Homelessness & Housing Solutions Officer – AR

Carrington Blake Recruitment; Redditch; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Redditch Borough Council is seeking an experienced Homelessness & Housing Solutions Officer to join its Housing, Communities, Environment & Planning directorate. You will manage homelessness applications, provide specialist housing advice and deliver practical solutions to prevent and relieve homelessness.

The role emphasizes Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, with a focus on prevention, relief duties, assessments and legal decision-making.

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ demonstrable homelessness, housing options or housing advice experience.
• 12–24 months with Part VII homelessness applications and statutory processes.
• Practical knowledge of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and Part VII Housing Act 1996.
• Experience with homelessness prevention and relief duties and personalised housing plans.
• Ability to manage a caseload independently and make legally compliant decisions.
• Experience writing detailed reports, assessments and decision letters.

Responsibilities

• Manage a designated caseload of homelessness applications and assess needs.
• Deliver prevention and relief services and develop personalised housing plans.
• Apply Part VII and Homelessness Reduction Act in assessments and decisions.
• Assess priority need and statutory criteria for homelessness cases.
• Prepare case records, assessments and homelessness decisions with accuracy.
• Support applicants needing temporary accommodation and ensure suitability.
• Negotiate with landlords and housing providers for suitable accommodation.
• Liaise with internal teams and external agencies to support vulnerable applicants.
• Monitor progress, meet deadlines and ensure legislative compliance.

Skills

Caseload management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Organisational skills

Empathy in handling sensitive cases

Education

CIH Level 3 qualification (desirable)

CIH membership (desirable)

Job description

Homelessness & Housing Solutions Officer

Location: Redditch Borough Council
Contract: 3 months, with the possibility of extension
Rate: £30 per hour umbrella / £22 per hour PAYE
Working Arrangement: 2 days per week in the office

About the Role

Redditch Borough Council is seeking an experienced Homelessness & Housing Solutions Officer to join its Housing, Communities, Environment & Planning directorate. You will be responsible for managing a caseload of homelessness applications, providing specialist housing advice and delivering practical solutions to prevent and relieve homelessness.

The role requires strong knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, with a particular focus on homelessness prevention, relief duties, statutory assessments and legal decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a designated caseload of homelessness applications, assessing individual circumstances and determining the appropriate legal duties.
• Deliver homelessness prevention and relief services, developing personalised housing plans and identifying sustainable accommodation options.
• Apply Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 when assessing applications and making legally compliant decisions.
• Assess priority need, intentional homelessness and other relevant statutory criteria.
• Prepare accurate, detailed case records, assessment reports and written homelessness decisions.
• Support applicants who require temporary accommodation, ensuring placements meet their needs and comply with relevant legislation.
• Negotiate with private landlords and work with housing providers to secure suitable accommodation and prevent homelessness.
• Liaise with internal teams and external agencies to support vulnerable applicants and achieve positive outcomes.
• Manage complex and sensitive cases professionally, maintaining confidentiality and accurate records.
• Monitor case progress, meet deadlines and ensure compliance with legislation, council policies and procedures.

Essential Requirements

• At least 3 years’ demonstrable experience in homelessness, housing options or a relevant housing advice service.
• At least 12–24 months of relevant hands-on experience with Part VII homelessness applications and statutory processes.
• Essential practical knowledge of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and Part VII of the Housing Act 1996.
• Experience of homelessness prevention and relief duties, including personalised housing plans.
• Experience assessing priority need and applying relevant statutory tests to homelessness applications.
• Ability to manage a caseload independently and make well-reasoned, legally compliant decisions.
• Experience writing detailed reports, assessments and homelessness decision letters.
• Strong communication, problem-solving and organisational skills, with the ability to manage complex and emotionally challenging situations.
• Experience working collaboratively with landlords, partner agencies and other housing services.

Desirable

• A relevant housing qualification or willingness to work towards a CIH Level 3 qualification.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).
• Experience contributing to housing service improvements or projects.

Additional Information

This is an opportunity for an experienced homelessness professional to contribute to the council’s housing solutions service, helping residents secure and sustain suitable accommodation.

Important submission requirement: CVs must be anonymised and must not contain agency branding or contact details. Branded CVs or CVs containing contact details will be rejected.