Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is passionate about providing high-quality services to our communities, residents and businesses. This means we must employ and retain the most talented and dedicated people.
Situated within the heart of the Cambridge-Peterborough Growth Area, Huntingdonshire is a beautiful district that boasts thriving market towns and many attractive villages, each with its own identity. We are an innovative and forward-thinking local authority whose residents are at the heart of our decision-making.
At HDC we want to employ staff who embody our icare values (Inspiring, Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Enterprising), all of which support our ultimate purpose of putting our customers first.
Job details
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Resident Advice and Information Team for an enthusiastic, passionate and conscientious individual to work directly with our customers as part of the Resident Advice Team.
Working specifically with residents who are in receipt of a FIT note, the successful candidate will receive direct and indirect referrals in relation to residents of Huntingdonshire who are experiencing or who are at risk of crisis caused by their financial situation, poor physical or mental health, unemployment, relationship breakdown or homelessness.
You will work as part of a team and be allocated a caseload to manage which will include communicating with the customer by email, letter, phone and face-to-face appointments. Listening to the issues that the customer is experiencing, you will work with them to agree on a plan that details the actions that will be taken by the individual as well as any signposting and referrals that will be made.
The plan will be monitored, and the impact of the interventions recorded and reported as part of the performance management framework.
About the role
The District Council is committed to improving the quality of life of our residents and we believe we are able to do this in many ways. Customers contact the council for many reasons, and it is important that we use this opportunity to ensure that they are aware of the many offers of help and support that are available to them via the council.
We want to be able to identify when a resident is at risk of a crisis situation and react effectively and appropriately to prevent an escalation. Residents may have heard about the service directly or been referred and once in contact, it is an opportunity to understand what the issues are that need to be tackled, agree on a set of solutions and act upon them.
Remaining in regular contact with your caseload, you will liaise with internal and external services and organisations, complete and submit referrals, share information in line with our procedures and complete performance data so the effectiveness of the interventions can be monitored.
About you
We are looking for enthusiastic, patient and sympathetic individuals who are keen problem solvers. You will be understanding and have excellent communication skills, ensuring that the customer feels at ease and is encouraged to engage in the support that is being offered. Able to work as part of a team on a flexible rota as well as be able to work independently and make recommendations based on the information that you have available.
Recognising the importance of personal data, you will share information appropriately and in line with the procedures that we have in place as well as have the confidence to raise concerns when you believe there may be a risk.
An individual who genuinely cares about making a difference and improving the outcomes for the residents that you are working with.
The team is based at Pathfinder House, Huntingdon alongside CAB and you will be required to work from the office 5 days a week to enable closer working relationships with internal services as well as being able to participate in face-to-face meetings and appointments.
Due to the nature of the role, the successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
An offer of employment is conditional upon having the right to work in the UK. Huntingdonshire District Council does not hold a Sponsorship Licence and are unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or take over sponsorship for any role.
View the job description [PDF, 0.2MB].
Apply
The closing date is 9am 4 October 2024 and interviews will be held the week commencing 7 October 2024.
For many of our roles (and where it is possible) we are currently working remotely and anticipate in the future returning to a hybrid office model on a flexible basis. This will still include work-from-home and flexi-time opportunities to provide a good work-life balance whilst ensuring that teams benefit from in-person interaction. Candidates should therefore be within commutable distance of our offices in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire or able to attend meetings as required if further afield.
Should you have any additional questions regarding submitting an application, please contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@huntingdonshire.gov.uk.
Please note that the official closing date is as above, and will be the correct date. Some third-party websites may have different dates. Please refer to the HDC website for the official closing date to ensure you do not miss out on applying.
Working for the council
As an employer who values diversity of thought, we seek to employ candidates from a range of backgrounds in order to make our organisation more innovative. We are seeking candidates who are looking for their next career opportunity and are supportive employers, enabling our staff to work in an environment that produces high standards of work in an employee-led environment.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our recruitment and along with our values we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment, where diversity is valued and there is equality of opportunity. We therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community and we offer a range of benefits, including flexitime, to encourage a work-life balance.
View our benefits.