Housing Income Officer

Job Description

Who we are:

MYSHON aims to support independent living for vulnerable adults, some who have mental health challenges, learning difficulties, alcoholism, drug addiction and physical disabilities: all within a domestic environment embedded into local communities to promote their independence, understanding that everyone is individual and may need tailored support.

What we do:

We employ a regional management team of housing support managers and officers and maintenance technicians who assist with tenant needs and the management of assets. We also have a network of trusted sub-contractors.

We partner with Care Providers who provide specialist support to tenants depending on their assessed needs, including helping them to maintain their tenancies, pay their bills, improve their wellbeing, and learn to manage day-to-day activities more independently.

Job Role:

Housing Income Officers (HIOs) work to support the housing support regional teams and finance teams to ensure maximum recovery of housing income, which is often through either Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. There will also be responsibilities for income management for care providers and our landlord clients.

Key tasks include ensuring Supported and Specialised Support Housing tenants Housing Benefit (HB) or Universal Credit (UC) claims are set up, liaising with Local Authority Housing Benefit teams or the DWP, as well as ensuring tenants adhere to agreed payment terms. Where the tenant has a shortfall in either HB or UC, or needs to pay a personal contribution – the Housing Income Officers will be responsible for ensuring this is paid regularly and in full.

Where all avenues of support and proactive interventions have been exhausted, the HIOs will support the regional housing team to take steps to recover monies through formal legal proceedings. The Housing Income Officers will also have responsibility for supporting Supported Exempt Accommodation and Specialised Supported Housing qualification processes, in support of the regional housing support teams.

Key responsibilities:

• Having excellent relationships with housing support regional teams, tenants/occupants and the relevant Housing Benefit departments in your region
• Ensuring tenants are receiving HB or UC payments from as soon as possible after they move in, to minimise their arrears position and maximise Myshon’s income
• Liaising with local authorities, DWP, and tenants to understand reasons for non-payment
• Speak with Housing Benefit teams to resolve issues with claims, suspensions, queries etc
• Deal with invoice/payment queries and communicate with the relevant dept to resolve
• Awareness of the key credit control, housing income collection and Housing Benefit processes
• Assessment of most appropriate solutions for recovery of rents
• Implementing necessary legal action to stimulate rent recovery
• Liaison with 3rd party solicitors where legal action required
• Complete regular aged debt reviews with the Head of Housing Income
• Lead fortnightly debt review calls with the regional housing and support team
• Working pro-actively and contributing ideas to improve income maximisation for clients
• Providing internal reporting on rent collection performance
• Assisting with associated administration activity

The above outlines the main duties and responsibilities of the position, however the position holder will be expected to undertake other duties from time to time as directed.

Skills (includes Key Competencies):

• Previous experience of working in the social or supported housing sector
• Prior experience of income collection and/or credit control
• Basic Microsoft Outlook, Word, Teams, and SharePoint skills
• Advanced Excel skills
• Good communication skills
• Microsoft Navision and/or Omniledger Pyramid experience desirable

Personal Qualities:

• Commitment and enthusiasm to Myshon and our mission and values
• Commitment to quality in all aspects of service delivery
• Commitment to equal opportunities
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimum guidance; confidence in taking the initiative, making decisions and consulting as appropriate.
• Ability to manage the delivery of detailed work
• Attention to detail
• Willing to be flexible and respond to changing circumstances
• Key attributes are an ability to demonstrate a flexible and positive ‘can do’ attitude and to become quickly established to add value to the business

Experience and Qualification:

• At least 2 years previous credit control experience
• 1 years accounting experience
• Good communicator and inter-personal skills
• Good organisational skills and can work in a methodical manner
• Time management skills

Desirable:

• Full driving licence and use of own vehicle
• Chartered Institute of Credit Management Qualification or Chartered Institute of Housing

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• 24 hour EAP Scheme
• A degree of hybrid working – to be negotiated
• Company pension
• Free parking
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Transport links

We offer a competitive salary plus a performance related bonus.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £24,000.00-£30,000.00 per year

Additional pay:

• Performance bonus

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• accounting: 1 year (required)
• credit control: 2 years (required)

Work Location: In person