At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Welfare team and shape welfare policy for Somerset Council.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to community welfare.
- Benefits: 33 days annual leave, flexible working, and professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for evening or weekend community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial support services and improve lives in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in welfare management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Bring your experience, leadership and ambition to a role where you can truly shape the future of welfare services in Somerset. This is an opportunity for an established Welfare Manager to broaden their influence, leading the strategic delivery of essential financial support services across a large and diverse authority. You’ll oversee Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and wider welfare provision, ensuring services are not only effective and compliant, but continually evolving to meet changing need.
We’re looking for someone who is confident shaping direction, driving innovation and improving performance, while keeping residents at the centre of everything. Your experience will be key in strengthening financial resilience, enhancing service quality and delivering meaningful outcomes for our communities.
At Somerset Council, you’ll join a forward-thinking organisation that values strong leadership, collaboration and professional growth. In return for your expertise, you’ll have the scope to lead change, influence strategy and make a lasting difference in a supportive and progressive environment.
Role Summary
As our Welfare Manager, you will lead the delivery of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and discretionary welfare schemes at Somerset Council. You will ensure compliance with legislation while maximising take-up and supporting vulnerable residents. This role is key to shaping welfare policy, improving service delivery, and managing both ongoing and government-funded schemes. By driving accountability and continuous improvement, you will contribute to the Council’s strategic priorities and the financial wellbeing of local communities.
What you'll do - Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Welfare team, setting clear objectives and ensuring high performance across all areas of service delivery.
- Develop and implement strategies to maximise subsidy income and reduce overpayments.
- Be responsible for audits, statutory returns and ensuring compliance with legislation and policy.
- Oversee accurate and timely processing and payment of entitlements and discretionary schemes.
- Monitor and report on key performance indicators and drive service improvements.
- Directly manage, coach and develop senior officers and wider team members.
- Lead on recruitment, training and performance management within the team.
- Contribute to financial planning, forecasting income and managing risk.
- Identify and manage risks to prevent fraud and ensure robust internal controls.
- Work with internal teams and external agencies to promote welfare take-up.
- Handle complex cases, complaints and customer enquiries with a customer-focused approach.
- Support policy development, system improvements and digital transformation initiatives.
What We’re Looking For – Knowledge, Experience and Skills
- Expert knowledge of relevant legislation and local policies, including Housing Benefit Regulations, Council Tax Reduction Schemes, DWP guidance, and public sector financial frameworks (including MTFS, budget setting, and links to year-end and annual billing processes).
- Strong understanding of data governance, predictive analytics, digital service platforms, and financial/non-financial risk within the service.
- Proven experience managing a welfare team within a local authority, including leadership, team motivation, and performance management.
- Experience in policy development, strategic implementation across multiple services, compliance, audit response, and change management/project delivery.
- Experience of working in a political environment, representing a local authority, and building effective relationships with members, partners, customers, advocacy agencies, and external bodies.
- Demonstrable experience managing stakeholders, presenting financial information, and negotiating with government departments and funding bodies.
- Experience using Revenues, Welfare and Benefits systems (e.g. NEC) and producing data analysis, reports, and statutory returns.
- Strong leadership, communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to develop high-performing teams.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and make clear, evidence-based decisions.
- Ability to develop and implement policies, manage workloads effectively, and operate strategically with a systems leadership approach.
- IRRV membership/qualification (or working towards), degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience), and leadership/management qualification (or equivalent experience).
- Knowledge of strategic commissioning and outcome-based service design.
- Understanding of data governance, predictive analytics and digital platforms.
- Experience managing challenging situations, including complaints and vulnerable customers.
- Experience leading cross-functional projects or transformation programmes.
- Conflict resolution or complaint handling training.
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders, including elected members and external agencies.
- Advanced data analysis and insight to inform policy and service delivery.
Additional Information
- Full time (37 hours), Permanent role.
- 33 days annual leave (additional to Bank Holidays).
- Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.
- Occasional requirement for evening or weekend work to meet deadlines or attend community events.
- Some travel within the local area may be required for meetings, site visits and community engagement activities.
Benefits Manager in Taunton employer: Somerset-Council-1
At Somerset Council, we pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking employer that champions strong leadership and collaboration. As a Benefits Manager, you will enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises professional growth and innovation, with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the welfare services of our diverse community. With flexible working arrangements and generous annual leave, we ensure our employees have the resources and environment they need to thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Benefits Manager in Taunton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the welfare sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Benefits Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Somerset Council's recent initiatives in welfare services. Show us that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who’s genuinely interested in shaping the future of welfare in the community.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities of the role. We want to hear about your leadership style and how you’ve driven service improvements in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Somerset Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Benefits Manager in Taunton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in welfare management and compliance. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Benefits Manager, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Benefits Manager, you'll be leading a team, so it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've motivated teams, driven performance, and managed change in previous roles. We love seeing strong leaders in action!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make your key achievements stand out. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make it easy for us to see why you’re the right fit!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the updates about your application status. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Somerset-Council-1
✨Know Your Legislation
Make sure you brush up on relevant legislation like Housing Benefit Regulations and Council Tax Reduction Schemes. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you’re not just familiar with the rules, but that you can also apply them effectively in your role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led a team in the past, especially in a local authority setting. Highlight your experience in motivating teams and driving performance, as this is crucial for the Welfare Manager position.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about handling complex cases or complaints. Think of specific instances where you successfully resolved issues, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and customer-focused approach.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Familiarise yourself with Somerset Council's strategic priorities and how the welfare services fit into them. Showing that you understand the broader context will help you articulate how you can contribute to their goals.
