Debt Recovery OfficerCouncil

About Us

Debt Recovery Officer

£33,927 - £47,067

Fixed Term until 29/02/2028 (13 Months)

36hrs per week Full Time (3 Days Office Attendance)

Richmond & Wandsworth Council

About the role

Richmond & Wandsworth Councils are seeking a committed and detail-focused Debt Recovery Officer to join the Financial Assessment & Income Recovery Team within the Adult Social Care and Public Health Directorate. This role plays a vital part in ensuring the recovery of outstanding adult social care charges, while maintaining a sensitive and professional approach when working with vulnerable residents and complex cases.

You’ll be responsible for managing a caseload of debt recovery matters, engaging with service users and their representatives to resolve queries and negotiate payments. You’ll also work closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure accurate record-keeping, compliance with statutory guidance, and effective resolution of disputes.

As part of a linked grade role, your responsibilities will grow in complexity as you progress. At entry level, you’ll focus on day-to-day recovery tasks, maintaining systems, and supporting service users. As you advance, you’ll take on more complex cases, liaise with legal services, and lead on strategic recovery actions including court proceedings and high-value cases. You’ll also play a key role in administering the Deferred Payments Scheme, ensuring property valuations, insurance, and legal securities are up to date.

The role requires a minimum of two days per week working from the office.

About you

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Possesses strong numerical and analytical abilities.
• Can manage a busy caseload independently and meet deadlines.
• Works well both independently and collaboratively.

Desirable but not essential:

• Experience in Adult Social Care debt recovery or financial assessments.
• Knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and social care charging policies.
• Experience in similar fields such as Housing Benefits.

Secondment

All internal applicants for this secondment must seek permission from their current line manager before applying. Failure to do so may result in the secondment not being authorised.

Closing Date: 22 November 2026

Shortlisting Date: w/c 23 November

Interview Date: w/c 30 November

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils

Attached documents

• Debt Recovery Officer - Job Profile.docx

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Position type: Fixed Term – Full Time (36 hours)