We’re one of the largest housing providers in the UK with over 45,000 homes across London, the South East and the Midlands, giving 90,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own.

At Optivo we understand the difference safe, secure and affordable homes can make to people’s lives. We develop places with people, not profit, in mind, building homes and communities where people can thrive.

Job Title: Apprentice- Financial Inclusion Officer

Salary: London- £29,340 rising to £34,518, South East (Kent or Sussex) - £28,851 rising to £33,943, Midlands- £27,771 rising to £32,672

Business area: Housing Services

Location: Croydon, Kent, Sussex, Midlands

Contract: 15 month Fixed Term Contract

Hours: 36 hours per week

Closing date for applications: Sunday 27 September 2020, 23:00pm

Interview dates: Thursday 8th & Friday 9th October 2020 (Interviews will be conducted via Video Conference)

We are looking for a hard-working, motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our Financial Inclusion Team as an apprentice and make a difference to the lives of Optivo residents. After successful completion your apprenticeship, you’ll receive a Level 3 qualification as a Customer Service Specialist. Apprenticeship schemes give you a fantastic platform to gain real work experience, improve your employability and benefit from a structured training programme to accelerate your development. In addition, you gain the opportunity to kick-start your career under the supervision of our Financial Inclusion managers, whilst earning, learning and achieving job satisfaction working for one of the largest G15 housing organisation that truly cares about its residents. Does this sound like you? If so, join Optivo as an Apprentice- Financial Inclusion Officer.

What you’ll be doing

In a varied and rewarding role, you’ll assist the Financial Inclusion Team to provide an efficient, friendly, responsive and proactive financial guidance service to residents with a range of money needs.

You’ll assist the team to maximise income and improve financial capability through prompt and consistent money and benefit guidance – prioritising household budgeting and payments. You’ll establish, develop and maintain good working relationships with

colleagues and external agencies to find solutions to household budget and debt challenges.

You’ll provide an effective triage service for the Financial Inclusion Team by identifying and understanding what support residents need and implementing appropriate and targeted interventions.

What you’ll need

You will have a good understanding on Microsoft Office packages (Word, PowerPoint & Excel)

All applicants are required to meet the Apprenticeship funding requirements- Essential.

You will have a good level of English spelling and grammar, and attention to detail.

You will have a clear understanding of equality and diversity.

You will have good numerical skills to maximise income opportunities and identify savings.

You will have good communication skills (face to face, phone, written and on digital platforms) with the ability to actively listen and empathise.

You will be able to effectively to organise and prioritise own workload to meet deadlines.

What’s in it for you?

You’ll enjoy a great salary and benefits package, including 27 days (rising to 30 days) plus bank holidays, and a day off for your birthday. You can also buy and sell leave up to 5 days. We have generous pension and life assurance schemes too, plus a cycle to work scheme and travel loans. Add in a healthcare cash plan covering dental, glasses, physiotherapy, vaccinations, 24 hour GP and more, plus various high street discounts, (not to mention flexible working and in house career development opportunities). If you are passionate about what you do and share our ambitions, we look forward to hearing from you.

Equal Opportunities

At Optivo we work hard to create a diverse and inclusive culture and environment where people are respected for who they are. Encouraging inclusion is not just about protected characteristics, it’s about celebrating differences of thought, opinion, experience and perspective of each individual. We’re all different in our own way and we want our colleagues to feel comfortable, that they belong, and are safe to be themselves at work,

without fear of being judged or excluded, but valued for their contribution to our One Team approach.