Stronger Communities Officer | 9979 | Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2028 | 37 hours per week | £39,862 to £41,771 per annum (Scale J) | Norfolk and Suffolk

The Norfolk and Suffolk Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Service (NSGRTS) are a small team that manages unauthorised encampments (UE’s) across a number of local authorities in Norfolk and all the local authorities within Suffolk. The work is both interesting and rewarding, requiring the candidate to have good engagement skills to support all aspects of the UE process.

The Stronger Communities Officer manages unauthorised encampments by Gypsies, Roma and Travellers on behalf of the Norfolk and Suffolk Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Service (NSGRTS). This involves:

• Visiting new unauthorised encampments on behalf of the NSGRTS as a first responder, to assess the situation, ascertain the intentions of the occupants and identify appropriate next steps
• Working operationally with statutory services including the Police and local agencies to assess encampments; gather evidence and consider the rights of all parties (Travellers, landowners and the settled community) in a fair, consistent and proportionate way, to inform a recommendation /decision about whether to tolerate or evict
• Ensuring that all due process such as welfare enquiries has been carried out prior to decisions being made
• Chairing case conferences
• Leading on negotiations with statutory and local agencies regarding whether encampments should be tolerated or evicted, based on agreed criteria, to support the best possible outcome for all parties in the circumstances
• Preparing and serving legal notices
• Taking enforcement action and coordinating evictions 
• Working with public agencies to develop new policy and identifying improved ways of working, to manage encampments as effectively as possible and test out best practice.

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

• Competitive salary

• Generous holiday entitlement

• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service

• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependent on your job role and business need. 

• Financial benefits such as:

  • ‘Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.   

  • A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers

  • Relocation expenses (where applicable)

  • An advance of your expenses if you travel for work

  • Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions

  • Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes

  • Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)

  • A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

We want our people to be inspired and motivated to work well together, make the most of our workspaces, enjoy a healthy work-life balance, and deliver excellent services to Norfolk and its people. Flexibility is built into the way we work, with hybrid working a key feature for many roles. Our technology platform and equipment are first class, enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We ask that you have in place good Broadband connectivity.

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job description and person specification to help you demonstrate how you meet the criteria. You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for all internal and external vacancies via myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email.

Redeployment closing date: 25 March 2026 23:59

All other applicants closing date: 1 April 2026 23:59

nWe have miles of beautiful coastline and our unique Broads, thriving market towns and a city with a proud cultural heritage.  Our economy is growing and driven by innovation in a number of sectors, including energy and food.  We also have ambitious plans for new housing and a building programme for schools across Norfolk.  Our county a great place to live, work and visit, and is an excellent environment for businesses to start, grow and innovate.

We are the main local authority for Norfolk providing services countywide to more than 850,000 Norfolk residents. We take the lead in critical policy areas, working with 84 elected Members responsible for the strategic local government services in the county.

We provide a high quality service through involving people who use our services to shape and comment on them and by promoting efficiency and innovation.

We work in partnership with local businesses, voluntary organisations and other local authorities such as District and Parish Councils to provide the people of Norfolk with excellent services.
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