Derbyshire County Council
Senior Welfare Benefits Officer
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Closing date: 11 October 2026
Senior Welfare Benefits Officer
(Crisis and Resilience Fund Project)
Grade 10: £36,591 - £40,008 (pro rata)
Location: Parkwood Centre, Alfreton (with some working from home available)
Closing date: Sunday 11 October 2026
Provisional interview date: Monday 23 October 2026
Job reference: JOB/26/02715
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Derbyshire Welfare Rights Service as a Senior Welfare Benefits Officer within our new Crisis Resilience Project. This specialist role will play a key part in helping carers and pension-age residents across Derbyshire maximise their income, improve their financial resilience, and access the support they are entitled to.
The Crisis Resilience Project is focused on supporting some of Derbyshire's most vulnerable residents, including older people and unpaid carers, who may be missing out on valuable welfare benefits and associated support. Through proactive welfare rights advice, detailed casework, and representation, the project will help residents navigate an increasingly complex social security system and improve their financial wellbeing.
Responsibilities
As a Senior Welfare Benefits Officer, you will:
- Manage a complex caseload involving some of the most challenging and rewarding welfare rights work.
- Provide specialist welfare benefits advice.
- Undertake detailed casework.
- Represent clients at appeal tribunals.
- Support residents through the resolution of complex benefit issues.
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Additional Responsibilities
In addition to your direct casework responsibilities, you will:
- Act as a senior specialist within the project, supporting the Team Manager in the day-to-day operation and development of the project.
- Undertake quality assurance activities, including file reviews.
- Provide guidance on complex cases.
- Support the professional development of colleagues through coaching, mentoring, and sharing best practice.
You will work closely with Welfare Benefits Officers who will deliver casework and appeal representation as part of the project, and Benefit Support Workers who will deliver casework to pension aged residents. Your role will include providing technical advice and leadership to colleagues, helping to ensure consistently high standards of service delivery and excellent outcomes for clients.
Requirements
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- Specialist welfare rights expertise.
- Excellent advocacy skills.
- A thorough understanding of social security legislation.
Significant experience of complex casework, and tribunal representation is essential. Experience of supporting older people, carers, disabled people, or other vulnerable groups would be particularly advantageous.
Desired Qualities
The successful candidate will demonstrate professional leadership by:
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- Sharing expertise.
- Supporting colleagues.
- Promoting quality standards.
- Contributing to the continuous improvement of the service.
We are looking for someone who:
- Takes ownership.
- Exercises sound judgement.
- Communicates confidently.
- Builds positive relationships while keeping the needs and dignity of clients at the centre of their work.
Additional Information
This role would suit an experienced welfare rights practitioner who enjoys problem solving, mentoring others, and using their specialist knowledge to make a meaningful difference to people's lives. It offers an excellent opportunity to combine technical expertise with leadership responsibilities while directly supporting some of Derbyshire's most vulnerable residents.
Travel across Derbyshire will be required as part of the role. Hybrid working arrangements will be considered subject to service need.
Note: This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check due to regular contact with vulnerable adults and/or children. A criminal record will not necessarily prevent appointment, as each case will be considered individually.
Please refer to the Job and Person Profile for full details of the knowledge, skills, and experience required. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate clearly within their personal statement how they meet each of the essential criteria.
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