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- Tasks: Ensure timely payment of fees for Adult Social Care and support debt recovery efforts.
- Company: Surrey County Council, committed to workforce development and community support.
- Benefits: 26-31 days holiday, pension, remote work, and wellbeing discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in debt recovery and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Hybrid working with excellent career growth and training opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 30800 - 41000 £ per year.
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
This permanent role has a starting salary of £36,873 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week. We have a great opportunity to join our Financial Assessment & Income Collections Team as a Debt Recovery Officer. The team is located in various sites across the county and your preferred location can be discussed at interview. This role is open to hybrid working and as a team we split our time between working from home and collaborating in the office.
Our Offer to You:
- 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
- A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.
About the Role:
You will play a critical role in ensuring that all fees and charges due to the Council, for the provision of Adult Social Care and support services, are paid by residents when due. The Debt Recovery Officer will ensure overdue care charges are minimised, secured and facilitate the various options available to the council. Where necessary, and only once all other reasonable attempts to support individuals to make payment have failed, you will pursue overdue sums using Money Claims Online or coordinate referrals through to the council's litigation team. In this role you will also support training delivery to staff on debt recovery procedures and raise awareness of Adult Social Care's debt prevention strategy with internal stakeholders. We embrace supportive technology to work inclusively and continuously improve customer engagement and deliver positive outcomes.
Your Application:
- Ability to prioritise your workload and be able to respond to work pressures
- Experience of debt prevention, recovery and pre-action procedures within an organisation
- Effective communications skills within a challenging environment
- Examples of when you have had a positive outcome to prevent a debt from accruing and what you did to achieve this?
- Knowledge of the charging principles for social care services
- Part of this role will involve facilitating training sessions and workshops across the county, therefore a willingness and ability to travel around the county will be required
Application Questions:
- Please tell us how you ensure you effectively prioritise your workload, including how you respond to work pressures?
- Please evidence your experience of debt prevention and recovery procedures within an organisation?
- Please provide examples for when you have had a positive outcome to prevent a debt from accruing and what you did to achieve this?
- Please give an example of a time when a service user disputed their care debt and the steps you took to resolve it?
- Please evidence any knowledge you may have of the charging principles for social care services?
Contact us:
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact Zara Wield or Sally Brice on MS Teams or via email.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR):
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
Debt Recovery Officer in Reigate employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Debt Recovery Officer in Reigate
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to colleagues and connections within Surrey County Council. They might have insights or even inside info on the Debt Recovery Officer role that could give you an edge.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of debt recovery procedures. Think of real-life examples where you've successfully prevented debt from accruing – this will show you're the right fit for the team!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to highlight your communication skills! This role involves working in a challenging environment, so be ready to discuss how you've effectively communicated with stakeholders in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and making a difference in our community.
We think you need these skills to ace Debt Recovery Officer in Reigate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Debt Recovery Officer. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Experience: When answering the application questions, provide specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your experience in debt prevention and recovery. We want to see how you've successfully handled similar situations before!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your responses clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured answers that directly address the questions asked. Avoid fluff and focus on what really matters to us.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our official website! This ensures that we receive all your details correctly and helps us keep track of your application efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on debt recovery procedures and the charging principles for social care services. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just interested in the role, but that you understand its importance.
✨Prepare Real-Life Examples
Think of specific instances where you've successfully prevented debt from accruing or resolved disputes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. This will help you articulate your experience clearly and effectively.
✨Show Your Communication Skills
Since this role involves training others and dealing with challenging situations, practice how you'll communicate your ideas. Be ready to demonstrate your ability to handle difficult conversations and explain complex information in a simple way.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some questions about the team dynamics, hybrid working arrangements, and the council's approach to debt recovery. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
