Financial Assessment & Inclusion Officer (Gr 6)

Job Family:
Delivery – Front Line – Process knowledge
Grade:
6
Job Title:
Financial Assessment and Inclusion Officer
Directorate:
Resources
Date:
06 August 2020
Version:
1:1

Role Profile - Details Specific to Job Family
These roles would be regarded as “front line” service delivery roles. Here, role holders are directly accountable for performance, often through the direct control of significant resources or through managed contracts. These roles may also deliver some of their results through collaborative working with co-producers or other third party agencies.
At the lower levels, operational managers may oversee a department or team and at the lowest levels, direct contact with service users will be a common feature of roles in this job family. At the higher levels, they may be in charge of a department, large operational area or the management of significant contracts and may be ultimately accountable for ensuring compliance with statutory obligations.
Role Profile - Details Specific to Grade
Operating with limited guidance or instructions so that initiative and judgement are needed to determine to address and resolve short term (daily) problems. Likely to supervise a small team, assessing workload and prioritising tasks for others.
Roles requiring a level of process expertise to deliver an advisory or supervisory service.
Brief Description of job role and department
The Shared Finance Service ambition is to add value, inspire success and this role is part of the Shared Finance Service (SFS) team collectively responsible for delivering SFS activities to realise
this ambition.
The Financial Assessment and Inclusion Team is responsible for the provision of a financial assessments and income maximisation service for all recipients of care services arranged by Adult Social Care. The team also administers, monitors and processes payments to care providers. This role carries out financial assessment, supports income collection of £5.6m including payments to care providers for contracts valued at £35m per annum.
As a Financial Assessments and Inclusion Officer, the post holder will have a key role in relation to safeguarding and joint working with Adult Social Care, will lead on service policy development and service improvement, and raise the profile of the service and ensure high levels of customer satisfaction. The post will also work flexibly across the Financial Assessment and Inclusion Team and the Financial Inclusion team during peak periods
Representative accountabilities

? Carry out independent but low risk interventions/assessments to identify customer needs or deliver services directly to customers.
? Assist more experienced colleagues in delivering complex service activities/assessments in order to meet or identify customer needs and develop own skills and experience.
? Provide advice and support to customers using Council procedures and policies.
? Where appropriate supervise the tasks and activities of other team members including prioritising and scheduling of work.
Budgetary accountabilities
? None
Specific accountabilities
Functional Responsibilities
? Maintain an extensive and up to date knowledge of statutory charging for residential care and non-residential charging policy and procedures, Government regulations and guidance, other associated welfare benefits and IT systems.
? Ensure Financial assessments in relation to users of care services are completed accurately and on time against set performance standards.
? Verifies benefit entitlement by liaising with officers from The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in accordance with joint working protocols
? Provides up to date money guidance management and welfare benefits advice to service users
? Assist in the calculation of overpayments and refers to the Accounts Receivable Team for recovery action
? Assist in Carrying out the Council’s Deferred Payment policy in relation to treatment of property as an asset when a person enters permanent residential care.
? Assist in the calculation of any accrued debt as a result of acceptance to the Deferred Payment Policy.
? Leads in the processing of payments to service users and providers including schedule payments to suppliers and liaises with ASC commissioning staff in the event of any issues that may make such payments non compliant.
? Carry out financial assessments to establish applicants’ eligibility for assistance with care fees. Determine the date from which the Council will assist, and calculate the contributions service users should make towards the cost, liaising with the Department of Work and Pensions and other agencies as required. Notify service users (or their appointees) and their care managers of the outcome of assessments. Provide advice on claiming state benefits such as Income Support and Universal Credit. Inform service users of the rules governing the end of eligibility to such benefits as Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payments.
? Maintains daily contact with customers (adopting a sympathetic but practical manner),who
may be distressed and vulnerable in sometimes difficult circumstances, to encourage them to discuss their financial difficulties
? Plan and create systems for reviews of care costs including as part of the annual financial health check conducted by Adult Social Care
? Reassesses service users’ contributions, notifying the service user and their financial representative as appropriate.
? Check, record and process invoices for payment in a prompt and accurate manner. Deal with related queries and general correspondence on a case-by-case basis.
? Create and maintain debtor accounts as necessary. Raise and issue invoices for services supplied. Raise and issue credit notes as required. Liaise with Income to reconcile accounts.
? Observe auditors’ requirements for payment processing, cash-handling etc.
? Assist with the compilation of statistics and performance indicators.

? Compiles accurate and timely file notes of all contact with customers, via Controcc, the LAS Management Systems and other recording systems with relevant information
? Assist in the budget monitoring process, including the production of financial management reports and the maintenance of spreadsheets.
? Keep abreast of legislation and guidelines issued by the Department of Work and Pensions, the Department of Health & Social Care and implement accordingly.
? Provide advice on policies and procedures to service users (and their appointees), the general public, RBK colleagues and other professionals by telephone, letter and in person. Resolve service users’ problems with state benefits claims (such as incorrect assessments), contacting the appropriate agencies as necessary.
? Visit service users to undertake benefit checks and complete claim forms as appropriate and
to assist service users in completion of financial assessment forms to ensure charges are made correctly in relation to the Council’s charging policy for care services
? Completes Financial Audit monitoring forms and collates all necessary financial documentation. Ensures that such information is appropriately shared and stored securely in accordance with the Council’s and the department’s policies and procedures.
? Is self-motivated, with the ability to work to strict deadlines with minimal supervision, maintaining a high degree of accuracy at all times
? Visit service users to undertake benefit checks and complete claim forms as appropriate and to assist service users in completion of financial assessment forms to ensure charges are made correctly in relation to the Council’s charging policy for care services
? Arrange and attend surgeries and drop in clinics to ensure benefits are maximised and financial assessment forms are completed correctly
? Liaise with DWP to ensure service users financial assessment information is maintained with up to date benefit income
? Ensure users are advised of the council’s charging policy and provide relevant information regarding policies and processes
Performance
? Consistently achieves performance targets and celebrates success with team
? To develop, update and act on Personal Development Plans as discussed and agreed with the Adult Social Care Finance Lead
? To take responsibility for own performance, taking a proactive stance to ensure performance meets or exceeds standards required of the service.
Partnership working
? Demonstrate strong support for the Shared Finance Service, inspiring team to deliver partnership working across both councils
? Interface directly with external and internal customers to manage delivery priorities, issues and challenges
? Engage and maintain excellent relationships with the Placements Team, Care Managers, Welfare Benefits Unit, Legal Services and other RBK departments to ensure first-class communication
? Develop partnerships with rent recovery, financial inclusion, and accounts receivable finance teams internal service, service providers including Citizens Advice Bureau; and welfare reform within strategic business. Establish referral links to agencies who can give practical support and legal financial advice.
? Actively engage in the organisation of meetings, workshops and other events as required
Person specification (knowledge, skills, experience and behaviours required in the role)
Education and/or Experience
? A minimum of 5 GCSEs (including English & Maths) or equivalent

? Experience of working in a customer-focused environment and achieving successful outcomes in areas such as financial assessments/money guidance/ debt /welfare benefit advice/ household budgeting or work in a similar finance field
? Knowledge of welfare benefits & planned welfare reforms e.g. Universal Credit
Desirable Knowledge and Experience
? Educated to Degree Level
? Member of the National Association of Financial Assessment Officers (NAFAO)
Capabilities and Behaviours
? Ability to clearly and effectively communicate verbally and in writing at all levels, with a good use of ‘plain english’
? Ability to deal with members of the public in a sympathetic and tactful manner, often in a stressful situation.
? Ability to monitor and calculate payments, able to prepare & present stats
? Ability to organise and prioritise a demanding workload,working effectively under pressure, demonstrating effective time management skills
? Ability to work as part of a team as well as using your own initiative with a high degree of self motivation
? Team player – able to inspire confidence and respect
? Ability to communicate effectively with customers and understand their needs, often in emotional and sensitive situations. Empathy & a good understanding of the issues faced by customers, e.g. vulnerable people
? Use proficient ICT skills including corporate communication systems (Google, Agresso. Anite etc) and recognise the benefits and the potential of new technology
? Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as may be required from time to time, including attending meetings outside normal working hours.
? Must be fit / mobile in order to visit people in their own homes and able to climb stairs
? To be fully aware of and understand the principles of safeguarding as they apply to vulnerable adults in relation to work role.
Mandatory accountabilities/requirements for all LBS staff e.g.
? Ensure all health and safety standards are adhered to for the relevant work area
? To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council’s Core Values and Equality and Diversity Policy and all other Borough and departmental policies and procedure
? Commits to the wellbeing of staff and actively promotes Health & Safety policies
? All duties should be carried out in an efficient, accurate and timely manner and in accordance with agreed procedures.
? To comply with the Council’s Code of Conduct and ensure all personal data is kept confidential in compliance with the Data Protection Act and that all relevant interests are declared to your line manager.

The role requires the officer to complete both residential and non residential financial assessments using Controcc and IAS (liquid Logic). Additionally, the officer will be required to assess welfare benefit entitlement.