HOUSING FIRST OFFICER

Cardiff Council; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Cardiff Council’s Housing Led Services require a Housing First Officer to work with looked-after young people and those at risk of homelessness. You will engage proactively to build relationships, craft tailored support plans, and provide wraparound support to help youths sustain tenancy in the community.

The role involves collaboration with Children’s Services, Youth Offending Services and other agencies, requiring calm handling under pressure and strong customer service skills.

Qualifications

• Proven experience of working with looked after young people and an understanding of homelessness issues is advantageous.
• Dynamic, motivated and creative individuals who can foster positive relationships will thrive.
• Experience providing excellent customer service and the ability to work in a team are essential.

Responsibilities

• Engage with young people using client-led, psychology-informed approaches to build trust and develop support plans.
• Provide intensive wraparound support to help sustain tenancy and improve life skills.
• Collaborate with Children’s Services, Youth Offending Services, Substance Misuse Services and Housing teams to coordinate care.

Skills

Customer service

Relationship building

Teamwork

Engagement with at-risk youth

Communication skills

Driving licence

Job description

Cardiff Council’s Specialist Housing Support and Accommodation Service provides accommodation, advice and support to vulnerable single people and families in housing need. Support is delivered on site across multiple supported accommodation projects and within the community. Our services operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

In response to increasing demand for homelessness services, we have made significant changes to our service. Successful candidates will contribute to its continued expansion.

About the job

Cardiff Councils Housing Led Services provide Rapid rehousing solutions to individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Within Housing Led Services, there are three Housing First projects under Housing Led, which are Housing First for single people, SAIL and Housing First for Young People.

The role of the Housing First Officer requires successful candidate to work with multiple agencies including Childrens Services Youth Offending Services, Substance Misuse Services, Cardiff Council’s Multi-Disciplinary Team, Housing and Health services.

The successful candidate will be required to engage with Young People who have a history of disengaging from services, using a variety of techniques and approaches to build a relationship and develop a support plan. The Housing First Officer will be working with Young People proactively, using a client-led and psychology informed support approach, to try to engage Young People back into the community and offer intensive wraparound support so that the Young People can successfully sustain a tenancy in the community, and by providing advice and guidance to the Young People to improve on their life skills while they transition into adulthood.

What We Are Looking For From You

We are looking for dynamic, motivated and creative individuals with the ability to foster positive relationships and have experience of providing excellent customer service.

This is an exciting opportunity and we are looking for a variety of people from various working backgrounds to make a real difference. Proven experience of working with looked after young people and an understanding of the issues faced by homelessness would be an advantage.

The working environment can be challenging so the ability to remain calm under pressure will be an advantage. The role will require the successful candidate to support the management team with all aspects of the service and have experience of working in a team to meet objectives and contribute to a high quality of service.

A full valid driving license and use of your work vehicle is essential as the successful candidate will be required to work from multiple locations.

Additional information

As this is such an interesting role, we would encourage you to have an informal conversation in advance with the Housing First Manager Rebecca Donovan, their email is [e-mail].

There is 1 temporary vacancy available until 31/03/2027, with a chance of an extension.

Internal candidates who wish to apply for this position on a secondment basis must obtain approval prior to application using Form SEC1 (4.C.081). Requests may only be approved by the relevant Director/ Assistant Director/ Chief Officer or senior nominated officer graded no lower than OM2 or in the case of schools based staff the Head teacher / Governing Body.

These posts are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced checks.

This vacancy is suitable for post share.

We understand you may use AI and other resources when completing your application. However, all information provided must be factually accurate, truthful, original and must not contain work or ideas that are not your own.

We welcome applications in both English and Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English.

Please note that Cardiff Council does not accept CVs. When completing the Supporting Information section of the application form, applicants should refer to the guidance available on our website :

Job Category Housing

Department Housing & Communities

Working Pattern/Contract Type Full Time Temporary