At a Glance
- Tasks: Monitor Direct Payments, ensuring funds are used effectively for community support.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Hackney's compassionate Adult Social Care team.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, supportive work culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Embrace a diverse environment focused on wellbeing and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in health or social care and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 21.53 - 21.53 £ per hour.
Directorate: Adults, Health and Integration
Service: Adult Social Care - Direct Payments
Grade: PAYE 21.53 Per Hour / Umbrella 29.01 Per Hour
Location: Hackney Service Centre - E8
Responsible To: Senior Direct Payments Officer / Direct Payments Manager
Start: ASAP
About the Role
Are you a detail‑oriented professional with a passion for supporting your community? The London Borough of Hackney is looking for a Direct Payments Monitoring Officer to join our Adult Social Care team. In this vital role, you will be the bridge between financial accountability and compassionate care. You will oversee the ongoing financial monitoring of Direct Payments—including bank accounts, prepaid cards, and third‑party accounts—in order to ensure that funds are utilised effectively and in strict alignment with service users' support plans. But this isn’t just a desk job about numbers. You will hold a dedicated caseload, actively working alongside service users, operational teams, and external providers (like payroll services) to collaboratively solve problems, conduct health checks, and ensure vulnerable individuals are supported safely and fairly.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Monitoring & Compliance: Conduct quarterly/yearly audit checks on Direct Payment accounts. Maintain detailed records, analyse usage data within Hackney, and identify excess funds requiring recovery.
- Service User Support: Manage a personal caseload to handle monitoring issues. Partner directly with clients to resolve challenges, provide expert advice, and deliver an excellent level of customer service.
- Collaborative Problem Solving: Work with social work teams, finance professionals, and external providers to confidently remedy complex care‑related and financial queries.
- Process Improvement: Spot common themes and trends in your casework to advise managers on preventative measures, helping embed best practices into our daily business operations.
About You (Person Specification)
We are looking for a proactive, empathetic communicator who can handle challenging situations with a calm, analytical approach.
Your Experience
- Prior experience working within a health or social care environment, directly interacting with service users, social workers, and finance professionals.
- Experience working confidently within a diverse cultural community.
- Proven ability to manage your own workload and juggle multiple cases effectively.
Your Knowledge & Skills
- A sound understanding of the Care Act 2014 (specifically relating to Direct Payments) and Safeguarding policies (particularly regarding financial abuse).
- Strong IT and technical skills, including experience analysing data and working with accounting packages or care management systems like Mosaic.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex financial processes to clients with a range of disabilities.
Requirement: A current Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.
Why Work for Hackney Adult Social Care?
Our culture is built upon four core values: Working Together, Communicating Honestly, Encouraging Wellbeing, and Being Accountable and Learning. In Hackney, staff wellbeing is our top priority. We foster an environment where your voice is heard, critical feedback is welcomed, and active professional learning is highly encouraged. We are also strictly committed to equality of access, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do.
Ready to make a difference? Apply today to join our dedicated team in Hackney!
Direct Payments Monitoring Officer in London employer: Connect2Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises staff wellbeing and professional growth. As a Direct Payments Monitoring Officer, you will play a crucial role in enhancing the lives of vulnerable individuals while enjoying a collaborative environment that values your input and encourages continuous learning. With a commitment to diversity and community engagement, Hackney Adult Social Care provides a meaningful opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Direct Payments Monitoring Officer in London
✨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 Connect2Hackney.
✨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 Connect2Hackney!
✨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 Connect2Hackney, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Connect2Hackney or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Direct Payments Monitoring Officer in London
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 Connect2Hackney:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Connect2Hackney! 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 Connect2Hackney
✨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.
