We have an excellent opportunity for a Welfare Assessments Advisor to join our Income & Assessments team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a Full-Time, 2-Year Fixed–Term Contract.
As Welfare Assessments Advisor, you will act as a key point of contact for residents seeking support with welfare benefits, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and other statutory and discretionary schemes. Working in partnership with the Senior Welfare Advisor and collaborating across multiple teams within the Local Authority, you will ensure seamless delivery of excellent customer service to our residents and customers.
You'll work efficiently in partnership with other agencies, contractors, and organisations—including the Department for Works & Pensions, Citizens Advice Bureau, and charitable organisations—navigating conflicting or complementary agendas to work effectively in unison. This includes making routine autonomous decisions with confidence and professionalism while participating in solution-based actions that encourage quality and cooperation.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a collaborative, motivated professional with experience in welfare benefits environments, strong customer care skills, and the ability to work empathetically with people at all levels within and outside the organisation.
Staff Benefits
Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:
- Generous Annual Leave – 27 days annual leave (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- GP Helpline - Available 7 days a week
- Employee Assistance Programme - Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline
- Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines
- Free Onsite Gym - Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham
- Local & Lifestyle Discounts - Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more
- Move through Menopause Course
- Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more
- Learning & Development Opportunities
Key Responsibilities
- Provide an expert service to residents in the areas of Welfare Benefits (including Housing Benefit), and other statutory and discretionary benefits, schemes, and options.
- Providing advice and input to the delivery of excellent customer service working with other teams with the Local Authority to provide seamless services to customers.
- Process concessionary fares applications
- Support the administration of Housing Benefit & Council Tax Reduction claims
- Respond to the needs of vulnerable residents and where necessary make appropriate connections and referrals for additional services and support
- Provide comprehensive and effective communication via, for example, letter, memo, action plans, case records, email, and phone
- To take responsibility for own performance, taking a proactive stance to ensure meets or exceeds standards expected in the service
Candidate Requirements
- Educated to Good GCSE standard (5 x Grades A -C or equivalent)
- Experience of working within a Welfare Benefits Environment
- Excellent IT Skill (MS Office Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Strong Customer Care Skills including verbal reasoning skills and the ability to put customers at ease and explain complex procedures effectively.
- Basic understanding of welfare benefits legislation
Our Area:
Wokingham Borough Council has recently been ranked 2nd most productive council in England by the Impower Productivity Index, recognising our strong performance and efficient use of public money.
Our Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.
We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.
Click the link below and Apply Today!
Alternatively, to arrange an informal discussion about the role, contact Andrea Thorne, Welfare Manager, via [email protected] (Strictly no agencies).
Closing date: Sunday 2nd August 2026 at 11pm
Interview date: TBC
AI in Applications:
We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.
However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.
We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.
Whilst this is a fixed term contract appointment, for anyone already employed by Wokingham Borough Council this would be classed as a secondment if successful. Therefore, the usual permission requests for secondments apply and you must speak to your line manager in the first instance before applying.
If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.
Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.
Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.
If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.
We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.
Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.
