Housing Front Door Officer

Carrington West; Braintree; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington West is recruiting a Housing Front Door Officer for an Essex local authority housing team on an initial 6-month contract.

You will be the first point of contact for residents, assess housing needs and identify those at risk of homelessness while delivering initial advice and signposting to appropriate services. The role is hybrid with 4 days in the Braintree office and 1 day remote.

Qualifications

• Experience in housing, homelessness, customer service or local authority environments is advantageous.
• Strong customer service and telephone handling skills with empathetic communication.
• Ability to identify homelessness risks, safeguarding concerns and vulnerabilities for initial referrals.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills; accurate record-keeping and documentation.
• Good communication and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for housing enquiries via calls, reception and emails.
• Conduct initial homelessness screening and triage assessments; escalate complex cases.
• Signpost residents to housing pathways and support agencies for prevention.
• Carry out reception and back-office duties; maintain case records and processing.
• Assist with temporary accommodation processes and housing workflows with partners.

Skills

Customer service

Telephone handling

Homelessness triage

Record keeping

Clear communication

Tools

Case management software

Job description

Housing Front Door Officer

Essex | Hybrid (4 Days On-site, 1 Day Remote)

Rate: £28.00 per hour (Umbrella)

IR35 Status: Inside IR35

Initial Contract Length: 6 months

Extension Potential: Subject to requirements

Working Hours: Full Time - 36 Hours

Role Summary

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Housing Front Door Officer to join a busy local authority housing team in Essex, on an initial 6-month contract.

The successful candidate will act as the first point of contact for residents accessing housing services, providing initial advice, assessing housing needs and identifying individuals at risk of homelessness.

What You Will Do as a Housing Front Door Officer

• Act as the first point of contact for housing enquiries, managing incoming calls, reception enquiries and emails while providing clear advice and signposting to appropriate services.
• Conduct initial homelessness screening and triage assessments, identifying safeguarding concerns, vulnerabilities and urgent housing needs, escalating complex cases where necessary.
• Support the delivery of housing prevention services by providing early intervention advice and directing residents towards suitable housing pathways and support agencies.
• Undertake reception and back-office administrative duties, including maintaining case records, processing applications, managing shared inboxes and ensuring accurate documentation.
• Assist with temporary accommodation processes, statutory notifications and homelessness application workflows, working closely with Housing Options, Temporary Accommodation and external support services.

What You Will Need as a Housing Front Door Officer

• Previous experience in a housing, homelessness, customer service or local authority environment would be advantageous.
• Strong customer service and telephone handling skills, with the ability to manage challenging conversations professionally and empathetically.
• Ability to identify homelessness risks, safeguarding concerns and vulnerabilities, making appropriate initial assessments and referrals.
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills, including experience maintaining accurate records, processing documentation and using digital case management systems.
• Strong communication skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment.

What's on Offer

• £28.00 per hour (Umbrella) - competitive contract rate.
• Initial 6-month contract with potential for extension, subject to service requirements.
• Hybrid working arrangement - 4 days per week in the Braintree office and 1 day working remotely.

Interested in This Housing Front Door Officer Role?

If you have experience in housing services, homelessness triage or customer-facing local authority roles and are looking for your next contract opportunity, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close on 16th October 2026