Location: Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, United Kingdom
Salary: £25,183 per year
Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship: Available
Application Closing Date: 13/05/2025
About the Role: Customer Service Advisor – Housing
At Westmorland & Furness Council, we are offering an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic Customer Service Team within the Housing Landlord Service. As a Customer Service Advisor, you will play a crucial role in providing a first-class service to our residents and customers, ensuring their needs are met efficiently and with care.
In this position, you will engage with customers face-to-face, over the phone, and via email. Your ability to provide outstanding customer service, manage a demanding workload, and prioritize tasks effectively will be key to your success in this role. If you are passionate about helping others and enjoy working in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Key Responsibilities of the Customer Service Advisor – Housing
Customer Service Excellence
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Provide exceptional customer service to residents by addressing their inquiries, resolving issues, and offering relevant information about housing services.
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Communicate effectively with customers, ensuring clarity and empathy in all interactions.
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Manage customer complaints and concerns, ensuring they are addressed promptly and efficiently while maintaining a high level of professionalism.
Communication and Interaction
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Serve as the first point of contact for residents and customers, engaging with them through various channels such as face-to-face meetings, phone calls, and emails.
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Deliver clear, concise, and helpful information to customers regarding housing policies, tenancy agreements, and service requests.
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Engage with diverse customer needs and maintain a non-judgmental approach to providing housing solutions and services.
Administrative Support
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Accurately record and maintain customer information, service requests, and feedback in the appropriate systems.
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Ensure all customer interactions are logged and tracked to ensure follow-up actions are completed efficiently.
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Prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively, ensuring deadlines are met while maintaining attention to detail.
Collaboration with Internal Teams
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Work closely with the Housing Landlord Service team and other council departments to ensure the smooth delivery of services.
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Coordinate with colleagues to resolve complex customer inquiries and provide consistent solutions.
What We’re Looking For: Essential Qualifications & Skills
We are looking for a customer-focused individual with a passion for delivering high-quality service to our residents. To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate the following:
Essential Skills & Experience
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Proven experience in a customer service role, preferably in a housing or public sector environment.
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Strong communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups of people.
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Experience in managing a high volume of customer inquiries and working in a fast-paced environment.
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IT literacy and proficiency in using customer service software and systems.
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Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize workloads effectively.
Personal Attributes
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A non-judgmental approach to working with diverse customers and addressing a range of housing-related issues.
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Empathy and compassion when handling customer concerns.
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Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, fostering a collaborative environment.
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Adaptability and the ability to respond to changing customer needs and demands.
Benefits of Working at Westmorland & Furness Council
At Westmorland & Furness Council, we offer more than just a job. By joining our team, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits designed to support your professional growth, well-being, and work-life balance:
Competitive Salary & Pension
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Salary: £25,183 per year, with potential for growth based on experience and performance.
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Pension Scheme: Competitive pension benefits to help you plan for the future.
Generous Annual Leave & Discounts
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Enhanced Annual Leave: Generous holiday entitlement to allow for time to recharge and relax.
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Perks & Discounts: Access to exclusive discounts and benefits through various schemes.
Supportive Work Environment
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Equal Opportunity Employer: Westmorland & Furness Council is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, ensuring equal opportunities for all employees.
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Flexible Working Options: Depending on the role, we offer both in-person and virtual interviews and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.
Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship
Westmorland & Furness Council is now able to offer Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship for eligible roles, including the Customer Service Advisor – Housing position. If you are an international candidate seeking to work in the UK, this sponsorship opportunity allows you to live and work in the UK legally.
To find out more about visa eligibility and details on how to apply, please visit the official UK government website for Skilled Worker visas. This sponsorship is available for qualified candidates who meet the essential job criteria.
Safer Recruitment & DBS Checks
Westmorland & Furness Council is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. As part of our recruitment process, this role requires a basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check to ensure the safety of those we serve.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at Westmorland & Furness Council
At Westmorland & Furness Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer. We are committed to improving the diversity of our workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups.
Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives:
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Disability Confident Leader: Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role are guaranteed an interview.
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Support for Veterans: We offer guaranteed interviews to Armed Forces personnel and veterans who meet the essential criteria for the role.
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Care Leavers & Young Applicants: We welcome applications from care leavers and young people under 24 who meet the essential criteria.
How to Apply
To apply for the Customer Service Advisor – Housing position, please submit the following:
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Your CV outlining your relevant experience.
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A cover letter explaining why you are the ideal candidate for this role.
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Any additional supporting documents as required (e.g., proof of eligibility for Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship).
Visit our Careers Page to apply or for more information.
Application and Interview Process
The closing date for applications is 13/05/2025. Interviews will be conducted both in-person and virtually, and options will be discussed with candidates once they have been invited to the interview stage. If you have any specific needs or adjustments, we are happy to accommodate you throughout the interview process.
We are excited to receive your application and look forward to discussing how you can contribute to the success of Westmorland & Furness Council.
Additional Information
For further details about the role or if you have any questions, please contact Jackie Rimmer, Senior Lettings Team Leader, at (01229) 876550.
Join us at Westmorland & Furness Council and help us deliver exceptional housing services to our community!