At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to help residents maximise income and reduce financial hardship.
- Company: Join Brent Council, a diverse and inclusive workplace focused on community improvement.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days of annual leave, flexible working, and health support.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in customer-focused services and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 52194 - 55323 £ per year.
Salary range: £52,194 - £55,323 (pro-rata) per annum inclusive of London weighting
Contract: Fixed term - 2 years
Hours of work: 36 hours per week
Location: Civic Centre and other locations from time to time
Lead a service that helps Brent residents maximise income, reduce financial hardship and build financial resilience.
Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, with communities, ideas and experiences from across the world helping to shape who we are. Working here means joining a council that is focused on fairness, open to new thinking and committed to improving life for local people.
About the role
The Household Income Maximisation Team Leader is an important leadership role within Resident Services, reporting to the Head of Resident Experience. The role will lead the operational delivery and ongoing development of Brent’s Household Income Maximisation service, ensuring residents receive high-quality, targeted support to maximise income, reduce financial hardship and prevent escalation into debt or crisis. You will take forward a data-led and proactive model of support, building on the Household Income Maximisation test-and-learn programme and supporting delivery of the Council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund objectives. This is a strong opportunity for someone who is passionate about resident outcomes, service improvement and working collaboratively across services and with partners to make a real difference.
In this role, you will:
- Lead and develop the Household Income Maximisation team, supporting high performance, staff capability and effective operational delivery.
- Ensure residents are supported to access their full financial entitlement, including benefits, grants and discretionary support.
- Use data and insight, including the LIFT tool, to identify financially vulnerable households and target support where it is needed most.
- Oversee complex cases and ensure residents receive coordinated, timely and resident-centred support.
- Monitor service performance, including outcomes, income gains, demand and management information requirements.
- Build strong working relationships with internal services, DWP, advice agencies, VCSE partners and other key stakeholders.
You will play a key role in embedding a proactive, data-led approach to income maximisation across the Council. The role will support joined-up pathways between crisis support, housing and resilience services, helping residents access the right support at the right time and contributing to improved financial outcomes across Brent.
About you
We are looking for someone who:
- Has experience of leading customer-focused services and managing operational demands, service pressures and deadlines.
- Can lead, motivate, coach and develop a team to achieve high performance and strong outcomes for residents.
- Has strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with partners and stakeholders.
- Can use data, insight and performance information to improve services and target activity effectively.
- Is confident managing complex information, applying sound judgement and developing practical solutions.
- Is committed to public service, partnership working and improving outcomes for residents experiencing financial hardship.
Why join us?
We know people do their best work when they feel valued, supported and able to grow. At Brent, you will benefit from:
- 27 days’ annual leave, rising with length of service, plus bank holidays.
- Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.
- Hybrid and flexible working options for most roles.
- Supportive family-friendly policies.
- Health and wellbeing support, including eye test support and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
- Financial wellbeing support, including education sessions, childcare deposit loans, and season ticket loans.
- Travel support, including affordable parking nearby, a Cycle to Work scheme, and onsite facilities.
- Learning and development opportunities to support your career.
- Access to My Brent Rewards with exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, leisure and entertainment.
This role offers the opportunity to lead a developing and high-impact service that directly supports residents facing financial hardship. You will help shape the future delivery of Brent’s Household Income Maximisation approach, work with a wide range of partners and contribute to a service focused on prevention, resilience and improved outcomes for residents.
How to apply
Closing date: Wednesday 5 August 2026 (23:59)
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you are interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects the people we serve. We welcome all applications from all sections of the community and encourage applicants to complete the diversity survey section of the application.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness. We expect all employees to demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to promote inclusive, non-discriminatory practices in their work. This commitment forms part of our recruitment process, and candidates may be assessed on their understanding of and ability to contribute to an inclusive working environment.
The information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas, who will use it to help prevent fraud and other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. Further details on how your information will be used by Brent and Cifas, and your data protection rights can be found here.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. This includes people with hidden disabilities, long term health conditions, diagnosis, and mental health conditions. We also guarantee an interview to care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria. Information shared for this purpose will be treated fairly and used only to confirm eligibility under these schemes.
If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact recruitment@brent.gov.uk.
Brent has a positive approach to flexible working.
Household Income Maximisation Team Leader employer: Borough of Brent
The Borough of Brent is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where employees can thrive in their political careers. With a strong emphasis on flexibility and work-life balance, the role of Policy & Communications Assistant provides generous annual leave and opportunities for professional growth within a supportive team dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Household Income Maximisation Team Leader
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Borough of Brent.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Borough of Brent!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Borough of Brent, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
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We think you need these skills to ace Household Income Maximisation Team Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Borough of Brent:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Borough of Brent! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Brent
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
