Homeless Prevention Officer

Homelessness Prevention and Housing Advice

1. Seek to prevent homelessness arising wherever possible by working with people at risk of becoming homeless, ensuring that timely advice and assistance is provided on a range of complex issues, using innovative and cost effective solutions to support a preventative approach to homelessness. Thereby minimising the impact to the client and the Council.
2. Receive applications for assistance from persons who may be threatened with homelessness, taking all action required or appropriate in accordance with the homelessness legislation. This will include making decisions in consultation with senior Housing Needs staff regarding the Council's prevention duties to such applicants under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
3. Respond to and deal with referrals received from public bodies in relation to those who may be threatened with homelessness under the "Duty to Refer" in a timely and effective manner in order to prevent homelessness as detailed above.
4. Work closely with Housing Association landlords to ensure "commitment to refer" is complied with, so that proactive early intervention work is undertaken, resulting in effective homelessness prevention from social housing.
5. Assess the client's housing needs and identify problems causing potential homelessness and provide tailored solutions, advice and assistance to enable them to sustain their existing accommodation or achieve a planned move to alternative accommodation whilst managing their expectations around the solutions available.
6. Carry out home visits where appropriate in an attempt to mediate between households who are at risk of homelessness.

Vivid Resourcing are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships or any other characteristic protected by law.