Job Title: Household Support Fund Support Officer
Hours: 37 per week
Salary: HC06 (£27,269 - £31,067)
Contract: Fixed Term
Contract end: 31.03.2025
Closing date: 17.11.2024
Interview date: TBC
The Role
Do you want to be part of a team that inspires change and puts the community at its heart? Herefordshire Council has a fantastic opportunity for you to join our Talk Community team as a Household Support Fund Support Officer. In this role, you will work alongside a dedicated team to support residents across Herefordshire who are struggling as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. You will assist with the administration of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Household Support Fund, ensuring that vulnerable individuals and families receive help with essential costs such as food, utilities, and other necessities.
In this role, you will work closely with internal teams and external partners to administer the fund fairly and efficiently, ensuring that all financial processes, applications, and reports comply with Herefordshire Council and DWP guidelines. You will be instrumental in supporting the fund’s administration, tracking allocations, managing communication with partner organisations, and gathering feedback to ensure that support is delivered effectively to those most in need.
About You
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and forward-thinking individual with drive, initiative, and confidence. You will have experience working with communities or customers and possess excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Experience in working with public sector organisations, voluntary groups, or community-based programs is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will be passionate about making a difference, able to work independently, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.
We Offer
A competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:
- Starting Salary of £27,269 - £31,067(plus £3,000 Welcome Payment for eligible roles).
- Pension Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS)
- Career progression: clear pathways to progress
- Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum with line manager approval.
- Flexible working: flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours and, in some instances, home working
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
- Payment of professional membership fees
- Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.
Why Choose Us?
You will probably have heard a lot about how beautiful it is in terms of countryside and open spaces (and it is!) but there is so much more going on here, including world-class cultural assets like the Mappa Mundi, vibrant theatres and a thriving food and drink sector.
One of Herefordshire’s biggest assets is the strong and diverse communities. Our Talk Community approach brings that together supporting people to help themselves, encouraging them to help their communities and identifying how communities can help individuals. Our ambitious transformation programme aims to further build on this to offer an all-age approach. We’re excited about the potential of what we can achieve for the benefit of all residents of Herefordshire, stronger together and building brighter futures.
To find out more about what it’s like to live, work and thrive at Herefordshire Council please visit our dedicated recruitment website: www.spiritofherefordshire.com.
Reasonable Adjustments
Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email: [email protected]
Creating an Inclusive Workplace
Employee Network Groups play an important role in strengthening the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council. Embedded in the Council's values is a commitment to listen to people's views and needs.
Employee Network Groups are a collective of colleagues who often share identities, life experiences or cultures and who come together to initiate positive change in their work place. Our groups include: Black and Asian Staff Networking Group, LGBTQ+, Parents & Carers, Climate and Nature Emergency, Diff-abilities and Armed Forces/ Veterans.
For more information on our Employee Network Groups please click here: Spirit of Herefordshire
Don’t meet all parts of the job description?
Herefordshire Council is committed to strengthening a diverse and inclusive work environment which reflects the communities of Herefordshire. If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity and want to make a difference, we encourage you to consider an application or to get in contact, you may be the perfect fit we’re seeking!
How to apply
To apply for a position, please upload an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. If you are successfully shortlisted, Hoople Resourcing will contact you via email to arrange your interview and/or assessment. They will confirm the date, time and location of your interview, so please keep an eye on your email inbox. Good luck, we’re looking forward to meeting you!
Community Wellbeing is connecting and belonging to the place where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community.
We welcome applicants whatever their personal characteristics or social identity. All requests for flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments will be considered.
The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:
- Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the “Disability Confident” scheme;
- Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant; and
- Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.
Stronger Together, Building Brighter Futures