Benefits and Homeless Prevention Officer

Hackney; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive local authority in London is seeking a Benefits and Homeless Prevention Officer. The successful candidate will deliver excellent customer service while supporting residents with homelessness issues and housing allocations. This role works in a hybrid format and involves home visits and tenant interactions. Ideal candidates will demonstrate strong digital skills and a commitment to serving diverse communities. Applications close on 22 December 2025.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in delivering excellent customer services.
• Strong skills in digital tools and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Assist in all areas of homelessness including rough sleeping.
• Support residents with housing allocations and benefits assessments.
• Conduct home visits, viewings, and tenant drop-in sessions.

Skills

Excellent customer service

Excellent digital skills

Job description

Benefits and Homeless Prevention Officer

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.

Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first‑class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti‑racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

We know that staff are key to our success and we are seeking people with ambition, creativity and commitment to our values to help us achieve the best for the people of Hackney.

Our Benefits and Homeless Prevention Service has responsibility for all areas of homelessness; from rough sleeping to housing allocations as well as the assessment of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and the Here to Help Service. This innovative approach is helping us provide a more joined up service and more focused support for those in Hackney that are at risk of homelessness.

At Hackney, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is stimulating, fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high profile organisation. If you share our values and are ready to be part of …

Whilst the Job Description is generic, it is important that candidates have an excellent and fully rounded experience of customer services and experience of supporting residents.

The DART and Lettings Team work hybrid (i.e. work in an office up to 1 or 2 days a week). However, there will be occasions where you will be required to carry out home visits, attend viewings and tenants drop in sessions

Essential Criteria

• Experience in delivering excellent customer services
• Excellent digital skills

Desirable Criteria

• Tenancy management

The post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

Closing date for applications : 22 December 2025 (22 : 59)

Interview and assessment date : w / c 12 January 2026

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are : Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.