Overview

4Recruitment Services are seeking a Housing Options Officer with experience of processing homeless applications under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. The post holder will specialise in processing homeless applications from former asylum seekers who have been granted refugee status. Ideally the post holder would commit to one day per week office working, but the role could be fully remote if a suitable candidate cannot be sourced.

Responsibilities

• Pro-actively provide to customers in housing need a range of advice and assistance on housing and related areas, working with or signposting to other service areas or agencies where appropriate, demonstrating empathy and listening skills to help resolve housing issues.
• Collaborate with colleagues, welcome feedback, value diversity, and be an active and collaborative team member within the team and across the department.
• Lead and manage a personal caseload including homelessness and prevention applications; maintain accurate and detailed casework records in line with Council policies, procedures, code of guidance, and homelessness legislation.
• Assess all applications and determine the extent of the Council's statutory duties to homeless households; decide on appropriate actions in line with Housing Act 1996 Part 7 (as amended), Homelessness Act 2002, Localism Act 2011, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and relevant legislation, plus Council policies and procedures.
• Take lead and overall responsibility for case management, investigative interviewing, inquiries with internal and external agencies and third-party agencies to ensure correct legal decisions and achievement of performance objectives and service standards.
• Ensure written notification of the Council's decision is given to all homeless applicants in accordance with statutory requirements, including information on the right to request a review and the time limits.
• Develop and maintain relationships as the key liaison with a range of key agencies to identify clients at high risk of homelessness and improve the likelihood of successful prevention.
• Work closely with the Housing Needs team, particularly Homelessness Prevention Officers, to collaborate and flexibly help sustain people in their homes where possible.
• Provide training and support to enable staff within key agencies to identify early warning signs of homelessness and ways to prevent it, developing knowledge in lead areas (e.g., Hospitals, Refuges, Mental Health, Probation).
• Work proactively with clients to prevent homelessness through effective verbal and written communication, offering advisory and advocacy support in areas such as security of tenure, immigration, welfare benefits, negotiating with families, landlords or agents; refer to debt advice (CAB); refer to refuges; attend Court as an advocate for homeless households; liaise with lenders and other statutory/voluntary agencies to deliver a comprehensive service; promote effective collaboration with stakeholders.
• Represent the Housing Options Team at meetings with other service areas and external agencies, including face-to-face duties in different localities; attend multi-agency meetings addressing housing issues (e.g., Child In Need, Child Protection, ASBIT case reviews, Accommodation Panel).
• Conduct outreach visits to client locations (home, prison, hostel, hospital) to confirm details regarding potential homelessness; attend outreach housing surgeries as required; signpost other services and benefits in housing needs; conduct joint assessments of need/risks/special needs as required.
• Provide advice and assistance outside office hours for emergency housing issues (including fire and flood); where required, provide out-of-hours visits and emergency admissions to temporary accommodation with suitable transportation; respond to homelessness emergencies in the City, including incidents in temporary accommodation and Council properties.

Essential Requirements

• Experience of working in housing or a similar front-line, customer-focused role.
• Good knowledge of housing issues, particularly homelessness, and relevant legislation (e.g., Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Housing Act 1996 Part 7 as amended, Localism Act 2011), plus code of guidance and case law; ability to interpret these and Council policies into practical working practices.
• Experience and competency in using IT and software (Outlook, Excel, Word) and Housing Management systems.
• Aware of Welfare Reform and Benefits.
• Demonstrable expert professional knowledge of current housing and homelessness legislation, guidance, best practice, and case law.
• Experience in processing and making decisions on homeless applications.
• Standard DBS check.
• Recruitment conducted in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.

To discuss this vacancy in further detail or any other vacancies, please contact our Team on (phone number removed) or email(url removed).