Housing Needs Officer

Crawley Borough Council; Northgate; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

Crawley Borough Council is recruiting for a part-time Housing Needs and Allocations officer to cover a 12-month fixed-term maternity leave. The role involves assessing housing needs, advising customers and stakeholders, and allocating social housing through the Choice Based Lettings scheme.

The hours are three days per week, with hybrid working (home and two days in the office). Experience in social housing or customer services is essential, along with strong communication skills, attention to

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a social housing or customer services environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers and stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel within the borough and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Assess customers' housing needs and priority for accommodation.
• Provide advice to customers and stakeholders.
• Allocate available social housing through the Choice Based Lettings scheme in line with policies.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Attention to detail

Driving licence

Job description

We have a rare opportunity to work in our busy Housing Needs and Allocations team. The role is part time (three days per week) with the days worked to be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate. This is a 12 month fixed term contract to cover a period of maternity leave within the team.

This exciting and varied role will work with customers who approach us for housing, to assess their needs and priority for accommodation in the area. In addition, the role will provide advice to customers and stakeholders and allocate available social housing through our Choice Based Lettings Scheme in line with policies and procedures.

To be successful in this role it is important that you are self-motivated with an eye for detail. You will need to have experience of working in a demanding social housing or customer services environment, be flexible, patient and a good listener.

Effective communication skills, the ability to work to tight deadlines and resilience to work under pressure are absolutely essential for this job. This role does involve travel within the borough and therefore a driving licence is essential.

Crawley is a great place to work, with a thriving business district and excellent transport connections including nearby Gatwick Airport. We are based in our modern Town Hall which opened in 2023 and is located a short walk from the town centre and railway station. We have a hybrid working set up which allows a balance of working from home with at least two days in the office for part-time roles.

Additional information

The salary stated is the full-time equivalent salary and will be pro-rated in line with the part-time hours for this role.

A full clean and current UK driving licence will be a requirement of the role.

Occasional attendance at evening meetings or working outside normal office hours may be required.

The postholder will be required to undertake a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check in order to carry out any duties on the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) website, for which a basic Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) will be required.

Casual car user, mileage paid for business travel.

Employee benefits

We offer a generous employee benefits package , with a range of discounts, benefits and wellbeing incentives to suit everyone.

At Crawley Borough Council, you will have access to a structured programme of learning from day one, designed to help you succeed in your role and grow your career.

Our way of working

Our shared values and behaviours reflect the special nature of our council. We encourage all colleagues to put them into practice, whatever job they do. Take a look to see if we are the perfect match.

Safer recruitment

Crawley Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under represented groups.