5286577 – Housing Solutions Officer

Carrington Blake Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A housing solutions provider in Greater London is looking for a dedicated professional to address homelessness effectively. The role involves assessing housing applications, providing immediate support to at-risk individuals, and engaging with various stakeholders to find sustainable housing solutions. Ideal candidates will possess relevant degrees and a strong understanding of housing legislation, especially the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. The position offers a competitive umbrella rate and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive umbrella rate

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in housing solutions and homelessness support is essential.
• Ability to work with vulnerable clients and assess their needs accurately.
• Strong understanding of current housing legislation and the Homelessness Reduction Act.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments for housing applications under the Housing Act.
• Provide a rapid response to homelessness referrals.
• Support development of outreach and engagement with stakeholders.

Skills

Effective communication

Customer service orientation

Analytical skills

Knowledge of housing legislation

Education

Relevant degree or diploma

Job description

Umbrella rate – £26.14 ph

Deadline – 29th Dec

Main Purpose of the Job

To support the Team Manager – Housing Solutions to actively prevent or relieve homelessness for customers that are threatened or homeless in a timely fashion and reduce the use of temporary accommodation used by the Council. This will include ensuring that up to date information is available and management of partnerships with key stakeholders and community are positively maintained. Includes:

• To assess, investigation and verification of applications who would like to join the Housing Register under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 and the Council’s Allocations Scheme on an allocated casework basis.
• To assess, interview and verify applicants who want to make an application under Part VII of the Housing Act (1996).
• To determine what duty, if any, is owed to the household under the Homeless Reduction Act (2017) and the Housing Act (1996).

To ensure that the Council fulfils its responsibilities in line with the Councils’ statutory duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and provide reliable data and information for the Council and the Department for Communities and Local Government on the outcome of customer journey’s.

Individuals will be accountable for the quality and professionalism of service delivery. The work will include implementing operational plans within the service area to fit with broader functional and Council strategy.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The post is responsible for a portfolio of services which may be altered from time to time but currently includes responsibility for:

• To provide a rapid, effective, and efficient response to referrals received through the ‘duty to refer’ or other referral sources.
• To deliver a customer friendly experience that supports the resolution of customers housing needs at first contact in the Housing Solutions Service.
• To support the Housing Solutions Team Leader in arranging and developing outreach surgeries, online platforms and other information to named public bodies and other key interested parties or potential partners to deliver cross cutting prevention work for Housing Solutions.
• To support the Housing Solutions Leader in developing innovative and creative solutions to the prevention of homelessness and tangible reduction of the use of temporary accommodation, this could include developing relationships with leaseholders, private landlords and Councils or bodies outside of London.
• To become the local intelligence and community link for the key areas of homelessness presentations within the borough.
• To ensure that all assessments of customers housing needs are accordance with the Homelessness Act 2017. A high percentage of customers presenting as homeless will be vulnerable and it is essential to assess the customer’s needs accurately in accordance with the Care Act 2014, the Children’s Act 1989 and all relevant housing legislation.
• To ensure that reasonable care for the safety and health for themselves and others who may be affected by their acts; and to work with management to comply with Service/Unit procedures and protocols and with the Councils Health and Safety Policy and all guidance, instructions and risk assessments.
• To deal with enquiries, complaints and correspondence from clients and their advocates, including solicitors, councillors, MPs, the ombudsman and other housing providers, in line with the Council’s complaints and enquiries procedure. This may include preparing information to support court cases for which the post-holder is responsible.
• This position is complex with the postholder being required to liaise with customers, statutory organisation, advocates and third sector providers to arrive at a sustainable housing solution for customers with complex and multiple needs for example mental health combined with drug and or alcohol addiction.
• To create and maintain accurate records of the service to ensure compliance with reporting arrangements and provide management with the information required to monitor performance and service standards in accordance with Council policy and the legal framework. This will include producing writing performance and other written reports for managers in the Housing Needs Service as requested.
• To develop and maintain a positive relationship with clients, resident’s organisations, council officers, housing providers, advocates, elected members and other stakeholders to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction are achieved.
• To understand the value of information to the council and to contribute to good information governance by keeping information safe, accurate and up to date and available to those who need it. The post holder must abide by the council’s information governance policies.
• To participate in appropriate projects relevant to the role of the team within and outside the section as appropriate.
• To undertake any duties appropriate to the grading of this post, as requested by the Housing Solutions Team Leader, the Service Manager – Housing Solutions, Head of Housing Solutions or another manager within the Housing Needs Service.

Specific duties for individual teams include

Housing Options

• Providing housing advice and information that is personalised and relevant to the individual or household.
• Providing a triage service at the town hall or via telephone.
• Responding to and managing client contacts (emails and telephone) and allocating to teams where necessary.
• Exploring and explaining the various housing options and schemes to clients including Affordable Ownership, Local Lettings, Mobility Transfer Scheme, Mutual Exchange, Private Rented Scheme, Home-swapper and Homefinder.
• Providing updates on cases and acting as a point of contact for Clients.
• Signposting household’s to appropriate external or internal teams depending on their need, e.g. if they are at immediate risk of losing their home, if they need support with benefits and income maximisation or if they require medical advice and guidance.
• Working with household’s to resolve their housing situation, this may involve negotiating with landlords, family members, and supporting households to make alternative housing arrangements.
• Business Administrative duties including uploading documents onto IBS from applicants in support of their case.
• Making low level enquiries.

Single Homeless

• Supporting vulnerable single people who struggle with living independently resulting from alcohol and substance misuse or mental health problems.
• Assess and arrange support packages, including access to supported accommodation typically hostels. Work with the individuals to manage their pathways towards independent living.
• Work closely with the hostels to arrange move‑on into private rented housing or other settled accommodation options.
• Complete the required paperwork to allocate a person with points on the register, gathering relevant documents including ID, proof of income and support plans, and confirming that the resident is ready to live independently.

Main Duty

• To manage the assessment, investigation and verification of applications who would like to join the Housing Register under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 and the Council’s Allocations Scheme on an allocated casework basis.
• Determine if the household is eligible and allocate the appropriate ‘points’ in line with the guidance.
• Interview or visit high priority applicants, offering appropriate advice and verifying applications for acceptance onto the Housing Register and assessing housing need.
• To assess, interview and verify applicants who want to make an application under Part VII of the Housing Act (1996). Completion of Part VII applications (assessment & decisions).
• Making enquiries with a resident’s GPs, support services, landlord(s), family members, friends to determine if a main duty is owed.
• Preparation of Personal Housing Plan if a prevention or relief duty is owed.
• Referring singles and families to internal or external teams, such as the Private Rented Team, the HOPE Team, Bridge Housing, Homefinder, St Mungos, etc. to access private and social housing.
• Complete relevant paperwork, including a HRA and Risk Assessment to refer a household to the Temporary Accommodation Team or to Private Rental Sector.
• Home visits where required e.g. for unsuitable/overcrowded cases.
• Determining what duty – if any – is owed to the household under the Homeless Reduction Act (2017) and the Housing Act (1996) – and to provide a prevention and relief duty if the household is eligible and threatened with homelessness, or homeless within 56 days.
• Council Housing Register creation.