Hospital Discharge - Homeless Prevention Officer

5 Star Recruitment; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in housing services is seeking a dedicated advisor to deliver support and advice on housing options, manage casework, and assist residents in navigating their housing situations. The successful candidate will engage with clients, ensuring compliance with housing legislation and delivering high-quality service in line with council objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience in front-facing client assessment and casework.
• Knowledge of multi-disciplinary working and operational project deadlines.
• Flexibility to visit clients borough-wide and participate in Out of Hours rota.

Responsibilities

• Deliver housing options advice and assist potentially homeless clients.
• Manage a caseload and ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
• Engage with stakeholders to enhance service delivery and policy development.

Skills

Effective communication

Conflict resolution

Data management

Customer complaint handling

Education

Relevant qualification (NVQ, diploma, degree)

English & Maths GCSE grade AC or equivalent

Job description

ROLE PURPOSE

The post-holder will be responsible for proactively delivering housing options advice, including security of tenure, low-cost home ownership, preventing homelessness, investigating householder circumstances, and undertaking statutory assessments to determine the best options and resources available on a case-by-case basis. This involves managing a caseload across housing options, move-on, and homeless prevention, working with individuals to access a broad range of housing options, making relevant onward referrals, and signposting to other services. The post holder will ensure statutory requirements are met and local team targets are delivered through casework.

1. People Management

No direct supervisory responsibility; however, may assist in induction and training of peers and new employees.

2. Customer Management

Support the management of the service by delivering a professional, responsive, and individualized service to Hillingdon residents requiring housing advice. Explore and signpost to housing options, demonstrating understanding of the Council's Customer Care Standards to ensure these standards are met, aligning with the vision of putting residents first. Provide holistic, informed, and accurate housing advice, supporting residents to assess and manage their housing situations independently and make informed choices.

3. Operational Service Delivery

Ensure that potentially homeless clients receive advice and assistance, including those in housing need where the Council has no legal obligation to provide emergency accommodation. Assist in claiming housing and welfare benefits to prevent or delay homelessness, including the use of discretionary hardship payments (DHP). Assess and determine applications from homeless households within the Housing Act 1996, discharge statutory duties, and manage case work to standards of timeliness and quality, maintaining accurate records and reports. Stay updated on housing legislation, policies, and guidance to meet statutory requirements. Communicate effectively with staff, customers, stakeholders, and external agencies. Represent the service at meetings and contribute to policy and strategy development, including homelessness and housing strategies. Detect and prevent fraudulent applications, investigate complaints, and ensure compliance with corporate standards. Manage case work to move clients from temporary to sustainable housing, develop relationships with private landlords, and engage with other council services. Identify safeguarding concerns, undertake risk assessments, and provide expert advice on security of tenure. Manage complex cases to prevent homelessness and collaborate with external partners to deliver seamless services.

4. Service Planning & Development

Contribute to team planning, targets, and policy manuals. Support budget management and procurement in line with guidelines. Lead service improvement initiatives and undertake professional development. Incorporate equal opportunities and customer care policies into practice.

7. Contacts

Engage with internal and external stakeholders, including DWP, landlords, housing associations, health providers, and voluntary agencies, to deliver effective housing services.

8. Additional Responsibilities

Perform duties respecting health and safety legislation, support staff, and undertake other tasks as instructed.

9. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Delivery of team plans
• Reduction in households in temporary accommodation
• Procurement of private rented accommodation
• Support for residents into alternative accommodation
• Timely completion of prevention and relief case decisions
• Achievement of service levels

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification (NVQ, diploma, degree, or experience)
• English & Maths GCSE grade AC or equivalent

Experience

• Front-facing client assessment
• Case work and management systems
• Multi-disciplinary working
• Working on operational projects with deadlines

Role Specific Requirements

• Participation in Out of Hours rota for emergency housing
• Flexibility and ability to visit clients borough-wide

Knowledge & Skills

• Effective communication with diverse clients
• Understanding of council objectives and services
• Conflict resolution skills
• Negotiation and influencing skills
• Data and case management proficiency
• ICT skills and software proficiency
• Customer complaint handling