Housing Options Officer - Braintree District Council

The purpose of this role is to provide a front-line, customer-focussed service to individuals and families experiencing housing difficulties. To assess housing needs and provide specialist advice in respect of all housing options in order to prevent and relieve homelessness. When prevention opportunities have been exhausted, to undertake investigations to determine the Council's duties under PtV11 Housing Act 1996, as amended, and ensure that statutory obligations are carried out. Please note you will be required to work on site a minimum of 2 days per week.

Accountabilities:

The main accountabilities will include, but not be limited to:
1. To provide a comprehensive frontline service to customers seeking advice and assistance

with regards to their housing needs, irrespective of tenure, either in person or by telephone.
1. To participate in the Housing Options duty rota (including Triage) and respond to

emergencies as required.
1. To take action to prevent and relieve homelessness, including visits to applicants' parents, negotiation with landlords and mortgage companies, referral to other agencies and use of

the Council's Homelessness Prevention Fund.
1. To provide customers with expert, professional, comprehensive advice and information on

all aspects of housing options work specific to their assessed needs: including undertaking basic financial and benefits assessments.
1. To produce Personalised Housing Plans following assessment of needs; to monitor customers' actions and to perform the authority's actions.

1. To help customers access a range of housing opportunities, including social housing,

private rented accommodation, supported housing and shared/home ownership and to

assess customers' suitability for the Council's Deposit Bond and/or Rental Loan schemes.
1. To liaise, establish, maintain and develop links with Social Care teams, health providers, Registered Providers, private landlords and other statutory or voluntary agencies as

appropriate and ensure that referrals are made as necessary, recorded and followed up as required.
1. To attend case conferences and joint assessment interviews with Social Care teams or

other organisations as necessary.
1. To facilitate Housing Advice Surgeries and provide out-reach services at other venues as required.

1. To undertake formal investigations under Pt V11 Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and

associated guidance and legislation when homelessness cannot be prevented, and to issue cogent s184 decision letters within required timescales.

To be successful in this post you will need :Good interviewing and interpersonal skillsExcellent organisational and communication skills coupled with an empathetic style. Strong IT skills and letter writing skills are also important.

Experience of providing housing advice to the public and of liaising with other statutory, voluntary or private sector organisations.

Experience of working in a housing service or a similar area of work.

Experience of issuing Personalised Housing Plan (PHP)

Experience of writing s184 decisions

Willingness to work in the office in the first 4 weeks of starting the role followed by a hybrid work pattern of 2-3 days a week in the office.

Willingness to carry out face to face housing options interview with homeless applicants.

Ability to manage own workload, be proactive while working within a team to achieve team objectives.

Desirable

Experience of using Civica (Abritas)

Have own transport and driving licence

Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative, innovative and forward thinking approach which is led by our staff. We are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it.