Leeds City Council
Team Leader
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Team Leader – Welfare Rights Service
Salary: £39,862 – £42,839 (PO2) Hours: 37 hrs per week Contract: Permanent Location: Merrion House, 1st Floor West, 110 Merrion Centre, LS2 8BB (with hybrid working in place)
About the Role
Leeds City Council is seeking an experienced and motivated Team Leader to join its Welfare Rights Service. This is an exciting opportunity for a leader with strong welfare benefits expertise and a passion for delivering high-quality customer-focused advice to residents across Leeds.
As Team Leader, you will provide day-to-day leadership to a team of Welfare Rights Workers, ensuring accurate, accessible, and responsive support. You will work closely with the Section Manager to enhance service excellence, drive operational improvements, and deliver positive outcomes for citizens.
This role includes revenue budget management, people management, quality standards, and partnership working across the council and external bodies.
Key Responsibilities
Service Delivery & Improvement
- Lead and support a busy frontline welfare advice team while ensuring compliance with safeguarding, data protection, and council policies.
- Deliver specialist welfare benefits guidance, monitor performance targets, and evaluate service outcomes.
- Contribute to service planning and operational efficiency initiatives to improve customer satisfaction.
- Produce, maintain, and analyse statistical and management information for reporting and decision-making.
- Design and deliver training materials, conduct workshops, and provide welfare benefits consultancy to staff and stakeholders.
Staff Management & Development
- Supervise, mentor, and develop team members while promoting wellbeing, fairness, and performance.
- Conduct performance reviews, appraisals, and attendance management in line with council procedures.
- Foster a supportive working environment, encouraging equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
- Ensure compliance with DSE requirements, lone working policies, and workplace risk assessments.
- Deputise for the Section Manager as required and represent the team across the organisation.
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Operational & Strategic Support
- Collaborate with internal teams, partner agencies, and external organisations to refine service delivery.
- Review and improve operational processes while maintaining budgetary controls.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislative changes in welfare benefits and communicate updates to staff.
- Champion continuing professional development and ensure staff accessibility to manager-level guidance.
About You
We are looking for an experienced professional who is:
- Confident, empathetic, and customer-focused, with a commitment to service excellence.
- Passionate about supporting residents and improving social welfare outcomes.
- Capable of leading a team in a fast-paced environment with strong decision-making and conflict-resolution skills.
Essential Requirements
Skills
- Proven experience leading and managing a team effectively.
- Ability to handle sensitive enquiries and complex cases with discretion.
- Exceptional performance management and objective-setting abilities.
- Strong ability to prepare reports, analyse statistical data, and present insights clearly.
- Discretion and ability to confidentiality with sensitive information.
- Flexibility to adapt to changing operational demands.
Knowledge & Qualifications
- Extensive knowledge of welfare benefits and welfare rights legislation.
- Familiarity with welfare reforms and alternative benefits systems.
- Understanding of public sector frameworks, HR policies, and financial procedures.
- Minimum Grade C/4 GCSE in English and Maths (or equivalent).
- Preference for complementary qualifications in welfare rights, social work, or similar.
Experience
- Manual, hands-on experience leading teams in customer-facing environments.
- Experience improving service delivery through process audits and staff upskilling.
- Experience with budget management (including public sector financial oversight).
- Experience managing budgets securely within legal and ethical boundaries.
- Direct experience in social welfare, advice agencies, and/or council-facing roles.
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Behavioral & Commitment Characteristics
- Aligns with Leeds City Council Values and promotes a supportive culture.
- Committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and takes a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination.
- Able to challenge unfair practices and escalate concerns appropriately.
- Demonstrates continuous learning and adaptability in fast-evolving environments.
What We Offer
Leeds City Council is dedicated to fostering a positive work environment with competitive benefits:
- Guaranteed £39,862 – £42,839 salary (complete with annual leave and statutory holidays).
- Access to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, with generous employer contributions.
- Flexible hybrid working, subject to service demands and operational needs.
- Structured career progression and training opportunities.
- A comprehensive range of personal benefits, including:
- Financial support, including disposable income initiatives.
- Tools to improve wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Clear equity, fairness, and equality practices.
How to Apply
- Complete the online application form through the council recruitment portal.
- For guidance, consult Leeds City Council’s Application Policy or additional resources.
- For informational discussions or questions, contact: Diane Coombes (Diane.Coombes@leeds.gov.uk) Telephone: 0113 378 8394
Pre-employment Checks:
- DBS (Enhanced disclosure) will be conducted on shortlisted candidates, with scope for slapped barring list checks as appropriate.
Diversity & Accessibility: We welcome a diverse pool of candidates and actively encourage applications from:
- Women, carers, veterans, LGBT+ individuals.
- Ethnic minorities, disabled applicants, and care-experienced professionals.
Right to Work: Applicants must confirm their UK work eligibility, either as UK citizens, Irish nationals, settlement scheme participants, or with an appropriate work visa. Participants may also apply who meet the £41,700 Skilled Worker Visa salary threshold.
Note: Additional duties as required within team-grade responsibilities.
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