Personal Budgets Support Worker

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About the role

To ensure that disabled people, carers and families living in West Northamptonshire and for Children across the County, who are in receipt of a Personal Budget (Direct Payment) have the information, advice and support they require to enable them to manage their budget effectively to achieve their target outcomes.  This will include advice and technical support services for those wanting to employ their own support staff.

The role includes visits to Services User's homes therefore requires access to a vehicle and a full driving licence.

What will you be doing?

You will be supporting Service Users and/or their families to manage their Personal Budget (Direct Payment).  This will include completing payroll documents for those wishing to employ a PA, visiting them in their own home, helping with recruitment and advising them on employment law, HMRC and Pension Regulator requirements to ensure they are compliant.    

Promoting Direct Payments and, along with the care team, ensuring this is the best option for the service user.  Advising the care teams on employment queries.  

Ensuring the PBSS database and Adult Social Care systems are kept up to date and are accessed appropriately to obtain information.  

Additional duties that may be needed in order for the team to function correctly.

About you

You will be an organised person who enjoys face to face interactions with Service Users both in the office and in their own homes but also competent with conversing through emails and by phone.  You will have knowledge of employment law or will be willing and able to learn.   You have a good eye for detail and can work accurately and timely.

You will be a good team player who can also work well independently.  You will have a good understanding of data protection and confidentiality and a quick learner. 

You are able to work with all types of people at all levels and enthusiastic about helping people, demonstrating awareness and understanding of other people's needs.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU  

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.