Homeless Prevention Officer

Cambridge City Council; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

LGPS pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Cambridge City Council is seeking a Homelessness Prevention Officer on a fixed-term basis to support the homelessness prevention and solutions service. The role involves home visits, developing referrals, and coordinating housing plans to prevent homelessness, with signposting to debt and employment advice where needed.

Candidates should be prepared to travel around Cambridge, work a 37-hour week, and undergo an Enhanced DBS check.

Qualifications

• Travel around the city to meet customers.
• Enhanced DBS check required.
• Assess customers’ housing needs and options and agree them in a personalised housing plan.

Responsibilities

• Undertake pre-arranged home visits to prevent homelessness.
• Develop links with services to generate referrals.
• Recruit colleagues and professionals to support finding accommodation.
• Advise and signpost customers to related services such as debt and employment advice.

Job description

Job Description

This fixed-term Homelessness Prevention Officer post is intended to support the Council’s comprehensive homelessness prevention and solutions service. This role will augment the wider service by offering tailored housing advice and prevention options to groups of customers as outlined in the Homelessness Reduction Act or any subsequent legislation.

Job Description

This fixed-term Homelessness Prevention Officer post is intended to support the Council’s comprehensive homelessness prevention and solutions service. This role will augment the wider service by offering tailored housing advice and prevention options to groups of customers as outlined in the Homelessness Reduction Act or any subsequent legislation.

The post holder will undertake pre-arranged home visits, as required, in connection with the objective of preventing homelessness. In addition, the post holder will develop links with services within and outside the City Council to generate referrals where there is a risk of homelessness.

This role will contribute to the delivery of the Council’s statutory homelessness functions by assessing customers’ needs and housing options and, where relevant, agreeing these in the form of a personalised housing plan. As part of this work the post holder will recruit colleagues and other professionals to offer support to find accommodation and address the problems that are the root cause of homelessness or threat of homelessness.

In addition to these objectives, the role will play a key part in the delivery of an enhanced housing options service by advising and signposting customers on other related advice services such as debt and employment advice, with a view to assisting them to sustain future accommodation.

This role will bring the post-holder into contact with customers with a range of needs; some customers’ needs are complex and will include those with mental health problems, substance misuse issues or a history of being the victim of domestic abuse.

The successful candidate will need to be able to travel around the city and will need to complete an Enhanced DBS check.

Why join us?

• Learning and Development– A range of learning opportunities and resources to help you build your skills and progress your career, with achievements recognised through Digital Badges where applicable.
• A great pension- access to the Local Government Pension Scheme(LGPS) with the option to make Additional Voluntary Contributions through Shared AVC.
• Flexible Working– Agile and flexible working options to help you balance work with life outside work.
• Generous annual leave- starting at 25 days, rising to 30 days after five years’ service, plus 8 days public holidays (pro rata for part time), with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Family-friendly benefits- A range of family-friendly policies and Flexible Bank Holidays.
• Make a difference beyond your role - Paid volunteering hours each year, giving you time to support a cause that matters to you.
• Support for your wellbeing- Confidential support through our Employee Assistance Programme and access to the Your Care wellbeing platform.
• Recognition and appreciation- Opportunities to celebrate achievements, recognise colleagues and receive awards; including through our annual staff awards ceremony.
• Professional Development– Professional membership fees covered where applicable to your role.
• Savings on everyday essentials- Salary sacrifice schemes including Cycle to Work, gym membership and home & electronics purchases.
• Exclusive lifestyle discounts– Access to more than 750 discounts across leading retailers, restaurants, supermarkets, attractions and more.
• Free swimming– Enjoy free swimming at CCC swimming pools.
• Help with commuting– A subsidy towards public transport.
• Relocation support– Relocation assistance may be available in approved cases.
• Pay progression– Pay and award progression negotiated annually.

Hours: This is a full-time role, for 37 hours per week.

Although the role is advertised as full time, if you believe you have the skills and experience to join us and would like to discuss different working patterns, please do get in touch.

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday

Contract: Fixed Term until 31st March 2029

Salary: £38,510 - £43,150 per annum (City Pay Band 5), pro rata for part time.

Location: This is flexible – working in Cambridge on site or at one of our offices or working from home. You will be able to balance your work location accordingly.

More Information

You can click on the links here to find out more information about Staff Pay and Benefits, Working for the Council, our Values & Behaviours, Equality & Diversity in Recruitment or Our People & Culture Strategy.