Grants Officer (Disabled Facility Grants)

Class 1 Personnel are currently recruiting for Grants Officer at Newcastle Under Lyme for a 3 month on-going contract 

Working hours: 37 hours

Location: Newcastle Under Lyme

Key Responsibilities:

Ensure that the client understands and is kept informed of all procedures and practices involved with their particular circumstances.
To visit clients in their own homes, providing the required level of advice and information, maintaining regular contact with them at each stage of the case.
Book appointments to visit applicants in their own homes to complete all DFG application forms, and financial means test forms and collect confidential and sensitive personal financial and health data from applicants and keep this secure at all times. Examine and interrogate financial data and where necessary challenge information in order to prevent fraudulent grant applications being made.  Use software packages to conduct means testing for DFG applicants.
Participate in on-site scheme feasibility studies to ascertain how best to adapt a property to meet an applicant’s needs; this will require problem solving skills in order to offering constructive suggestions regarding problems encountered.
Communicate clearly, concisely and effectively on the telephone and in person with disabled applicants, their parents, partners, relatives or other nominated representatives, Occupational Therapists, Contractors, Utility providers, surveyors, engineers, solicitors, and any other relevant persons or professional body in connection with DFGs.
Process invoices for payment and raise fee requests, raise invoices for the service, maintain and update software systems for monitoring disabled facilities grants.
Identify other areas of help which may be needed by, or available to, the client such as alternative accommodation, or home care and ensure that necessary services are applied for on behalf of the client.
Ensure all stages of work are monitored, including supervision of work on site and satisfactory completion.
Seek out estimates for work evaluating these and ensure proper contractual agreements are made between the client and the contractor.
Process and check grant applications to ensure they are full and complete and recommend applications for approval.
To work collaboratively with registered providers and private landlords relating to agreeing and progressing schemes in their properties.
Maintain good ICT skills in order to accurately update and maintain databases and systems.General:

 To be aware of and comply with Health and Safety Regulations and the Borough Council’s Health and Safety policy and procedures as they relate to the duties and responsibilities of the post.
 To be proactive in personal and professional development, updating knowledge of legislation and good practice, training and skills by appropriate means as agreed annually through the Council’s Performance Appraisal Scheme.
 To maintain awareness of risks and incorporate these into the formal risk management process and also to control the risks inherent in your job and report any risk concerns to your manager.
 To produce any performance information required in a reliable, timely and accurate way, in accordance with the Council’s Data Quality Policy.
To be aware of and adhere to the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
To undertake any other duties as may be reasonably allocated to the post holder commensurate with the grading and responsibilities of the post. (Where necessary, reasonable adjustments will be made in accordance with the Equality Act).
To be familiar with the obligations and requirements of the Council's information security and data protection policies and procedures as they apply to the post, ensuring that confidential and sensitive data used by the post holder is held securely and personal data is obtained, processed and disclosed only in accordance with the principles and requirements of the Data Protection Acts.
 To be aware of and adhere to the Council’s Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk of Abuse and Neglect Policy.Requirements:
       Enhanced DBS with Adult's barred list