Direct Payment Officer

An opportunity has arisen to join the Direct Payments team, initially on a fixed term basis to 30/11/27 while a review of business needs is undertaken. Officers start on grade six and progress to grade eight when they have evidenced they are ready to do so, which typically takes around nine months.

 The Direct Payments team works within adult social care in Dorset. Where a person requires care, they can elect to receive funding to source care for themselves to meet their eligible outcomes. The Direct Payments team advises on ways these funds can legitimately be used, and monitors the spend of each service user.  You will join a very supportive team who enable service users to retain a high level of control over their own care, with the aim of improving their outcomes.

Key responsibilities are detailed in the job description

You need to be a very organised, self-sufficient person, able to manage your own workload. You will have a capacity for learning about and applying rules and guidelines relating to how a service user may spend their direct payment, giving advice where required both to Dorset Council staff and service users or their families.  Training is given and support is always available and you will be continuously learning over an extended period as service users’ personal circumstances can be very varied, so you will be regularly coming across new situations.  As you come across situations you have dealt with before, you will be expected to become increasingly independent. This is a very busy role and communication is key, both internally and to the public, whether by email, letter or phone call. The post is based at County Hall in Dorchester, though the postholder may be able to work from home some of the time if they wish, once they have received their initial training.  At level 2 of the post, occasional visiting to service users may be required.

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.