Homelessness Prevention Officer

Hatched Recruitment Group; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Hatched Recruitment Group is seeking a Homelessness Prevention Officer for a local authority in Leeds. You will manage your own caseload, provide housing advice and help households secure and sustain accommodation through personalised housing plans.

The role requires knowledge of homelessness legislation (Housing Act Part VII and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017), strong negotiation and advocacy skills, and the ability to work in a multi‑agency environment.

Qualifications

• Strong negotiation, communication and advocacy skills.
• Experience working with individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Knowledge of homelessness legislation, including Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

Responsibilities

• Interview customers presenting as homeless or in housing need and provide housing advice.
• Assess housing needs and develop Personalised Housing Plans.
• Manage a caseload and provide proactive homelessness prevention work.
• Negotiate with landlords and other parties to prevent homelessness.
• Support customers to secure and maintain accommodation.
• Collaborate with housing providers, voluntary organisations, Social Services and other partners.
• Complete case records, decision letters and statutory documentation.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Advocacy

Caseload management

Multi-agency collaboration

Education

GCSE Maths & English

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Homelessness Prevention Officer

We are currently recruiting for a Homelessness Prevention Officer to join a local authority’s Housing Options team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced housing professional to make a direct difference to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The Role

You will work directly with households to prevent and relieve homelessness, helping people secure and sustain suitable accommodation. You will manage your own caseload and provide practical advice, advocacy and hands‑on homelessness prevention support.

Key responsibilities include:

• Interviewing customers presenting as homeless or in housing need and providing appropriate housing advice
• Assessing housing needs and developing Personalised Housing Plans
• Managing a caseload and carrying out proactive homelessness prevention work
• Negotiating with landlords, parents and other parties to prevent homelessness
• Supporting customers to secure and maintain accommodation
• Working closely with housing providers, voluntary organisations, Social Services, advice agencies and other partners
• Completing case records, decision letters and other statutory documentation
• Visiting customers at home and other suitable locations where required
• Attending case conferences and multi‑agency meetings

About You

You will have:

• Strong knowledge of homelessness legislation, particularly Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
• A sound understanding of prevention and relief duties and Personalised Housing Plans
• Experience working with individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Experience working with vulnerable people
• Strong negotiation, communication and advocacy skills
• Experience working within a multi‑agency environment
• Ability to manage a caseload, prioritise workloads and meet competing deadlines
• Knowledge of housing options and the benefits system
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Essential Requirements

• Full UK driving licence
• Access to a vehicle for work purposes
• GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent/demonstrable experience)
• Willingness to undertake occasional evening and weekend work
• Ability to undertake regular visits across the borough

The role is offered on a hybrid basis, with a balance of home working and office-based work.

The successful candidate will be required to complete an Enhanced DBS check including Adult and Children’s Barred List Checks