Allocations & Applications Officer, Allocation & Application

Birmingham City Council; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham City Council is seeking an experienced Allocation & Applications Officer to deliver a responsive housing allocations and applications service for Birmingham City Council.

You will assess applications, provide specialist information on the Housing Allocation Scheme, manage shortlisting and matching of properties, and work with customers and external partners to ensure fair and efficient decisions in line with legislation and council policies.

Qualifications

• Significant experience of working within housing allocations, housing applications, homelessness or a related housing service, with a strong understanding of the needs of customers seeking accommodation.
• Extensive knowledge of housing and relevant homelessness legislation, case law, statutory guidance and housing allocation principles.
• Experience of assessing housing applications and making eligibility, qualification or allocation decisions, with the ability to investigate complex circumstances and exercise appropriate discretion.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills, with the ability to assess information from multiple sources, identify relevant evidence and make fair, accurate and well-reasoned decisions.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex housing information clearly and sensitively to customers, colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and IT skills, with experience of managing casework, maintaining detailed records and handling confidential customer information.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage housing applications using a case management approach, determining customer eligibility and qualification for the Housing Allocation Scheme and communicating decisions within statutory and service timescales.
• Provide specialist advice and information to customers, colleagues and external stakeholders on the Housing Allocation Scheme, housing registration process, eligibility and allocation requirements.
• Manage the shortlisting, allocation and matching of properties, ensuring lettings are made within timescales and in accordance with the Allocation Scheme and legislation.
• Conduct enquiries, investigations and background checks, gathering information from multiple sources to ensure decisions are accurate, fair and evidence-based.
• Review and approve property adverts, monitor nomination acceptances/refusals, and support nomination agreements and related processes.
• Identify customer vulnerabilities and safeguarding concerns, making referrals to support agencies while working with statutory and voluntary organisations, commissioners, providers and the Private Rented Sector.
• Maintain accurate case records and documentation, support service improvements, and provide training to colleagues where required.

Job description

Allocations & Applications Officer

18 month Fixed Term Contract

Grade B - £28,598 - £34,434

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Equal Pay Programme

Working 36.5 hours per week

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced and customer-focused Allocation & Application Officer to deliver a responsive housing allocations and applications service for Birmingham City Council.

You’ll provide specialist advice and information on the Council’s Housing Allocation Scheme and housing registration process, assessing applications and making fair and accurate decisions in line with legislation, statutory requirements and Council policies. You’ll also manage the shortlisting, allocation and matching of properties through the Council’s letting system.

Working closely with customers, colleagues and external partners, you’ll ensure applications are assessed thoroughly, appropriate support properties are allocated efficiently and transparently. You’ll also contribute to the ongoing development of the Housing Solution & Support Service and its approach to delivering effective housing solutions.

What you’ll be doing

• Assess and manage housing applications using a case management approach, determining customer eligibility and qualification for the Council’s Housing Allocation Scheme and communicating decisions within agreed statutory and service timescales.
• Provide specialist advice and information to customers, colleagues and external stakeholders on the Housing Allocation Scheme, housing registration process, eligibility and allocation requirements.
• Manage the shortlisting, allocation and matching of properties, ensuring suitable lettings are made within appropriate timescales and in accordance with the Council’s Allocation Scheme and relevant legislation.
• Conduct enquiries, investigations and customer background checks, gathering and analysing information from a range of sources to ensure housing applications and allocation decisions are accurate, fair and evidence based.
• Review and approve property adverts, monitor nomination acceptances and refusals, and support the administration of nomination agreements and associated processes.
• Identify customer vulnerabilities and safeguarding concerns, making appropriate referrals to support agencies while working collaboratively with statutory and voluntary organisations, commissioners, providers and the Private Rented Sector.
• Maintain accurate case records and supporting documentation, contribute to review and court case bundles, support service improvements and new housing solutions, and provide training and mentoring to colleagues where required.

What we’re looking for

• Significant experience of working within housing allocations, housing applications, homelessness or a related housing service, with a strong understanding of the needs of customers seeking accommodation.
• Extensive knowledge of housing and relevant homelessness legislation, case law, statutory guidance and housing allocation principles, with the ability to apply these effectively when making decisions.
• Experience of assessing housing applications and making eligibility, qualification or allocation decisions, with the ability to investigate complex circumstances and exercise appropriate discretion.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills, with the ability to assess information from multiple sources, identify relevant evidence and make fair, accurate and well-reasoned decisions.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex housing information clearly and sensitively to customers, colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and IT skills, with experience of managing casework, maintaining detailed records and handling confidential customer information in accordance with data

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, andwe arecommitted to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

For any informal enquires please contact:[e-mail]

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.