At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist residents with welfare rights and debt issues, maximising their income.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Hounslow, a diverse council committed to excellent services.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work culture, training opportunities, and a commitment to diversity.
- Other info: Basic DBS check needed; interviews scheduled for June 2025.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the community while developing your skills in financial inclusion.
- Qualifications: Experience in welfare rights and debt advice; knowledge of financial capability principles required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About Us
We’d love you to join us at the London Borough of Hounslow! Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. We are an outstanding council, serving an outstanding borough. With brilliant, visionary leadership, a dynamic Cabinet and a can-do culture, we’ve built strong partnerships which have transformed how we serve one of London’s most diverse boroughs. Hounslow is the world in one place and full of potential. We are stepping up for our residents like never before.
About Our Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion
We live by five core values: Lead with Heart, Do New, Pass on the Power, Harness the Mix and Be a Rock. All our work has equality, diversity and inclusion at its very heart, best articulated in “Harness the Mix”. It’s about breaking down barriers between our parts and people and unlocking the problem-solving power of our amazing mix of minds. We serve a diverse community, we have a diverse workforce and we are committed to being an inclusive employer.
We work hard to create representation across our workforce and leadership community, we have thriving employee network groups and our learning and development programmes help us lead, model and breathe ways of working that eliminate inequality, inequity, injustice and bias. As part of this and under our commitments as a Disability Confident Employer, we make reasonable adjustments to accommodate our candidates. There’s space for you to tell us what you need within our application form.
Our Benefits
About The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our Housing Income Team as a Financial Inclusion Officer. Your role is to assist individuals and staff on welfare rights and debt issues by way of advice, information and representation which maximise income for residents. The role is responsible for holding advice sessions at specified outreach sites in the Borough, alongside training and development for our Housing colleagues ensuring knowledge remains high within relevant departments. It is also responsible for promoting public awareness of debt and benefits issues and to monitor changes to legislation which affects claimants and people in debt.
About The Team You’ll Be Working In
Proactively identify, contact, visit and work with residents at risk of reduced income as a result of changes to the welfare benefit system. You will work with Allocations to help assess new tenants’ ability to afford the housing costs to ensure that all new tenancies are financially sustainable. Work with incoming tenants to ensure welfare benefit and other potential income sources are maximised. Forge meaningful relationships with external agencies and refer residents to these agencies for additional support. Work closely with colleagues to achieve team targets on rent arrears, sustaining tenancies and maximising the organisations income stream.
About You
If the points below resonate with you, we’d love you to put in an application:
- Experience of advising customers about welfare rights, debt advice and financial capability and the ability to represent customers at court.
- Knowledge of money advice techniques including debt prioritisation and enforcement methods including a detailed knowledge of the resolutions available to a range of debts.
- Excellent understanding of the principles and current best practice in financial capability and financial inclusion.
- Basic DBS check is required for the role.
Read more about the work you’ll be doing in the Role Profile.
When Interviews Will Be Held And Who To Contact
The key information you need about the role should be in the Role Profile, but if you have any further questions about the role, please contact: Email: Danielle.Barber@hounslow.gov.uk
Interviews will be held during week commencing 23rd June 2025.
Financial Inclusion Officer in Hounslow employer: London Borough of Hounslow
At the London Borough of Hounslow, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our robust learning and development programmes, while our dynamic culture encourages collaboration and innovation. Join us in making a meaningful impact in one of London's most vibrant boroughs, where your contributions will be valued and recognised.
Contact Details:
London Borough of Hounslow Recruitment Team
Danielle.Barber@hounslow.gov.uk
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Inclusion Officer in Hounslow
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific welfare rights and debt advice services available in Hounslow. Understanding local resources will not only help you in your role but also demonstrate your commitment to the community during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals already working in financial inclusion or related fields. Attend local workshops or seminars to build connections and gain insights into best practices, which can be invaluable when discussing your experience and knowledge in interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on changes to welfare legislation and financial capability practices. Being well-informed about current issues will allow you to speak confidently about how these changes impact residents, showcasing your expertise during discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience in building relationships with external agencies. Highlighting your ability to collaborate effectively will resonate well with the council's values of partnership and community support, making you a strong candidate.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Inclusion Officer in Hounslow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role:Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and requirements of the Financial Inclusion Officer position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experience in welfare rights, debt advice, and financial capability.
Showcase Relevant Experience:In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience advising customers on welfare rights and debt issues. Provide specific examples of how you've helped individuals maximise their income or navigate financial challenges.
Align with Core Values:Demonstrate how your personal values align with Hounslow's core values of diversity, inclusion, and community service. Use examples from your past work or volunteer experiences that reflect these principles.
Prepare for Questions:Anticipate questions related to your knowledge of money advice techniques and current best practices in financial inclusion. Be ready to discuss how you would approach various scenarios that may arise in the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at London Borough of Hounslow
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly read the job description and understand the responsibilities of a Financial Inclusion Officer. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with the role, especially in advising on welfare rights and debt issues.
✨Showcase Your Knowledge
Demonstrate your understanding of money advice techniques and current best practices in financial capability. Be ready to provide examples of how you've applied this knowledge in previous roles or situations.
✨Emphasise Relationship Building
Highlight your ability to forge meaningful relationships with residents and external agencies. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others to achieve common goals, particularly in a community-focused environment.
✨Align with Their Values
Familiarise yourself with Hounslow's core values, such as 'Harness the Mix' and 'Lead with Heart'. During the interview, express how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
