Janine Daniels

Experience

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  Corby Bottlers / Darlington Wines

  Nov 2006 - Jan 2009

  Production Planner
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  Joules Clothing

  Feb 2009 - Mar 2013

  Customer Service / Social Media Adviser
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  CORBY BOROUGH COUNCIL

  Mar 2013 - Mar 2015

  Benefit Overpayments Officer

  1. Provide guidance, advice and support to service users in relation to queries concerning collection of overpaid housing benefit and sundry debts.2. To support and mentor less experienced staff, giving advice and guidance as required. 3. Advise customers of the recovery action to be taken if debts are not paid. Ensure all action is taken to maximise collection via enforcement legislation and external agencies and to negotiate payment plans for outstanding arrears.4. Advise customers on the legislative framework upon which the service charge is levied or on which the overpayment has been created, for all debt types.5. Take steps to trace debtors using all available methods.6. Select and submit irrecoverable debt for write-off in line with delegated powers, audit requirements and internal procedures.7. Comply with procedures to maintain an accurate and effective database, fulfil audit requirements meet/exceed internal and external accreditations.8. To access other relevant computerised databases, including Oracle, Academy, and Controcc /IAS to extract relevant information. Show less

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  East northamptonshire council

  Mar 2015 - Dec 2019

  Current responsibilities:- to be one of the lead officer in representing the Council at the Magistrates Court and County Court in matters relating to Council Tax, Non Domestic Rates, Housing Benefit Overpayments, Sundry Debts and Former Tenant Arrears Prepare and be responsible for ensuring the execution of arrest warrants in committal matters are dealt with in a timely and professional manner by outside agencies. Ensure and undertake external visits when it is inappropriate to instruct a bailiff or debt collection agency Make complaint to the Magistrates for the issue of Liability and Committal Summonses. Refers cases to the external bailiffs as appropriate. Serves Committal Summonses for Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rates. Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of all legislation relating to Council Tax, NDR, Housing Benefit Overpayments and Court Legislation and a working knowledge of Housing and Council Tax BenefitTo provide a high quality service to the public with respect to the Recovery of Council Tax, National Non-Domestic rates, Benefit Overpayments, Sundry Debts and Former Tenant Arrears. To serve Committal Summonses, and deliver associated documentation to Council Tax and NNDR debtors Attend Magistrates’ Court to act as Council Representative for Liability and Committal courts. Show less 1. To investigate allegations of suspected fraud being committed against the authority with an emphasis on revenues and benefit related fraud2. To manage all cases effectively, ensuring files are progressed and maintained to a high standard.3. Ensure the outcome of cases investigated are progressed to reach an appropriate conclusion in a timely manner, and where appropriate, produce an appropriate recommendation to the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Manager on the course of action to be taken4. To deal with enquiries from customers and their representatives whether face to face, by telephone or letter. Home visits to clients may be required.5. To keep up to date with relevant changes / new initiatives and adhering to procedures and policies.6. Proceed with Court action and prosecution being present in court and giving evidence. 7. To work closely with the Council’s Revenues teams to ensure that Council Tax and Business rate discounts are applied correctly and liabilities correctly calculated.8. To conduct recorded interviews under caution. 9. To work within the frame work of a)RIPAb)DPAc)Police and Criminal Evidence Actd)Criminal procedures and investigations Acte) Council Tax Legislation f) National Non Domestics Rates Legislation Show less

  • Recovery/ Court Officer

    Mar 2015 - Dec 2019

  • Fraud Specialist

    Mar 2015 - Oct 2015
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  Corby Borough Council

  Dec 2019 - Apr 2021

  • Selected by Senior Management to be the Coordination Lead for the rollout and completion of the Winter Hardship Grant Crisis fund – a fund designed to give the most vulnerable families access to food and utilities in the form of a gift voucher.• Recruited and trained 5 staff into processors (remotely) from various skill sets and areas in the council working alongside our normal roles (evenings and weekends.) • Liaised with the DWP And Northants County Council.• Adapted our Customer Service DASHBOARD system to be able to facilitate this project, trained the new staff on this database and ran it to work directly with our website and inbox.• Prepared application cases and triaged work to the processors to be completed. • Monitored work/ performance and reported figures to Culture and Leisure’s head of service. • Provide checks in line with DWP Legislation/ checking eligibility, residence and checking the customers financial situation to ensure they were eligible. Kept records of all applicants for Audit purposes. • Set up a specified inbox for this scheme, updated the website information weekly and changed the whole format of applying to make it easier for customers/ processors which was then copied by other authorities.• Achieved the highest level of applications processed and funding given to customers in the whole of Northamptonshire borough at over £350,000 distributed. Considering Corby is one of the smaller towns this was an outstanding acheivement and myself and the team received an award as well as being asked to lead many ‘knowledge sharing’ meetings with other Local Authorities to share the system I had built. Show less

  • Winter Hardship Grant Project Lead

    Feb 2021 - Apr 2021

  • Senior Court and Recovery Officer

    Dec 2019 - Apr 2021
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  North Northamptonshire Council

  Apr 2021 - Jan 2023

  Senior Court and Recovery Officer

  • Deputise a team of 4 Recovery Officers and now an additional 6 contractors . Manage the day to day activities, including producing work Rota’s, handling complaints. Run all report jobs on the system such as Arrangement reports, Attachment of Benefit/ Earnings reports. • Responsible for issuing Reminder notices,Final Notices & Court Summonses running all jobs on Northgate.• Respond to communications from members of the Public regarding Council Tax recovery, NNDR and Sundry income debt/Commercial Rent. Provide this service personally,via telephone and Email. Ensuring arrears are paid and Recovery targets are met. • Work with external agencies/Enforcement agencies to help in the collection of arrears.• Establish and Monitor arrears cases in accordance with targeting instructions, prepare notices to be served, confirm residence of debtor, recommend further action where residence cannot be confirmed/ maintain debtor records for Audit purposes. • Prepare Court documents ensuring liability orders can be granted in a bulk application&be the authorised officer presenting cases to the Magistrates on behalf of the Council. • Retain a detailed knowledge of the law relating to Council Tax, NNDR and Sundry Income Debt and outlined knowledge of associated benefit regulations, advise where appropriate.• Retain a detailed knowledge of Northgate Council Tax system. • Monitoring performance, dealing with sickness and Holidays.• Liaise with, receive and provide information to other staff/ sections and other Local Authorities.• Process cases for referral to the Enforcement agent, deal with returned cases and move on to next stage in accordance with guidelines. • Make/ monitor payment arrangements with customers.• Ensure all targets are achieved and procedures are observed as directed. • Record date on work levels, collection targets and report to head of service. • Prepare debt cases for write off including court cost withdrawal in line with procedure of the Council. Show less

• 

  Hambleton District Council

  May 2021 - Jan 2023

  Senior Taxation and Revenues Officer

  Had the most fantastic opportunity to offer my consultancy services for this Local Authority on behalf of Business Smart Solutions for 21 months. This was 20 plus hours per week along side my Permanent role at NNC. Solely responsible in the Recovery and Court tasks post pandemic. Responsible for a team of 5 full timeOfficer and 2 contractors. Prepared and represented Hambleton DC in around 9 Court hearings at North Yorkshire Magistrates and Harrogate Magistrates in cases relating to Council Tax, National Non Domestic Rates and BID District. The role was to support them them up until their Local Government reorganisation this year. Show less

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  Local Government Authority

  Jan 2023 - now

  Court Officer

  Collate and prepare evidence required for all court hearings including certification of documents and ensure copies held for evidence of any potential challenge and issue all adjournment notices, summonses and other notices as required.Act as a council witness in recovery proceedings and defend the council against set aside actions, wrongful taking of goods and case stated appeals, investigating and compiling documentation and presenting written or verbal evidenceProsecute on behalf of the Council at liability order, means enquiry/committal hearings, non compliance with AEO, information requests and the supplying of false informationInvestigate and prepare documents and evidence as required for presentation through the courts including liaison with internal and external partners, Crown Prosecution Service or Police and appear as a witness in Crown or High Court.In conjunction and/or in liaison with legal, instigate Bankruptcy or Insolvency action against appropriate individuals or organisations, and secure the Council’s interests against property assets via charging orders for Council Tax, Business Rates and Housing Benefit overpayments.Responsible for the reconciliation and release of recovery notices including record keeping and compliance with regulations.Ensure robust monitoring is in place to ensure timely progression of cases including bulk progression to issue Enforcement Agent instructions, recycling as well as recalling cases to court for Committal where default occurs and monitoring of any charging order and insolvency. Carry out Enforcement Agent monitoring arrangement of audit and liaison meetings, monitoring and payment of invoices where applicableTake the lead on maintaining management of large balance and rate avoidance accounts to ensure all cases progressed promptly including, compiling evidence and record in line with the corporate debt policy including vulnerability. Show less