At a Glance
- Tasks: Support tenants in financial difficulties and help recover arrears while providing excellent customer service.
- Company: Join Westmorland and Furness Council, a supportive and community-focused organisation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and various perks.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives and strengthen your community.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and experience in income recovery or social housing.
The predicted salary is between 36363 - 37280 £ per year.
Location: Barrow
Contract Type: Permanent
About this opportunity
Following an exciting restructure of our Housing Team, we are delighted to offer several new opportunities — including this rewarding role within our Housing Landlord Service. If you are proactive, enthusiastic, and motivated to make a real difference, and you enjoy working with and supporting customers, this could be the perfect role for you. This role sits within our Income Recovery Team. The team plays a crucial role in recovering arrears, often acting as the first point of contact for tenants facing financial difficulties. The post holder will prevent arrears escalation, provide advice, negotiate payment arrangements, and initiate legal action when necessary, including preparing and presenting cases at court in order to recover possession where required. They will also work with other internal and external agencies to ensure sustainable resolutions and prevent the recurrence of arrears.
In this role, you will:
- Deliver a comprehensive customer‑centred service to tenants to maximise rental income and minimise arrears.
- Provide advice to housing tenants to assist in the prevention of housing‑related debt, promote tenancy sustainment and tenant wellbeing, and react to queries to achieve a resolution.
- Liaise with internal colleagues and external services to deliver solutions, remove barriers, and ensure sustainable resolutions for tenants.
- Represent the council in taking necessary legal action to recover possession where required, including preparing cases and completing relevant paperwork for court in line with policy.
Who we are looking for
- Excellent communicator on all levels with a strong ability to listen and build effective and meaningful relationships, including developing partnerships with external agencies.
- Organised and able to work to deadlines, prioritise workload to ensure these are met and work is completed effectively.
- Team‑oriented and able to foster good working relationships both within and between teams.
- Possesses excellent IT skills and ability to use IT systems.
- Knowledgeable about housing services, particularly within social housing and the wider issues that impact on this.
- Experienced working in a role that involves income recovery or transactional analysis.
- Experienced in working with vulnerable people with complex needs and able to demonstrate understanding and empathy in delivering a customer‑focused service.
Why join us
- Play a direct role in improving lives and strengthening communities.
- Work in a positive, supportive, and flexible environment.
- Help shape and grow an exciting and impactful service.
- Access opportunities for ongoing learning and professional development.
What we can offer you
Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discount schemes. For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site.
Whilst this post is based in Barrow, you must have the ability to travel efficiently around the Westmorland and Furness area to conduct visits and attend meetings. Please note that the postholder will be required to work from the office location in Barrow in Furness to carry out this role.
Safer recruitment & DBS
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all workers to share our commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and requires a standard DBS check. Note: this role involves working with regulated activity with adults and/or children. It is an offence for people barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require unsupervised work with adults and/or children.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences. As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria of this job are guaranteed an interview. We also offer guaranteed interviews to armed forces personnel, veterans, and those in care or cared for, and under 24 years old, that meet the essential criteria for the role.
Housing Officer- Income Recovery - WMF2881e employer: The Cumbria County Council
At Westmorland and Furness Council, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values the contributions of our staff in making a real difference in the community. Our supportive and flexible work environment fosters professional growth, offering ongoing learning opportunities and a range of benefits including a competitive pension scheme and enhanced annual leave. Located in Barrow, you will be part of a dedicated team focused on improving lives and strengthening communities, all while enjoying a culture that promotes diversity and inclusion.
Contact Details:
The Cumbria County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Officer- Income Recovery - WMF2881e
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the housing sector, attend local events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. 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 common questions related to income recovery and housing services. Practice your responses, focusing on your experience with vulnerable people and how you've successfully resolved issues in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your communication skills! During interviews, be sure to highlight your ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with both tenants and external agencies. This is key for a Housing Officer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Westmorland and Furness Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Housing Officer- Income Recovery - WMF2881e
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Housing Officer role. We want to see how you can make a real difference in income recovery and tenant support!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:As a Housing Officer, excellent communication is key. Use your application to demonstrate your ability to listen and build relationships, especially with vulnerable individuals. Let us know how you've done this in the past!
Be Organised and Clear:When writing your application, keep it organised and to the point. We appreciate clarity and structure, so make sure your points are easy to follow and relevant to the job description.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Cumbria County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Housing Officer in Income Recovery. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities, such as managing arrears and liaising with tenants. Research the council's policies on housing services to show that you're genuinely interested and informed.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As this role requires excellent communication, prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with customers or colleagues in the past. Think about times when you’ve built relationships or resolved conflicts, as these will demonstrate your ability to connect with tenants facing financial difficulties.
✨Demonstrate Empathy and Understanding
Since you'll be working with vulnerable people, it's crucial to convey empathy during your interview. Share experiences where you've supported individuals with complex needs, highlighting your understanding of their situations and how you helped them find solutions.
✨Prepare for Legal Scenarios
Be ready to discuss how you would handle legal actions related to income recovery. Brush up on the basics of preparing cases for court and any relevant legislation. This will show that you’re not only proactive but also knowledgeable about the legal aspects of the role.
