Accommodation Options Officer

Belmont Recruitment; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Waltham Forest Council is seeking an Accommodation Options Officer on an initial 3-6 month temporary contract with potential extension or permanent appointment for the right candidate. The role is based at E17 4JF with hybrid working.

You will deliver a comprehensive housing options service, prevent homelessness, arrange emergency and temporary accommodation, assess PRS access, and work with providers to discharge statutory duties while maintaining accurate records and ensuring legal compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with homelessness households.
• Understanding causes of rough sleeping.
• Experience of assessing accommodation suitability under the Housing Act 1996 (Part VII).

Responsibilities

• Deliver a comprehensive housing options, prevention, temporary accommodation (TA) placement and move-on service for households in housing need.
• Prevent homelessness and reduce the use and length of stay in temporary accommodation wherever possible.
• Arrange suitable emergency and temporary accommodation where duties are owed.
• Match, allocate and offer private rented sector accommodation to discharge the council's statutory duties.
• Reduce the use, cost and length of stay in temporary accommodation.
• Support households through crisis, placement and transition into settled housing.
• Collaborate with internal teams, accommodation providers, landlords and partners to deliver safe, suitable and sustainable housing solutions with accurate records and legal compliance.
• Provide advice and make recommendations based on up-to-date knowledge and analysis of information.
• Manage escalated or complex customer issues within the relevant area.

Skills

Homelessness experience

Assessment skills

Job description

Good Afternoon,

I am currently representing Waltham Forest Council who are offering an initial temporary contract for a period of 3-6 months with a view to be extended or offered a permanent position for the right candidate at a rate which is negotiable dependent upon experience

We are looking for an Accommodation Options Officer; this role will be based at: E17 4JF - Hybrid Working

The right candidate will:

• To deliver a comprehensive housing options, prevention, temporary accommodation (TA) placement and move-on service for households in housing need. The postholder will undertake all aspects of prevention, emergency/temporary accommodation placement, private rented sector (PRS) access and move-on work on a rota basis, ensuring that statutory duties are discharged lawfully, decisions are robust and defensible, and residents receive timely, high-quality support.


• Preventing homelessness and the need for temporary accommodation wherever possible


• Arranging suitable emergency and temporary accommodation where duties are owed


• Matching, allocating and offering private rented sector accommodation to discharge the council's statutory duties


• Reducing the use, cost and length of stay in temporary accommodation


• Supporting households through crisis, placement and transition into settled housing


• The postholder will work collaboratively with internal teams, accommodation providers, landlords and partners to deliver safe, suitable and sustainable housing solutions while maintaining accurate records and ensuring full legal compliance.


• Provide advice and make recommendations based on up-to-date knowledge and analysis / evaluation of information


• Manage escalated or complex customer issues within the relevant area

We require the following:

• Candidates should have experience of working with homelessness households, have an understanding of the causes of rough sleeping and have experience of assessing accommodation suitability under the Housing Act 1996 (Part VII).