At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide support and guidance to customers on council tax and housing issues.
- Company: Join a dynamic council team making a real difference in the community.
- Benefits: Enjoy a fast-paced environment with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make an impact by helping vulnerable individuals and resolving important community issues.
- Qualifications: Must have NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience in customer service.
- Other info: Flexible work required to adapt to changing customer needs.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
Using your excellent Customer Service skills, you will make a difference by providing support and guidance to customers, solving enquiries that relate to council tax, housing benefit, social housing register and homelessness.
The Contact Centre is a fast-paced working environment, managing a wide range of customer enquiries through emails, phone calls, and social media, requiring a flexible approach and the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities. What you will be doing:
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As the first point of contact for the Council, you will take a high volume of telephone calls from customers providing specialist advice, help, and support.
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Areas that you will offer advice and guidance in are:
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Housing benefit and council tax reduction entitlement and eligibility
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Housing advice including housing register and homelessness support.
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Council tax billing and recovery due to non-payment
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Daily, you will resolve customer queries by assessing and analysing entitlement to benefits such as housing benefit and council tax reduction.
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Due to the wide variety of queries, you will be required to work flexibly and adapt to the changing needs of customers, for example you could be correcting a mistake on a council tax bill, helping resolve a benefits issue, or supporting a vulnerable individual.
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You will accurately assess customer’s financial information to help to resolve queries relating to issues such as council tax or benefit entitlements
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It is essential that you have a relevant qualification e.g. NVQ Level 3 or equivalent relevant work experience
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You must have previous work experience in a customer service, call handling or front-line role.
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We require you to demonstrate a strong initiative to resolve issues and queries within Revenues, Benefits and Housing.
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
Familiarize yourself with the key areas of customer service that are relevant to this role, such as council tax, housing benefits, and homelessness support. Understanding these topics will help you demonstrate your knowledge during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills, especially in handling difficult customer interactions. Role-playing scenarios can help you prepare for the fast-paced environment of the Contact Centre.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your adaptability by sharing examples from your past experiences where you successfully managed changing priorities or resolved complex customer queries. This will highlight your ability to thrive in a dynamic setting.
✨Tip Number 4
Research common issues related to council tax and housing benefits. Being knowledgeable about these topics will not only boost your confidence but also impress the hiring team with your proactive approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Care Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to emphasize your previous work experience in customer service or call handling roles. Provide specific examples of how you've successfully resolved customer queries, especially in areas related to council tax, housing benefits, or social housing.
Showcase Your Skills: Demonstrate your excellent customer service skills in your application. Use clear and concise language to explain how you can adapt to a fast-paced environment and manage a high volume of enquiries effectively.
Tailor Your Application: Customize your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements mentioned in the job description. Mention your relevant qualifications, such as NVQ Level 3, and how they relate to the role of Customer Care Officer.
Express Your Initiative: In your application, illustrate your strong initiative to resolve issues. Provide examples of situations where you took the lead in solving customer problems, particularly in the context of revenues, benefits, and housing.
How to prepare for a job interview at South Gloucestershire Council
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your previous experience where you successfully resolved customer queries. Highlight your ability to empathize with customers and provide effective solutions.
✨Understand the Key Areas of Advice
Familiarize yourself with council tax, housing benefits, and homelessness support. Being knowledgeable about these topics will allow you to answer questions confidently and demonstrate your readiness for the role.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Adaptability
Since the role requires managing a variety of customer enquiries, be ready to discuss how you've adapted to changing priorities in past roles. Share examples that illustrate your ability to think on your feet.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions during the interview. Practice responding to hypothetical situations related to customer service challenges, focusing on your problem-solving skills and initiative.