Income Management Officer

Diversity And Inclusion At Riverside

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.

Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

Role Profile

• Support the delivery of the total debt management strategy through prevention, early intervention and effective arrears recovery strategies.
• Ensure prompt and effective outcomes in accordance with policy and procedure to apply the right intervention at the right time, working in collaboration with Early Intervention Officers, Housing Services and Tenancy Sustainment Services.
• Proactively manage customer contact including inbound and outbound calls, text messages and other digital channels to carry out effective debt collection and arrears prevention activity.
• Proactively manage customer accounts and use early intervention methods to minimise legal cases.
• Take an active role in case reviews to ensure all avenues are covered to prevent evictions.
• Ownership and management of legal stage cases.
• Ensure high quality court documentation and preparation, working in partnership with Housing Officers to achieve the desired outcome and prevent homelessness where possible.
• Risk assess all legal actions.
• Responsible for achievement of income performance targets; specifically relating to rent arrears recovery and other debts whilst working to sustain tenancies.
• Use digital channels of communication as appropriate, including the workflow management system, to escalate decisions and direct tasks to progress debt collection, tenancy sustainment and arrears prevention cases.
• Use data analysis, customer segmentation and profiling tools to identify likely payment patterns and target your contacts accordingly.
• Work in partnership with Housing teams to review total debt performance of Housing patches and agree the most appropriate action for customers where arrears are escalating.
• Provide supportive and meaningful advice to customers around welfare reforms and Universal Credit.
• Signposting where appropriate, to ensure customer understand debt collection requirements, consequences of non-compliance and additional support available from third parties.
• Carry out financial account activity, including taking payments, reviewing customer’s income and expenditure to set affordable payment plans to ensure effective debt collection in line with agreed processes.
• Identify vulnerable customers, particularly those who would benefit from an alternative payment arrangement, making a referral to the appropriate Housing Officer/tenancy sustainment team for a follow-up.
• Negotiate, agree, monitor and review affordable and sustainable payment plans with customers, in line with agreed policy and processes.
• Carry out appropriate checks, including welfare benefit checks, to ensure the appropriate course of action is followed.
• Liaise with Internal and external stakeholders as appropriate to ensure case management is progressed in line with agreed standards, timescales and targets.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of processes and procedures.
• Respond flexibly to any necessary changes in work priorities and undertake other duties when required to support the effective operation of the service.
• Ensure that all data protection requirements are met in accordance with the Group’s policy, procedures and statutory requirements.
• Ensure that health and safety requirements are met in accordance with the Group’s policy, procedures and statutory requirements.

Person specification

Essential

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Customer focused with excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, showing the ability to meet the needs of a varied customer base.
• Experience of working in a housing environment.
• Effective negotiation skills, managing business and customer requirements to a mutually agreeable solution.
• Proven track record of problem solving.
• Ability to remain calm in a pressurised environment.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to work under pressure, deliver to strict deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.
• Excellent team player who can work flexibly to meet business requirements.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a debt collection call centre.

About Us

Riverside is one of the UK’s leading not-for-profit social housing and regeneration organisations, owning or managing around 75,000 homes from Irvine to Kent. We are a leading provider of supported housing services, particularly for those affected by homelessness, and our track record of transforming lives and revitalising neighbourhoods dates back over 90 years. We have plans to build over 15,000 affordable homes over the next decade.

Our Values and Behaviours

Creating an Inclusive Environment