Housing Options Officer

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 be specialising in processing homeless applications from former asylum seekers who have been granted refugee status. 

Ideally our client would like the The post holder to commit to one day per week office working but if a suitable candidate cannot be sourced then the role could be fully remote.
  
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• To pro-actively provide to customers in housing need, a range of advice and assistance on housing and related areas, working with or signposting them to other service areas or agencies where appropriate, demonstrating strong empathy and listening skills in a calm manner to help to resolve their housing issues.
• To work together with colleagues and welcome continuous feedback; collaborating in ways that values diversity and increases efficiency; to be an active and collaborative team member both within your own team and across the department.
• Lead and manage a personal caseload which would include a number of homelessness and prevention applications and maintain an 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 statutory duties to homeless household and decide on the appropriate action to take in line with Housing Act 1996 part 7 (as amended), Homelessness Act 2002, Localism Act 2011, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (and any other relevant legislations) , Council Policies and Procedures.
• Take the lead and overall responsibility for; case management, investigative interviewing, enquiries with internal and external agencies and third party agencies to ensure correct legal decision is issued and achievement of individual and team performance objectives, targets and service standards.
• Ensure that written notification of the council’s decision is given to all homeless applicants in accordance with statutory requirements. All notifications must inform applicants of their right to request a review of the housing authority’s decision and the time within which such a request must be made.
• Develop and maintain relationships, being the key liaison person working with a range of key agencies in identifying clients at high risk of homelessness to ensure early intervention and improve the likelihood of successful homeless prevention.
• Work closely with other Housing Needs team, in particular Homelessness Prevention Officers, to work collaboratively and flexibly to help sustain people in their homes whenever possible.
• Provide training and support to enable staff within each of the key agencies to identify early warning signs of homelessness and ways to prevent it, developing a dedicated knowledge of a lead in particular areas. E.g. Hospitals, Refuges, Mental Health, Probation.
• Work proactively with clients to prevent homelessness wherever possible, through effective verbal and written communication skills, providing an advisory and advocacy role in areas such as: security of tenure, right of occupation, Immigration, Welfare Benefits, negotiating with families, landlords or agents; referring for debt advice to CAB, referral to refuges, attending Court to act as the advocate for homeless household, negotiating with lenders and liaising with other statutory and voluntary agencies and all other aspects of housing to provide a comprehensive service. Promoting effective collaborative/partnership working with all internal and external stakeholders.
• Represent the Housing Options Team at meetings with other service areas at the council and external agencies including face to face duties in different localities. To attend and participate in multi-agency meetings where housing is an issue for the customer. This will include amongst others: Child In Need, Child Protection, ASBIT case review meetings and Accommodation Panel meetings.
• Conduct outreach visits at the client's home, prison, hostel, hospital or other locations to confirm details regarding potential homelessness. Attend outreach housing surgeries at other locations throughout the district as and when necessary. Signpost the availability of other services of benefits in housing needs, conducting joint assessment of need/risks/special needs as and when required.
• Provide advice and assistance outside office hours to customers and social services with emergency housing issues (including fire and flood) and if required available for out of hours visit. Where appropriate, carrying out emergency admissions to temporary accommodation, ensuring suitable transportation implemented if required. Respond to homelessness emergencies throughout the City including incidents in temporary accommodation and Council properties.

 
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

• Experience of working in housing or a similar front-line, customer focused role
• Good knowledge of housing issues, particularly homelessness and good knowledge of relevant housing and homelessness legislation, such as the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Housing Act 1996part 7 as amended, Localism Act 2011, as well as code of guidance and case law, and be able to interpret these and Council policies and procedures into working practises.
• Experience and excellent competency to use a range of IT and software, including Outlook, Excel and Word as well as Housing Management systems
• An awareness of Welfare Reform and Benefits
• Able to demonstrate an expert professional knowledge of current housing and homelessness legislations, guidance, best practice and  case law
• Experience of processing and making decisions on homeless Applications
• Standard DBS check.

Recruitment is done 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).