Income Recovery Officer (SO2)

Working on behalf of a Local Authority, Aatom Recruitment has an opportunity for Income Recovery Officer (SO2) on a 3 month contract with a possibility of an extension.

This position will be a total of 35 hours per week, with hours from 09:00am – 17:00pm.

Job Purpose:

To assist the Team Leader and Income Recovery Manager in providing an effective Rent Arrears service.

To collect all income due in line with targets, providing benefits advice, agreeing / negotiating appropriate repayment plans and undertaking legal action relating to Rent Arrears as necessary, including issue of NOSPS, preparation of Court papers, variation orders, eviction reports, execution of warrants and attending evictions.

Job Specific Accountabilities:

• To provide a comprehensive Rent Arrears service on a patch basis in accordance with Islington’s Policy. This will at times include work outside the management patch.
• To work as a team covering duties during absences, as directed by the Team Leader or Income Recovery Manager, answering phones for absent colleagues and receiving callers not associated with the individual patch allocated.
• To demonstrate a commitment towards customer care and contribute towards the provision of a high quality service, ensuring the best possible performance and the attainment of high standards.
• To be responsible for visiting and interviewing tenants and their representatives. To provide a prompt, courteous and helpful response when dealing with queries from, or initiating contact with, service users, their representatives or outside agencies.
• To implement action plans and a problem solving approach to tackling specific issues. This will include partnership working where appropriate with internal and outside agencies, in line with agreed protocols.
• To act as a representative for the Team Leader and attend court where required.
• To lead on providing advice within the team for specific functions as requested by the team leader.
• To carry out all functions relating to the control and monitoring of rent arrears ensuring that targets and timescales are met.
• To ensure that all computer systems are constantly updated and reflect the accurate position of all arrears recovery activity.
• To deal with tenants rent queries and making arrangements to clear arrears.
• To provide general advice to tenants on benefits and referring people to benefits agencies.
• To work in close liaison with Housing Benefit staff, Housing Officers, Social Services and the Legal Disrepair Team.
• To be responsible for preparing legal action including the preparation and issue of NOSPS and preparation of papers for the Court Officer.
• To be responsible for undertaking pre-eviction interviews preparing eviction authorisation reports and applying to the county court for eviction warrants.
• To represent Islington at evictions and ensure the successful repossession of properties.
• To answer correspondence from residents and their representatives, members, M.P.’s etc. on matters associated with the Rent Arrears management function, within target timescales and with due consideration of the quality of response provided.
• To be responsible for the preparation of regular performance information on arrears recovery.
• To provide quality information to the Performance and Partnership Officer, or any other appropriate Senior Officer, for dealing effectively with complaints.

Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience of working in a Social Housing environment and involvement within income recovery.
• Experience of working in, and delivering services to, a multi-cultural community.
• Ability to deal with correspondence from a wide group of people and agencies.
• Ability to conduct effective interviews with service users.
• To have an understanding of housing benefits sufficient to provide general advice to service users.
• Excellent verbal and communication skills and be numerate applicable to the requirements of the post.
• Ability to write reports to a good standard which enables senior officers to make relevant recommendations or decisions.
• Ability to ensure effective use of information technology, including word processing, in order to input and extract information
• Ability to think creatively in order to anticipate and solve problems, and to take corrective action where necessary.
• Ability to adopt a flexible approach to team working, be self-motivated and to be able to demonstrate an ability to work on your own initiative.
• Ability to meet performance targets.

To get more information about this role and how to apply please contact Kartik.