Technical Officer (DFG)

Salary: Grade 5 £27,840 - £31,254
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 34-hours per week

About the Role

A unique opportunity has arisen for to help improving the health and welfare of the Borough’s residents. To help us achieve this aim we are looking for an enthusiastic and committed person to fill a Technical Officer Post that has become vacant.

The successful candidate will be part of a small team and be responsible for delivering disabled facility grants and loans to disabled and vulnerable persons. You will be required to survey homes, prepare schedules of work, inspect works for quality control and compliance with current regulations and assist in the processing of grant payments to contractors on completion of work.

You will also provide technical support to other officers and work closely with our in-house Home Improvement Agency.

This is a full-time, permanent position.

About Swale Borough Council

Swale Borough Council is a progressive and ambitious Local Authority, located less than an hour from Central London in an attractive and diverse part of Kent involving urban, rural, and coastal areas. We believe that staff are our most valuable asset and we’re committed to attracting and retaining the very best. In recent times we have adapted and evolved to meet the current world by introducing a highly flexible hybrid working policy, along with a 34-hour week, recognising that staff wellbeing and work life balance is high on our agenda.

Our Offer

A range of benefits including:

• 34 hour full time working week with the offices closing at 1:30pm on Friday
• Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities
• 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most role
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
• Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
• Free parking
• Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
• Annual flu vaccine
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role

About You

We are looking for a self-motivated team player with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively to both internal and external customers. Be qualified and/or significantly experienced in multi-trade disciplines, including supervisory experience and hold a relevant building qualification.

The successful candidate must have experience of problem solving, supervising and snagging building work in residential properties, ideally with experience dealing with disabled adaptions and installations.

Additionally, you will have regularly contact with the public, and therefore you will need a strong customer focus with the ability to communicate well both verbally and in writing. Numeracy and good organisation and administration skills are essential along with a good working knowledge of using IT systems.

You must have a full driving licence and the use of a car for which an allowance is provided.

Selection Process

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.

Swale Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment. This role will require a standard DBS check.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Glyn Pritchard, Private Sector Housing Manager on 01795 417233.

To apply for the position please visit awww.swale.gov.uk/jobs and complete the online application form or by phone on 01622 602555.

Closing date: 2 April 2024
Interview Date: 8 April onwards (date to be confirmed.)