Job responsibilities
The post holder will undertake a required amount of welfare benefit checks and financial assessments,
via a home visit, and office based assessment. Referrals to the Financial Assessment and Benefit Team
fall into the following criteria:
1 A welfare benefit check only.
2 A welfare benefit check and a financial assessment for non-residential services.
3 A welfare benefit check and a financial assessment for residential/ nursing services.
The post holder will ascertain a clients entitlement to all welfare benefits and complete applications on
behalf of the client. This will require the post holder to have an in-depth knowledge of the criteria, and
application process of all welfare benefit and how they link and attract additional welfare benefit
entitlement. The post holder will complete the welfare benefit applications ensuring it meets the
appropriate accreditation level for the Department for Work and Pensions.
The post holder will complete the financial declaration and ensure all appropriate verification is provided
for home visits, and triage office based financial assessments. The post holder will require an in-depth
knowledge of the current legislation and, have the ability to draft technical reports and letters to support
outcomes. The post holder is required to calculate, and give the initial outcome of the financial
assessment at the home visit where applicable.
The post holder is required to explain how a clients contribution to their care is calculated, aligning this
to the clients individual financial circumstances. The post holder is expected to work towards resolving
disputes by initially discussing the financial assessment with the client, to ensure that all financial
information has been captured and is correct within the assessment.
The post holder is required to explain, and signpost the customer to the statutory review process, and
the Corporate Complaints procedure should the dispute remain unresolved.
The post holder will be required on a weekly basis to evaluate both their Welfare Claims completion and
financial assessments, to monitor and evaluate the monetary effect.
The post holder is required to onward refer to the voluntary sector where it is identified that they would
benefit from additional support. An example of this would be to the CAB for debt management.
The post holder will require a good understanding of the functions of all other teams within Adult Social
Care, The Department for Work and Pensions and partner organisations.
The Post holder is required to use and have an in-depth understanding of specialist IT software which
includes The Department for Work and Pensions Customer Information System, Adult Social Care,
Care first systems and the Land Registry data base.
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
Preview all allocated Welfare Benefit Checks and Financial assessments using the DWP
customer Information system and Adult Social Care, Care first system, to establish a clients
current financial and social circumstances.
To drive to the clients home (throughout Wiltshire) to meet with the client, their families or official
representative. To ascertain any entitlement to Welfare Benefits, and undertake the claims
completion. To ensure there is a detailed understanding of all of the criteria for welfare benefits
including the process or procedure for an application whereby the client is terminally ill.
To carry out a financial assessment, collate and verify all income, savings, housing costs and
disability related expenditure to calculate a clients contribution towards their care. To notify the
client whilst in their home of their contribution to their care.
To undertake office based financial assessments, for those clients who do not require a home
visit.
To establish any other needs and make an onward referral to other teams within the Council or
the voluntary sector.
To input data into the Carefirst financial systems and calculate the clients contribution. To
produce a letter that details how the charge has been arrived out. To provide a clear and concise
explanation of the charging policies.
To monitor the award of those benefit applications that have been completed. To liaise with DWP
if the award is turned down, and outline the appropriate review/ appeal process with the client.
Once an award of benefit has been made, to re calculate the Financial assessment to take
account of this change.
To update the Carefirst financial system, by inputting this change and calculating the new
contribution. To produce a further letter to the client advising them of their new contribution to
their care. To provide a clear explanation of how the change has impacted on their contribution
towards their care.
If a client provides additional information of disability related expenditure, to review the financial
assessment and provided a new letter detailing the outcome.
To preview the clients personal information using DWP systems to ascertain that the client is in
receipt of all appropriate Welfare benefits. To notify the DWP that the client has moved to a
care/nursing home so that their welfare benefit entitlement may be amended to reflect this
change
To ascertain property ownership, using the land registry systems and put a copy of this ownership
into the Carefirst database.
To discuss the Deferred Payment agreement process and how to make an application for a
deferred payment agreement.
To notify business service Finance that the financial assessment has been completed.
To be the first point of contact for a range of queries for example from the client, their
representative, their official representative, Adult Social Care, Business Service Finance and
provider services.
To discuss any complex financial situations and assessments with a supervisor.
To raise a safeguarding alert where appropriate, and provide a financial overview for an early
strategy meeting
Specific requirements for this post:
To be a lone worker and adhere to the lone working policy
To have or require within three months of start date Department for work and Pensions
accreditation in all (23) welfare benefits
To have or require within six months a more in-depth understanding of the Care Act 2014,
and the Councils charging for care policies
To have a good understanding of the statutory review process, and The Corporate Complaints
procedure
