Homelessness Prevention & Assessment Officer

5 Star Recruitment; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Liverpool City Council is seeking a Homelessness Prevention & Assessment Officer to deliver a high quality re-housing and homelessness service from the Wavertree One Stop Shop.

The role involves working with housing need clients, identifying options to prevent homelessness, liaising with council departments, private landlords and partner agencies, and maintaining records to meet performance targets.

Qualifications

• Evidence of and commitment to continuous professional development.
• Substantial experience of interviewing and negotiation skills including direct experience of working to prevent homelessness.
• Experience of homelessness and housing advice work.
• Experience in working with vulnerable client groups.
• Knowledge of the social and financial costs of homelessness to individuals, the local authority and other relevant bodies.
• Knowledge of Landlord and Tenant, Immigration, Welfare Benefits and relevant Social Services legislation.
• Experience of effective interviewing skills.

Responsibilities

• To deputise for the Team Leaders as required.
• To work with people in housing need and those who are potentially homeless to identify and address their housing and support needs.
• To work proactively with relevant Council departments, partners and private and registered social landlords to identify and implement effective support to prevent homelessness and secure settled accommodation.
• To identify the support needs of service users and make appropriate referrals to other Council teams and external agencies.
• To ensure performance targets are met and maintain full and accurate records of all contact.
• To ensure records are updated accurately and timely, and data contributed to service development is reported.
• Assisting clients to access and signpost to statutory, non-statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Highlight concerns about service users to appropriate agencies (e.g., child protection or adult abuse).
• Completion of risk assessments and communication of results to staff or agencies.
• Participation in out-of-hours rota and dealing with emergencies.

Skills

Interviewing

Negotiation

Homelessness knowledge

Vulnerable clients

Welfare benefits knowledge

Landlord knowledge

ICT literacy

Record keeping

Out-of-hours response

Education

CPD commitment

Tools

Database input

Word processing

Email systems

Job description

Liverpool City Council is seeking a Homelessness Prevention & Assessment Officer to deliver a high quality re-housing and homelessness service from the Wavertree One Stop Shop.

The role involves working with housing need clients, identifying options to prevent homelessness, liaising with council departments, private landlords and partner agencies, and maintaining records to meet performance targets.