Housing Needs Officer

Carrington West; Slough; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington West is recruiting for a Housing Needs Officer in Berkshire on a 6-month contract, working 37 hours per week in Slough. The role offers a rate of £28.42 per hour and inside IR35 status. You will deliver housing advice and homelessness prevention services to individuals and families at risk.

You will assess applications, prepare Personalised Housing Plans, and work with partners to find sustainable housing solutions while guiding safeguarding referrals as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience in housing needs or homelessness prevention roles.
• Knowledge of Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Experience assessing homelessness applications and managing caseloads.
• Ability to develop Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs).

Responsibilities

• Assess and investigate homelessness applications under relevant acts.
• Provide housing advice and identify prevention options.
• Prepare and review Personalised Housing Plans.
• Manage complex homelessness cases and issue decision letters.
• Collaborate with internal/external partners and safeguarding referrals.

Skills

Communication

Case management

Partnership working

Housing advice

Job description

Housing Needs Officer

Berkshire | Contract

• Rate: £28.42 per hour
• IR35 Status: Inside IR35
• Initial Contract Length: 6 months
• Extension Potential: Subject to requirements
• Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Role Summary

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

The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering a comprehensive housing advice and homelessness service, supporting individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

What You Will Do as a Housing Needs Officer

• Assess and investigate homelessness applications in accordance with the Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and other relevant housing legislation.
• Provide comprehensive housing advice and support to individuals and families who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, identifying suitable prevention and relief options.
• Prepare, monitor and review Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs), agreeing tailored actions with applicants to prevent or relieve homelessness.
• Manage complex homelessness cases, assess statutory housing duties and prepare relevant decision letters, including relief and main duty decisions.
• Work closely with internal departments, external agencies and support services to identify sustainable housing solutions, conduct home visits and ensure appropriate safeguarding referrals.

What You Will Need as a Housing Needs Officer

• Previous experience working as a Housing Needs Officer, Homelessness Prevention Officer, Housing Options Officer or within a similar local authority housing role.
• Strong working knowledge of the Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and relevant housing and homelessness legislation.
• Experience assessing homelessness applications, managing complex caseloads and making recommendations on statutory housing duties.
• Ability to develop and review Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs), provide effective prevention and relief advice and identify suitable housing options.
• Excellent communication, case management and partnership working skills, with the ability to support vulnerable individuals and maintain accurate case records.

What's on Offer

• £28.42 per hour (Inside IR35) - competitive contract rate.
• Initial 6-month contract with potential for extension, subject to service requirements.
• 37 hours per week, working within a local authority housing needs and homelessness service in Slough.

Interested in This Housing Needs Officer Role?

If you have experience in housing needs, homelessness prevention or housing options and are looking for your next contract opportunity, we'd love to hear from you.