Apprentice Voids Officer

We have bags of energy and enthusiasm and channel this by seeking to innovate and create opportunities that have a lasting effect on the communities in Reading, keeping them at the heart of all we do. Our work is rewarding, we change lives for the better by tackling homelessness, building new homes, and strengthening communities.

Reading Borough Council are excited to offer this apprentice opportunity to young people who want to explore a career in Local Government. You will provide administration support to ensure that essential tasks are carried out in coordinating the Council's void properties, to ensure that rent loss is kept to a minimum during this period and helping us continue to provide a supply of available properties for those who require a home.

You will be supported to give accurate and appropriate housing advice, both verbally and in writing, interviewing applicants as and when appropriate, playing an active role in the detection and prevention of fraud.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

In this role you will be responsible for supporting the Voids Coordinator and Senior Voids Coordinator with all things relating to our void properties. This will include liaising with tenants who are moving out of their homes, and other departments to ensure that the process from the property becoming empty through to re-letting is as efficient and seamless as possible. As with any role in Housing Needs, the customer is at the centre of all our processes, and it is vital that this role supports this.

You'll be part of a team that relies on everyone to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you'll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Due to service delivery requirements and joint working collaboration, you will work at the Civic Offices 4 days a week, some days starting before 9am. One day a week you will complete off-the-job training for your learning/apprenticeship.

Our Housing and Communities Team are passionate about the people who live in our town; our vision is for everyone to have the opportunity to live in a good quality sustainable home within a lively and thriving neighbourhood., We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about learning, dedicated, organised, and has the following:

Good general education - Maths/English GCSE Grade C/4 or equivalent or be willing to work towards completion of Functional Skills Level 2.
Eligible to undertake Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship Standard and attend all necessary workshops and complete all set assignments tasks as per set deadlines.
Experience of providing a customer driven service.
Computer literate and capable of operating the Council's computerised systems., Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you'll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing, and road tax.