Homelessness Reduction Officer (Hybrid)

Essential Employment; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Essential Employment is seeking a Homelessness Reduction Officer (Hybrid) based in Newport, Isle of Wight, to deliver housing advice, assess needs, and work with partners to prevent homelessness.

The role involves interviews, tailoring Personal Housing Plans, liaising with housing providers and services, financial assessments, duties as homelessness officer on a rota, and out-of-hours cover under a temporary full-time contract with a daily rate of £118.33.

Responsibilities

• Interview and assess needs of households requesting housing advice.
• Develop tailored Personal Housing Plans with jointly agreed actions.
• Liaise with accommodation providers, landlords, housing associations and other services to prevent homelessness.
• Identify and carry out financial assessments and administer assistance or loan arrangements.
• Act as homelessness duty officer on a rota system, including out-of-hours working.
• Maintain documentation/records evidencing housing advice and outcomes.

Job description

Homelessness Reduction Officer (Hybrid) needed in Newport, Isle Of Wight, £118.33 per day PAYE - Reference: OR112945

To receive enquiries regarding housing from members of the public, referrals from colleagues, partner agencies and public bodies and respond to requests for housing advice and assistance, ensuring that enquiries are dealt with efficiently, professionally, and sympathetically and in a manner that enhances the image of the service and the client as a whole.

To interview and carry out an assessment of needs of households requesting advice and assistance with housing, including the assessment of their eligibility, homelessness, and priority needs under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended), relevant orders and codes of guidance or any other subsequent legislation to allow households to make effective and informed choices about their accommodation options.

To undertake casework and continued correspondence with households approaching for assistance advising them of the options and courses of action available to them to prevent their homelessness by providing a tailored Personal Housing Plan with jointly agreed actions.

To identify households where homelessness may be prevented and act upon enquiries by liaising with accommodation providers, landlords, letting agents, housing associations, Housing Benefit department, financial institutions, Law Centre, CAB, Supporting People colleagues, support providers, Social Services and other Client departments, health staff and GPs, the voluntary sector and other relevant organisations in order to maximise the prevention of homelessness.

Where appropriate, assist households to obtain appropriate advice, support and housing solutions by signposting or referring to relevant services who can assist them to meet their needs in order to prevent or relieve their homelessness.

To undertake financial assessments of households to ensure support with financial assistance schemes are affordable for individual households and in cases where assistance is being offered in the form of a loan to administer the loan agreement including affordable repayment arrangements together with Direct Debit mandates.

In cases where homelessness cannot be prevented and there is reason to believe that a duty to accommodate arises for those in priority need, identify temporary accommodation, and to remain working with the household to continue the process of relieving homelessness through the identification of alternative housing options.

Maintain relevant documentation/records to evidence work for housing advice and assistance and the outcomes of assistance give.

To act as the homelessness duty officer on a rota system, both in working hours and for out of hours emergencies.

This is a Full time role on a temporary contract basis.

Essential Employment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.