Temporary Housing Options Advisor – Housing Service (Homelessness)

Job Ref: WNC 9041 27/06/22

Hybrid role: minimum of once a week in the office. Flexibility to occasionally work outside of normal working hours.

Note: the pay rate is provisional only and the ad will be amended with the confirmed rate, once received.

To assess applications for housing assistance under the Housing Act 1996, Part VII, and what duties are owed, including the main homeless duty. The post holder will produce and review personal housing plans under the Relief duty and provide a triage service to households who approach the Council having already lost their accommodation.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide information and assistance to people approaching the Council for advice in relation to housing; tenant rights and responsibilities, accessing private and public sector housing and homelessness.
• Work with the applicant, internal and external colleagues to prevent homelessness wherever possible.
• Carry out enquiries in cases where a person considers themselves to be homeless, or threatened with homelessness.
• Establish the Councils duties in relation to duties to accommodate applicants and make recommendations to the team leader.
• Establish the Councils duties, if any in relation to interim and temporary accommodation and liaise with internal and external colleagues as necessary to provide.
• Establish effective working relationships with statutory and voluntary agencies such as Police, CMHT, YOT, CYPS etc. to enable the provision of effective housing advice and homelessness services to applicants.
• Represent the authorities on relevant liaison groups and inter-agency forums in respect of homelessness and housing need issues such as. MAPPA; MARAC; child protection case conferences.
• Ensure that own knowledge of relevant housing legislation, statutory guidance, case law, policy & practice is up to date.

“Role Requirements” – to give yourself the maximum chance of success please try and ensure your CV addresses the following essential criteria:

Qualifications & Experience:

• CIH recognised Level 3 Qualification and / or significant recent experience in a housing role.
• Experience of exploring and delivering appropriate housing solutions of customers
• Experience of working with vulnerable people or those with complex needs in a housing or homelessness service environment.
• Experience of assisting in carrying out homelessness investigations (desirable).

Knowledge:

• Good knowledge of housing and homelessness legislation, case law and guidance.
• Good knowledge of housing options, including private sector accommodation, low cost or affordable housing options.
• Good knowledge of housing options, including private sector accommodation, low cost or affordable housing options.
• Good knowledge and understanding of housing sector (local government or housing association) and current housing issues.
• Knowledge of welfare benefits and welfare reform policy (desirable).

Skills:

• Ability to carry out homelessness investigations and make recommendations on the housing duties owed by the authority in accordance with relevant homelessness legislation, case law and guidance.
• Good negotiation and advocacy skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to write concise case notes and comprehensible legal decision letters.
• Ability to organise and manage your own case load effectively to meet targets and deadlines.
• Good numeracy skills and proven ability to organise and analyse financial information such as household budgets.
• Experience of using IT software and databases to manage cases, correspondence and documentation.

NB: Please feel free to apply to us direct via [email protected] by quoting the job reference and job title exactly. SEE DETAILS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS AD.

If you have previously applied to one of our vacancies and have already sent the required supporting documentation to us, please make this clear when you re-apply as this will help speed up your application.