At a Glance
- Tasks: Support customers with queries about council services, providing guidance and resolving issues.
- Company: Join South Gloucestershire Council, dedicated to improving community lives and services.
- Benefits: Enjoy a full-time role with training opportunities and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while developing valuable skills in customer service.
- Qualifications: Previous experience in customer service is essential; strong communication skills are a must.
- Other info: Flexible working locations available; interviews start on 30th June.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
As a Customer Care Officer, you will provide support and guidance to customers in relation to enquiries about council tax, housing benefit, StreetCare and waste, the household support fund and homelessness support.
The One Stop Shop is a fast-paced working environment, managing a wide range of customer enquiries face to face, through email and over the phone, requiring a flexible approach and the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities.
As the first point of contact for customers, you will be mainly supporting them face to face, but also via telephone and email, providing specialist advice, support and guidance. It will be your responsibility to resolve customer queries by identifying and analysing the correct benefits and services available. You will maintain information systems and databases to ensure that customer details and information are accurate and up to date. It will be key for you to assess customer's financial information to understand their needs and entitlements.
It is essential that you have relevant experience in a customer service or customer facing role. Given the elements of this role, you need to be able to build rapport and communicate effectively with customers. We require you to demonstrate strong initiative, as you will be required to resolve a wide range of queries.
This is a full-time permanent role, working 37 hours per week. This role is available to work from either our Patchway, Yate or Kingswood One Stop Shop, your preferred location can be discussed at interview.
We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work. We trust our team to work in the way which allows them to make the biggest difference and we continue to invest in technology to help staff do their jobs to the best of their ability and celebrate innovation. We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. We’re building and shaping communities which people are proud of. We’re planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses. We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.
We’ve achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference. We’re making a difference, be part of it!
Customer Care Officer employer: South Gloucestershire Council
Contact Detail:
South Gloucestershire Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Care Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the services provided by South Gloucestershire Council, especially those related to council tax, housing benefits, and homelessness support. This knowledge will help you engage confidently with customers and demonstrate your understanding during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills, particularly in handling difficult customer interactions. Role-playing scenarios with friends or family can help you prepare for the fast-paced environment of the One Stop Shop.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your ability to adapt to changing priorities by sharing examples from previous roles where you successfully managed multiple tasks. This will highlight your flexibility, which is crucial for the Customer Care Officer position.
✨Tip Number 4
Research common customer queries related to the services you'll be supporting. Being able to discuss these during your interview will demonstrate your initiative and readiness to tackle the challenges of the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Care Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Customer Care Officer position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with these specific duties.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasise any previous customer service roles you have held. Provide examples of how you successfully resolved customer queries and built rapport, as this is crucial for the role.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since effective communication is key in this role, make sure to demonstrate your ability to communicate clearly and effectively in your application. Use concise language and provide examples of your communication skills in action.
Personalise Your Application: Address your application to the hiring manager if possible, and include a brief introduction about why you are interested in working for South Gloucestershire Council. This personal touch can make your application stand out.
How to prepare for a job interview at South Gloucestershire Council
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Customer Care Officer. Familiarise yourself with council tax, housing benefits, and other services mentioned in the job description. This will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully resolved customer queries or built rapport with clients. Highlight your ability to communicate effectively and adapt to different situations, as these are crucial skills for this position.
✨Demonstrate Initiative
Be ready to discuss instances where you've taken the initiative to solve problems or improve processes. The interviewers will be looking for candidates who can think on their feet and take charge of challenging situations.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, training opportunities, and how success is measured in the role. This shows that you're not only interested in the position but also in how you can contribute to the council's mission.