Senior Insurance and Claims Officer
Grade F-H – £29,540 – £39,152Grade I – £39,152 – £41,771
The Insurance and Claims team handles claims made against Gateshead Council’s insurance policies, manages the insurance cover for the whole Council, and provides advice on insurance cover and claims to all Council Departments.
Responsibilities
- Handle insurance claims efficiently and effectively, ensuring that they are managed in accordance with relevant legislation and insurance policy terms and conditions.
- Assist the Insurance and Claims Manager in managing claims through the litigation process as required, liaising with both internal and external legal service providers.
- Provide accurate and timely responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests relating to insurance claims.
- Liaise effectively with all Council Services and work as part of a team, collaborating and sharing knowledge to enhance service delivery.
- Actively participate in the evaluation, development and continuous improvement of the Insurance and Claims function.
- Be conversant in, and keep up to date with, all relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
- Undertake other duties that are consistent with the requirements of the Insurance and Claims team.
- Grade I: Deputise for the Insurance and Claims Manager in their absence.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade A-C or 9-4 (including Maths and English).
- Grade G: Ability to handle property and injury claims, including making decisions on liability, with some supervision. Some knowledge of legal and insurance principles and practice.
- Grade H: Ability to handle a range of insurance claims and work with minimal supervision. Some supervisory skills. Broad knowledge of legal and insurance principles and practice.
- Grade I: Has attained a professional qualification such as CII Diploma / CILEX.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to adapt and handle sensitive or challenging conversations and queries via phone, Teams, and in writing.
- Proven ability to manage a busy and varied workload, meeting tight deadlines including legal timeframes.
- Confidently using digital systems and Microsoft Office, including experience of claims handling or case management systems.
- Ability to manage sensitive and complex information, accurately record case details and extract data and system reports as required.
- Strong organisational and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to analyse complex information and make sound decisions.
Benefits
- Competitive Salary: Fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
- Outstanding Pension Scheme: We invest in your future. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides.
- Generous Annual Leave: 28 days, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
- Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
- Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work‑life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
- Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities.
- Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
- Cycle to Work Scheme: Tax‑efficient scheme to save money and stay active.
- Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions.
- Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more (after 6 months service).
Equal Opportunities Statement
We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. As a Disability Confident employer we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…