Grant Support Officer

About the role

The successful candidate will:

• Assist the Disabled Facilities Grants Team in Private Sector Housing, with the day-to-day operational delivery of grant administration for the provision of mandatory adaptation grants.
• Provide advice and support primarily to clients but also to contractors and Occupational Therapists.

What will you be doing?

Principal responsibilities

• Utilise [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] (NNC) PSH Policy to provide grants.
• Acknowledge receipt of new referrals from the Occupational Therapists.
• Acknowledge receipt of new Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) enquiry forms and record electronically.
• Carry out an initial means test using the FERRET software system.
• Send out formal applications via post and on email as required.
• Liaise with applicants and other parties throughout the application process and ensure that they are kept fully informed of progress at all stages of the process. This may include visits to applicants’ homes, as required.
• Take responsibility for DFGs that require equipment installations. Issue tender documents, carry out tender analyses, liaise with approved contractors and assist with ensuring work is progressed in a timely manner.
• Carry out inspections to verify equipment works are completed to specification in association with the Private Sector Housing Surveyor as required.
• Arrange payment for works to contractors once all relevant parties have signed off approvals.
• Maintain accurate electronic records at all stages of all grant applications on Uniform and on Teams.
• Provide data and information to the Disabled Facilities Grant Manager as requested, for regular reporting and performance monitoring purposes.
• Maintain up to date databases of contractors and other spreadsheets as and when required.
• Assist in the production and population of payment spreadsheets and the reconciliation of grant payments against ERP transaction reports, for auditing purposes.
• Provide assistance for any other statistical reports needed for performance monitoring and statutory returns.
• Assist in the promotion of Disabled Facilities Grants.
• Assist with other Private Sector Housing team members, as and when required dependent on service needs, with issues such as energy enquiries and general administration of the wider service.
• Assist in the development and implementation of software packages within the department.

About you

• Education, Qualifications and Training: Essential - Educated to GCSE standard Grade C or above (or equivalent) in Maths and English, or equivalent experience. Minimum of 5 GCSEs. Desirable - Qualifications or training in customer care or customer service/NVQ Level 2 Business Administration/RSA II or equivalent. Educated to diploma or higher national level (or equivalent) or relevant equivalent experience. Membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing or equivalent in a related professional body.
• Experience and Knowledge: Essential - Experience of working in a customer focussed environment. Demonstrable previous experience of working with others on projects including liaison with contractors. Proven experience of working with and understanding vulnerable clients and their differing needs, adapting approach when dealing with clients with different disabilities to ensure that they have fair access to the service. Experience in operating within an office environment following procedures/processes. Ability and willingness to provide organised and timely administrative support. An understanding of service performance and risk management. An understanding of procurement and best value procedures and financial regulations. Desirable - Working knowledge of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) legislation and the process of validating DFG applications.
• Ability and Skills: Essential - Able to process technical and financial information. Able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and manage/prioritise own workload. Ability to work to tight deadlines and be flexible in work approaches. Demonstrate excellent communication skills level of written and oral communication and IT user skill. Possess good keyboard skills for data inputting. Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with a wide range of customers, stakeholders, and partners. Ability and willingness to travel around the county, including at short notice. Desirable - Use of Uniform or FERRET software systems.
• Equal Opportunities: Essential - Ability to demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs.
• Additional factors: Essential - Demonstrate an understanding of the safe working practices that apply to this role. Full driving licence and access to a car for work or ability to travel throughout the Borough. Willing to work outside normal office hours as required.

Our benefits

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process. The council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 and holds silver status for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We aim to be carbon neutral by 2030.