Customer Service Specialist

Start date: Start dates throughout December and JanuaryRate of Pay: £11.75 per hour, rising to £12.08 per hour after 3 monthsLocation: Gateshead - PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN ONSITE ROLE AND WORK FROM HOME IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITIONShifts: Full time 40 hours per week. Monday – Saturday between 08.00 am and 6:00 pm. You must be fully flexible to work any shifts between these hours.Training: 11 daysThe Role: We are seeking dedicated Contact Centre Agents to join our team. We are looking for individuals who possess a unique blend of compassion, strong judgment, assessment skills, professionalism, and with excellent time management skills. This role is unique which entails assessing caseloads, in a timely manner. Your responsibilities include managing a dedicated caseload with empathy, professionalism, and confidentiality, while collaborating with relevant agencies and stakeholders to address complex issues. Ultimately, your role aims to enhance the well-being and financial stability of potential vulnerable customers through proactive intervention and effective case management. Key Responsibilities  You should be confident in conducting challenging but effective conversationsYou are required to maintain multiple cases simultaneously, varying by type and stageYou will be responsible for managing a designated caseloadYou will be required to question in a curious and confident manner, whilst being considerate of potential sensitivities, asking appropriate follow up questions relevant to uniqueness of the case as required to gather evidenceYou should be able to review and compare multiple sources of information, including using reasoned judgement to assess contradictory pieces of evidenceYou should be able to engage with potentially challenging and vulnerable individuals, whilst demonstrating empathy and excellent customer service skillsAt times you will be required to work collaboratively within your own team and with wider teams to support delivery outcomesYou should be proactive in talking to relevant people to get advice and information when unsure how to proceedYou will be responsible for managing and conducting caseloads by following a structured review process in adherence to all legal and policy requirementsYou will decide what evidence is appropriate to request as is required to confirm the validity of declarations, considering the uniqueness and context of each individual caseYou will be accountable for planning and conducting robust interviews asking challenging questions to gather all relevant information; exercising judgement to tailor follow up questions specific to each individual caseGathering, verifying and assessing all available information, and deciding on an appropriate course of actionYou will be required to record the progress of caseloads on specific systems, including maintaining and retaining relevant evidence in an evidence file including redacting and annotating sensitive material when appropriate Background Checks The role you are applying for, requires that you are vetted to Baseline Personnel Screening Standard (BPSS). If your application is successful, we will ask you to provide documents/evidence to allow us to perform the below checks: Identity checkNationality and Immigration Status (including the entitlement to undertake the work we are offering)Basic Criminal Records Check (including international criminal checks if you have lived outside the UK in the last 5 years)Employment/Academic History Check - for a period of three years leading up to your application.   We will require documented evidence of your three-year history such as employer/education references, payslips/P45s, other evidence of salary payments.  If you had any gaps in work/education during this time, we will need evidence of what your activity was, e.g. travel, study, unemployment, volunteering etc.  If your application is successful, we will provide you with a list of acceptable documents and how you can send them to us. Please note that if you are selected for the role, we will require all documents/evidence before we can confirm your start date with us.  All screening and evidence must be completed satisfactorily before commencement of employment.   We strongly recommend you start to compile this information so you have it ready to supply when needed. What else do we need from you? Strong verbal and written skills with the ability to show attention to detailAbility to establish excellent customer relationships in a fast-paced environmentA can-do attitude with the ability to interact with lots of different peopleProfessional and emotional stability, able to remain professional and maintain professionalism and provide consistent customer service when engaging with Claimants PC skills, and the ability to navigate multiple systems competently, with easeA good consistent typing speed and the ability to multi taskTake ownership of situations with positivity, resilience and a dedicated approach to providing service excellenceProcesses will be ever evolving and it is essential that you are adaptable and open to change  Benefits of being a Customer Service Representative On-line recruitment process, with potential job offer within 24 hours and fully paid training28 days’ holiday (including bank holidays), increasing to 30 days following your 1-year service anniversaryLifestyle Benefits programme – featuring thousands of discounts, special offers and exclusive employee deals from many retailer partners and also free wellness, kids, and learning classes through our own Community Online Academy.Refer & Earn Scheme – earn up to £900 for referring a friend to work for TP! And £300 for your friend too!Employee welfare support with free access to our Mental Health Employee Assistance programme, available 24 hours/365 days’ year and our Interactive Health and Wellbeing HubLife Assurance Cover & Pension SchemeLength of Service and monthly recognition awardsOpportunities for career development and progression#Priority