Income Adviser Apprentice

Job introduction

Would you like the chance to start a career in account management?  Plus earn whilst you learn and gain a Level 2 qualification?

You will join our friendly credit control team within Housing in offering a fair and inclusive service to our customers whilst being supported on the Credit Controller & Collector Level 2 apprenticeship to develop your skills and apply your learning in the role.

You will receive all the benefits and opportunities of being an employee of Brighton & Hove City Council, one of the City’s largest employers including flexible working which is supported where possible, local government salary-related pension offered, a child care voucher scheme as well the benefits of gaining staff discounts around the City and through many of the UK’s largest retailers and accessing other services. As an Apprentice you are also eligible to gain an apprentice NUS card and can take advantage of the Catch the bus4work scheme and bus travel discounts with Brighton & Hove buses. See https://www.buses.co.uk/students

Brighton & Hove City Council’s Temporary Accommodation Team are responsible for providing temporary accommodation to homeless households within the city, and the Credit Control Team are responsible for managing the rent accounts for these households. 

We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual with good communication and teamwork skills to join our busy and dynamic team. In the role you will gain your Level 2 Credit Controller and Collector apprenticeship qualification whilst working at the Council.

The Credit Control apprenticeship at level 2 is run by CSA Training who is responsible for supporting you with your learning and carrying out assessments. You will learn all the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the apprenticeship standard and once you are competent in all these areas, you will take an End Point Assessment before successfully completing. You will receive support from a nominated mentor throughout the duration of the Apprenticeship.

Our current apprentice, Hinesh, who now has a permanent role at the council, says:
“The apprenticeship has been invaluable for me for many reasons. Having moved into the public sector for the first time this has enabled me to transition effectively into the council's culture and ways of working, and I have been able to progress in my role and course with the knowledge and skills that I have learned since being in the council. I am also grateful for the extensive support from Rob and the team, as well as the opportunities I have been given, most of all being able to continue within the council in a new role.”

For an informal discussion, please contact Rob Glaister – Housing Options Manager (Credit Control Team) – rob.glaister@brighton-hove.gov.uk

About the role

This apprenticeship offers the opportunity to learn how to work within a busy front line service which offers temporary accommodation to homeless households within the city.

Apprentices will gain knowledge including account managing as well as housing legislation and welfare benefits and will learn how to provide customers with advice and assistance to prevent and manage debt. You will also learn how to carry out financial health checks, and how to assist very vulnerable tenants and refer them to support services.

The work can be very varied and interesting and a great introduction to the Housing Needs service offered by Brighton and Hove City Council. The successful candidate will learn how to liaise with other teams and services and will build excellent working relationships. You will also learn valuable administration functions using a wide variety of software packages and improve your communication skills.

Credit Control is a supportive and friendly team who all work together to get the best outcomes for our customers. The team value apprentices and the new ideas they bring and have experience of supporting them through the programme and into potential further employment, whether in the service or in the wider council.

Delivery of the apprenticeship will include online workshops as well as other learning, and further details will be provided.

Hear what our other apprentices have to say by watching this video: Apprenticeships - why we love ours! - YouTube 

Entry Requirements
Please see the Essential Criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the Job Description for the particular requirements of this role.
Functional Skills

All Level 2 apprenticeships: Apprentices without evidence (a certificate) of Level 1 English and Maths will need to achieve this level prior to completing training. You will also be required to take an English and Maths assessment prior to a formal offer being made. For apprentices at all levels with formally recognised special educational needs, learning difficulties or disabilities who struggle to achieve the regular English and / or Maths minimum requirement due to the nature of their difficulty or disability achievement at entry level 3 functional skills in English and / or Maths will be accepted.

Interviews commencing W/C 3rd April 2023

Start date: 22nd May 2023 TBC

Please note, your application will be shared with the training provider and an informal interview may take place with them to confirm eligibility prior to an offer being confirmed

Please declare your qualifications in the application as this may affect eligibility.
The duration of the apprenticeship will be up to 15 months.

NB. This may be amended should you have any applicable prior learning, and your contract will end on successful completion of the apprenticeship

Please read our Apply for a job at the council (brighton-hove.gov.uk) pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to complete your education and work history and provide answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as they will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Shortlisting questions guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

Work Permits: This role does not meet the requirement for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System. Successful candidates will need to evidence that they have the Right to Work in the UK.

In order to apply for an apprenticeship, you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years on the first day of the apprenticeship (or this includes EEA for UK or EEA Nationals with pre-settled or Settled Status) or have some other residency eligibility status. Please see Annex A of the latest employer funding rules: Apprenticeship funding rules - GOV.UK  for a full list of residency categories and locations

If you are resident through a visa, leave to remain or other means please confirm type and that any expiry date covers the duration of the apprenticeship once it is due to start. Those on a student visa or non-UK/non EEA nationals who have been here in the last three years for other educational purposes may not be eligible. For further information regarding apprenticeship eligibility please see Annex A of the latest employer funding rules: Apprenticeship funding rules - GOV.UK.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).