Housing Needs Officer

Stoke-on-Trent City Council; Hempstalls; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Local government pension

Professional development

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking a motivated Housing Needs Officer to join Housing Solutions. Working 25 hours over 3 days at Civic Centre, you will help prevent homelessness and support vulnerable households to access safe, sustainable accommodation.

You will assess housing circumstances, manage Personal Housing Plans, and work with accommodation providers. The role requires knowledge of Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, plus strong communication and problem-solving

Qualifications

• Sound understanding of the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Knowledge of housing legislation and homelessness duties.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and a demanding caseload.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Experience of working with people with complex needs in a problem-solving role.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality housing advice and support to prevent and relieve homelessness in line with relevant housing legislation.
• Assess customers housing circumstances and investigate homelessness applications to determine statutory duties and entitlements.
• Develop and manage Personal Housing Plans, supporting customers to take appropriate actions to resolve their housing needs.
• Assess eligibility for emergency accommodation and make decisions in accordance with statutory requirements.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with accommodation providers and support agencies to ensure customers housing and support needs are met.
• Maintain accurate case records and carry out homelessness prevention and relief duties in line with legislative and organisational requirements.

Skills

Housing Act knowledge

Housing legislation

Caseload management

Communication & negotiation

Experience with complex needs

Job description

Directorate

Housing, Regeneration and Operations

Section

Housing Solutions

Location

Civic Centre

Grade

Level 8

Hours

25 hours per week, over 3 days

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role

We're looking for a motivated and customer-focused Housing Needs Officer to join our dynamic team. You'll play a key role in preventing homelessness, supporting vulnerable households, and helping residents access safe and sustainable accommodation.

This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a fast-paced, rewarding service that helps some of our most vulnerable residents prevent and overcome homelessness. With increasing demand for homelessness services across Stoke-on-Trent, we are looking for someone who can make an immediate impact, helping households navigate challenging circumstances and secure sustainable housing solutions. If you have experience in housing, excellent problem-solving skills, and a passion for delivering positive outcomes, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high quality housing advice and support to prevent and relieve homelessness in line with relevant housing legislation
• Assess customers housing circumstances and investigate homelessness applications to determine statutory duties and entitlements
• Develop and manage Personal Housing Plans, supporting customers to take appropriate actions to resolve their housing needs
• Assess eligibility for emergency accommodation and make decisions in accordance with statutory requirements
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with accommodation providers and support agencies to ensure customers housing and support needsare met
• Maintain accurate case records and carry out homelessness prevention and relief duties in line with legislative and organisational requirements

About You

• Must have a sound understanding of the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homeless Reduction Act 2017
• Have knowledge of housing legislation and homelessness duties
• Be able to manage competing priorities and a demanding caseload
• Have excellent communication, negotiation and problem solving skills
• Have experience of working with people with complex needs in a problem solving role

What we offer

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits

Pre-Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.