) and/or Chris Wynn (chris.wynn@bristol.gov.uk

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Young people, Black and racially minoritised candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.