Housing Options Officer

We are currently looking to appoint a Housing Options Officer to join a high performing Housing Options Team delivering quality proactive advice and assistance to people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.,

• Offer comprehensive advice and assistance on the housing options available to households based upon their particular needs and resources at the earliest opportunity to prevent homelessness.


• Carry out appropriate investigations into homelessness applications ensuring that all appropriate notifications, decisions and personalised housing plans be issued within relevant timescales and that case files and case notes are accurate and kept up to date.


• Ensure that households placed in temporary accommodation receive appropriate support including assistance in claiming housing benefit for their stay.


• To participate in and advise upon the development and review of Council policies and strategies relating to homelessness.


• Attend meetings representing the Council in order to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other departments, agencies and organisations and colleagues.


• To carry out any other related duties of an equivalent nature that the Council may require within the level of competence of the post-holder.


• To actively encourage customers to be involved in providing feedback on the quality and appropriateness of the support services and ensure they are involved in the design and review of the support service.
  
  Degree standard of education or relevant professional qualification would be desirable, Experience of working in a local authority homelessness/housing options service.


• Knowledge of legislation governing homelessness and allocations, including a working knowledge of related case law.


• Experience of using homelessness case management systems and Microsoft Office


• A working knowledge of Landlord and Tenants law: contracts relating to formation and ending of tenancies including breach of terms of both public and private sector tenancies; unlawful eviction and harassment; also possession procedures.


• Have experience of issuing homelessness decisions to comply with legislative requirements and Code of Guidance.


• Be familiar with, or able to gain knowledge of local social housing and support agencies to enable good housing advice to be offered to homeless claimants, including the prevention of homelessness.


• Experience of dealing effectively with enquiries from members of the public.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to receive, record and impart information effectively.


• Ability to keep calm during stressful situations and to be able to interview effectively members of the public. Display tact and diplomacy and an ability to deal with confidential matters.


• Ability to use own initiative, organise and manage own workload to meet priorities with minimum supervision


• A commitment to developing and maintaining high levels of customer service in accordance with the Council's Customer Service Standards.


• A commitment to personal development.


• Willingness to undertake additional training as required meeting the needs of the organisation and service e.g. housing legislation, case law updating, Health and Safety etc.



• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team and collaboratively with internal and external partners


• Ability and willingness to demonstrate the council's values and behaviours


• Full current driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes


• The ability to occasionally work outside normal office hours
  
  Flexible working


• Family friendly policies



• On-site free parking


• Up to 31 days' annual leave


• Option to purchase additional leave


• Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme


• Savings and loan scheme


• Discounted gym membership


• Generous pension scheme


• Additional voluntary contribution to AVC


• Staff reward scheme


• Employee Assistance Programme


• Employee forums (Your Voice, Health & Wellbeing)